The Life Of A Blogger

I've been blogging for 12 years.  I actually signed up to blog in 2007 but didn't do anything with it until the next year...on Leap Year Day of all days.  I was encouraged to do so by my Daughter-in-law, Amy, who was also blogging at that time. We thought it would be a good way to see what was happening in our families and share photos.  But blogging soon took a backseat to Facebook and Instagram by the younger crowd.  I continued in the blog sphere though because, frankly, I didn't really "get" Facebook and how that was going to work.  (I'm better with it now!...I still don't do Instagram).  Anyway, I felt like my blog was a good way to journal and to share photos.  What I didn't realize was the fact that other folks, who didn't even know me, would want to read my pages.  Not only read them, but comment  about the content.  I didn't know about things called: "Followers".....hmmm. You visit another blog, leave a comment, and sometimes they would then sign up to follow you.  Interesting.  As time went on I had some followers and I followed others.  Simple.  Another thing I didn't realize was how following other blogs would connect me with some really cool people.  I found out about life here in the USA, and other parts of the world that I never visited in real life.  The folks I came to know in blog land I considered "Blog Buddies".   We probably would never meet in real life.  Some of my followers are family and friends that I do know but most of the ones that comment here at Whispering Pines are folks I've never met.  One such follower and blog buddy  was Rick Watson from "Life 101".   I bought one of his books and a CD that he and his wife, Jilda, put together of their music that they wrote and sang.  He kept bees, and other critters on his 12 acre farm in Alabama.  He was a southern gentleman and fun to follow.  He blogged daily.  On Wednesday he blogged quickly about the heat and his dogs and about not feeling great and heading to the Doctor on Thursday.  I was saddened to read that he passed away early Thursday morning at his home.  He was 69.  He was so loved by others who followed his writings and by his close and loving family who will be in my prayers.  I know we never met but losing a blog buddy is hard.  I've lost a few in the past. They do leave a hole that is hard to fill but life does go on and I know Rick would want us to do good deeds in our community, be kind to others, and I think continue to write about our lives.  In that vein I will tell you about a short trip Jack and took yesterday.  Jack wanted to go down to the Boy Scout Camp for the Friday night final campfire.  It was the final night of scout camp this year.  Due to Covid it was shortened by a few weeks.  So we headed down to Coshocton and had dinner with the scouts and staff that Jack has come to know after serving there for 30yrs.

The dining hall hailing the motto..For Friendship

Due to Covid the dining experience had to be separated into units with some troops eating outdoors and some indoors.  Not sure if they rotated that schedule but it was a hot week and, indoors or out, you probably were about at the same comfort level!

A few minutes to chitchat with some staff friends.

We headed down to the final campfire of the week.

Totem Poles with their symbolic meaning for the scout reservation and the scouters.

The smell of a campfire, the flicker of the fireflies, the silly songs, and words of encouragement and claps of achievement rang out in the cove.  An enjoyable evening and a nice farewell till next year.  Lots of people tell me they could never blog because they would have nothing to write about. I say we all have a story.  Whether it's a simple post about your day, animals, the weather,  or whatever you want to put out there, it's still you saying what's on your mind.  Words in writing that others may have about you when you're not here to say them.  RIP Rick.  I know I'll continue this blog until it's not fun anymore or I'm not here to do it and I'll think of you and your life that we all will miss.