Blogging as Community

It struck me tonight how bizzare a form of communication is blogging. It seems to me that society is segregated and individualistic these days. Most of us do not know who our neighbors are.

I grew up in a small rural community that was fifty years behind times. We were one of the few homes with indoor plumbing and we didn't have a telephone until I was in high school. But we knew and/or were related to everyone in the community. Neighbors walked into your house without knocking...we just yelled as we entered. We visited neighbors on a regular, almost daily basis. We ate dinner each night at the table, without the tv on and we talked to one another. When a family was having financial problems or was short handed, everyone pitched in to help or dropped off things to help (food, blankets, animals, etc.).

When my great-grandfather needed to butcher his hogs, the neighborhood and family gathered for the day to do the chore. The day was wonderful to a child like me. It was a huge social event, listening to the women talk, the men laughing, everyone sitting down to eat together, and all us kids running and playing together. All the helpers took some sausage or pork home with them, and my great-grandfather got his pork butchered for the season.

I've lived in my house for over six years. I've never been in any of my neighbors' houses. I only know the names or have the phone numbers of one of my neighbors. It just struck me how strange and funny it is that I isolate myself in so many ways, and then I write about things that matter to me and post it so that anyone can read it.

We people are indeed strange creatures.

Bug Bite Bedlam!

I have always loved old people. They are founts of wisdom and experience and usually so willing to share all that they know. After this weekend I may change my mind.

My Dad was in the hospital for eight days with mysterious symptoms. He was very weak, a high fever, chills so bad that his body shook, an elevated white blood cell count, and it all stumped the doctors.

When they couldn't figure out what it was, they were ready to call it a virus and send him home. He broke out in wracking chills and they couldn't release him. After eight days they determined that he had Lymes Disease, from the bite of a deer tick. Since it has affected his liver (with four abscesses) he has probably had it for over a year. The antibiotic has started to kick in and now his energy is returning and he is feeling well enough to antagonize everyone and complain.

There were several times yesterday where I wanted to say things I've never even thought before. It amazes me how you can go from fear of loosing someone in a few days to considering throwing their old butt into a nursing home!!! I'm actually glad to see him feeling feisty. Of course, I drove home last night...and it is five hours away. :-)

The Birthday Continues

This year for my birthday, I invited the women from my church over to help me celebrate. I was really using it as an opportunity to get the women to open up and get to know each other more, or maybe I wanted to get to know them more, or maybe I wanted them to know me more. Anyway, we got to know each other in ways I had no way of knowing I would know them.



Within fifteen minutes of the arrival of one guest, a pot on the stove burst into flames on the stove, while we were admiring my newly renovated bathroom. Thanks to the piercing sounds of my smoke detector and a strategically placed extinguisher, we were able to put it out rather quickly. However, not before it had destroyed my range hood, damaged the stove, burned the cabinets and completely filled the house with smoke. I respect fire!

The church women descended with mops, brooms, cloths, buckets, and cleaned so that the party could take place. It was amazing. I was in shock for the most part.


I have planned on renovating my kitchen in a few years. My timetable was moved up without consulting me.