One year later…

One year ago today I opened a new chapter in my writing and photography, and started Thin spiral notebook. My original blog ~ that-which-shall-not-be-named ~ had gotten too depressing and I needed a change.

This ~ arms spread wide ~ is where you’ll find me now. Stretching my writing into sometimes uncomfortable places, but hopefully always where I can grow and try new things. I’ve dabbled in fiction, poetry, a little non-fiction and sometimes a combination of all of that. I even spent a whole month trying to write a novel ~ or at least 50,000 words that claim to be somehow connected.

I’ve also taken a few photos, something I have found to be my saving grace. At least once a week, I take a whole day to myself, alone with my camera. I’ll let you in on a secret… shhhh…. I hope to have a dedicated photography website launched by the first of the year. Stay tuned…

During the past year, I’ve seen a few extraordinary milestones:

My daughter was graduated Magna Cum Laude  and moved away, many, many, MANY miles away to attend grad school.

In June, The Mister and I marked our 25th wedding anniversary and I imparted a little of what I’ve learned spending a quarter of a century with the same man.

Over the Fourth of July weekend I went home for a family reunion and an attempted reconciliation with my brother. One event went very well, the other didn’t.

Later that same month, we said goodbye to our beloved Lab, Maxx. She was 15 and we miss her terribly.

School began in August, and my son, who struggled mightily in high school, returned to Technical School for his second year. To celebrate, he got a haircut, just for me.

I intend to be here for many more years. Like any writer’s notebook, some things tucked into these pages I’ll be happy with, some I hope stay hidden among the leaves. I’m grateful to all of you who have stopped by to read or look at my photos. I hope you’ve found something you’ve enjoyed or at least made you think.

Here are a few of my favorite posts from the previous year…

Dec. 21 – Morning waits 
Jan. 10 – Guerrilla warfare
Feb. 20 – Walkabout: cemeteries and lagoons
March 18 – Guardians
April 18 – Lessons learned
May 17 – Reunion
June 3 – More chicken
July 13 – I need a wife
Aug. 31 – Family Table
Sept. 3 – Storm chasing
Oct. 23 – Panic rising as waves
Nov. 16 – Forgiveness

Thank you, and please come back any time.

Submitted as part of Shell’s “Pour Your Heart Out” writing prompt at Things I Can’t Say. Please stop by to read the other posts, and give a little comment love.