When I began blogging the friend who had initially lighted my interest in blogging suggested I 'follow' Ree Drummond: The Pioneer Woman. So I visited her blog. I really enjoyed what I read and left a comment. Soon after, however, I knew I would neither return to her site, nor would I ever 'follow' her (subscribe to her read feed (for those non-bloggers who may be reading this)).
Let me begin by saying her blog is well written and informative; her photos beautiful. I believe we could even be friends. We'd talk about her lovely, well-behaved children. She might even laugh when I told her that I feel that sometimes children are a punishment from God.
Ree and I have much in common as I am a pretty good cook -- actually -- I'm better than 'pretty good'. Granted, I don't cook for as many as she does, but I have in the past. I don't use as much garlic or hot sauce as she does, but that's okay -- to each her own! Her cooking show is informative and entertaining; I could share a lot of my family's Italian recipes and she could tell me what a skirt steak is.
Maybe I could help with her home-schooled kids' English lessons, since I'm still a certified English teacher. She could teach me why cowboys don't take their hats off at the table -- I'm sure there's some good reason -- and I could tell her why as a teacher, I slow down when I see prison work crews on the highway looking for past students. We'd have great fun.
So why won't I 'follow' her? After I left the classroom I began blogging as a means of meeting people; connecting with others who have similar enjoyments; making friends. Fellow bloggers understand how thrilling it is to see that someone has left a comment. And although Ree may want to reach thousands of folks, she has different goals. I am certain I'll never get a reply to my comment or a blog visit from her. And that's okay.
About Me
- KathyA
- I am a retired English teacher and department head, the mother of three grand mother of four, and have been married to the same man for 53 years, two years after we met at college. I taught in both middle and high schools as I really love teens and in-betweens. I was also a certified Lamaze instructor, and for a short time a volunteer chaplain at Howard County General Hospital. I am a two-time cancer survivor, ovarian (2003), and breast (2019) I was born in South Philadelphia and grew up in the 'burbs with great parents, in a bilingual household. I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks, the Phillies, the Eagles, the Orioles, and sometimes the Ravens. I love being Mom, Aunt Kathy, Nona Kathy (Kath), and Teacher. I spend a lot of time in my gardens in the spring and summer, and in the winter I plan what I'm going to plant. I also am an avid reader, cook, photographer, lover of languages, music, and four-footed furries.
5 comments:
I have encountered some blogs that are all "one way" too, and I have dropped them as well. I know I have a lot of invisible "followers", but for me, blogging is a form of conversation.
Reading about someone's ambitious cookery, lovely home decorating, adventures in homeschooling, etc. kind of wears me out. Your post made me wonder why I still occasionally blog. I started back when Mom, then 90, moved in with us. It was a way of venting. There were also many funny stories to tell. Mom died nearly ten years ago. I realize now what a maddening, yet enriching, decade we all lived through, but when she was gone, there wasn't that much to write about. I knew she wouldn't find and read my blog, so it was all right. Maybe I will find new things to write about, but maybe no.
I loved this. I identify with you so much. I thought I was the only one looking for past students among those groups of prisoners. ;) I look in the police blotter too. I agree with you on why I blogger. I don't keep up like I used to with blogging, but my blogging friends are my friends. I get them. They get me. We support each other. You have especially been supportive to me. It means so much to me. I never follow those "other" blogs seeking numbers and recognition either. I'm beyond caring about decorating for house beautiful. The truth is I never cared for such things. I like my home to look nice and be comfy, but I find that decorating it has never been high on my list. I wish I were a better cook, or cared more about cooking, but I don't. I enjoy it when I cook, but I've never been a natural born cook.
I love your lion! Hey, that's a good question. Why don't they take their hats off?? Hat hair?
Happy Spring to you!
I felt like I was in a crowded hotel ballroom when I stopped by her blog. Not home.
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