Sunday, June 21, 2009

Spontaneity

Summer Solstice (or Winter Solstice). Father's Day. Memories. Spontaneity. And (click on picture for full effect) objet trouve, or found art. I was just minding my own business, walking along the beach at Teddy Bear Cove here in Bellingham, and looked down to see this lovely shot, which has grown on me with each viewing.

Father's Day is filled with memories, which have been unleashed by my latest foray through my favorite blogs. Sometimes I feel a little sad for the man I called "Daddy" -- and who was idolized by my young mind. I remember when I was in my early teens wishing my mother would die so I could take her place. That youngster did not realize what the word "incestuous" meant. Now both of my parents have passed away and in my now-much-wiser imagination, are together looking down at me and smiling indulgently at their progeny. But my father and his memory are distant, since he died thirty years ago.

Both of my parents died of cardiovascular disease in their sixties. All five of my siblings (as well as me) take statins, which were not available to our parents. I keep my genetics in check with simvastatin, but of course something will come along to help me join with them at some future time. Until then, I can be thankful for the health that allows me to play, jump, skip, and dance.

The Summer Solstice marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Last night, here in Bellingham at 49 degrees latitude, I went to bed at 9:30 (with my latest book) and noticed that it was still light outside. Now the days will begin to shorten, and by the harvest moon the days will be equal in length to the nights.

The other thing I have noticed is how hot it is around the country. So many people in the southern states and southwest are complaining in their blogs about the heat, while here in Bellingham today we have clouds and sun, the possibility but not probability of showers, and a temperature of 57 deg F (14 deg C). The windows are open and a sweater is required in the house for comfort. We moved away from Boulder because we wanted the ocean environment and no more 90-degree days. So far, after 14 months, I can say we have gotten just what we wanted in so many ways.

Now there is one more thing I'd like to add. Why am I having such trouble getting people to follow and read my blog? Is there something I should be doing differently? Are my posts lacking in some way I can't see? What do I need to change? The reason I ask is that I notice how much I enjoy reading the comments on other posts, and how encouraging it is to have someone care enough to say something about my ruminations. Because of this, any time I feel moved by somebody's blog, I comment. Just asking.
:-]

9 comments:

  1. I'm tempted to move out there too! How many rainy days do you have?

    I don't know the trick to attracting people. It just happens... When I was new (not long ago), if I found a blog I liked, I checked out the blogs they followed too. Anything that interested me, I followed. Lots of them became my followers too. Now I worry about trying to keep up with them! But I still will happen on one that I just have to add...

    Good luck, and have fun!

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  2. We are going to Ohio tomorrow – I hope it won’t be as hot over there, it is terrible today, it feels like over 100 and humid. One thing my daughter did on my blog is to place a map and at the bottom of the blog, a counter. I believe many people read blogs but don’t comment. I can tell by the counter, you click on it, then you get to their program and you can see how many people have come and looked. With the map, you can see where people came from. She used the free programs on each, but I would not know how to do it myself. You can go on my blog and click on the map then go all the way down and click on the counter. There may be web addresses and you could get their free programs too. I don’t get many comments but it makes me feel better to see that people from India or France, for example, came to take a look.

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  3. It is very hot here DJan. We've had temperatures in the upper 80's/low 90's and that is terribly hot for me, used as I am to English weather.
    Maybe people are lazy and don't put you in their blog following list. Try becoming a follower yourself of many Blogs and see if that starts something.
    I shall probably end up on statins before long. I love the whole milk and nothing else will do, so I suppose my cholesterol is higher than it should be.
    Blessings, Star

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  4. Thanks, all, for the encouraging comments! I am looking for a web counter that doesn't cost anything so I can see if indeed people are reading me but not commenting. (Vagabonde, the one on your site costs $10/month forever!) Funny what a difference it makes to know if you're being read, isn't it?

    Mss, I just want to say thanks and you are so pretty that dang it, it just feels good to see your smiling face! Gotta see if I can one myself! I can see it now: "um, would you mind just taking lots of pictures of me while I smile prettily?"

    Star, I feel as if I know you, and I would bet we could sit down over a cuppa tea and not look up for a day or two. Heartfelt thanks.

    My heart is full right now, and I am feeling validated and blessed.

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  5. Well, I'm reading yours and you're reading mine, so that makes two of us.

    I like the spontaneous art in the sand you have shared. The word Seredipty comes to mind.

    Keep ruminating, keep posting, please!

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  6. I have a stat counter on my blog, you can click on it and copy the code, it's free!

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  7. Hi DJan, I found you from AmberRose. I absolutely love your site. I read many of your back blogs and thoroughly enjoyed. Like the book reviews and really enjoyed the "Being Alive" post. I'm fairly new myself so I don't have much advice. I try to read and follow a new blog every day and that seems to gather more followers. (Your followers don't show up on your site). I'm clicking on to follow you right now. Keep writing, you're great. Good luck.

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  8. Hi,i think you should just enjoy your blogging,followers come if your blog interests them but hey! you should have fun too.Web stats you can find online for free.Follow blogs you have something in common with,it helps if you have many interests,i have an art blog & a travel blog so if you like drop by.HAVE A GREAT DAY!

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