IWSG - Blogging, friends and the universe

It's IWSG time!!!!

Even if I'm a little late today.

In the words of the founder, Alex J Cavanaugh, the IWSG is there 'To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!'

The first Wednesday of every month is the time we post our woes, hopes, dreams, concerns, ideas, chit-chats, or whatever else moves us. 

Special thanks goes to the co-hosts this month:  Louise - Fundy Blue , Jennifer Lane, Mary Aalgaard, Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, and Nancy Gideon!

 

Actually, I've been thinking all the last days... "Wednesday is IWSG! This month, I'm going to get that post ready more than a few minutes beforehand. I even know what I want to say!"  And then, this morning hit and.... 

Yep, I'd forgotten to do it.

But at least, I know what I want to say! 

First:

Bookworm for Kids has its own domain! You can now type www.bookwormforkids.com and be taken right to the site. Awesome? I think so.

Second:

This month's question:

Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?

Gosh, yes. I can't even begin to count the amount of super, amazing people I've met because of blogging. Honestly, it's changed my world on that end, and I count every single one of them as a blessing. There are tons and tons of great people out there, and blogging has given me a way to meet some of them. Each one is really dear to me... even if I have time issues and don't reach out to all of them nearly often enough. And some have even fallen by the way-side, which makes me feel so terrible...but I can't keep up with all of them even if I wished I could. Is there any way just to reach out and give all of you a huge hug?

Not being able to keep up with everyone is probably one of my biggest regrets in life. All of you are really that wonderful.

Third: (and this one does have to do with some of those amazing friends I've made on through blogging)

I'm just going to quickly mention this now because I'm actually saving the announcement for a later date, but I received an email Sunday which offered to have Music Boxes included in a time capsule that's being sent to the moon through Writers on the Moon. (Super cool, right?) This also involved writing a small note to future 'readers'.  I hate these things because I never have any idea what I should say. 

Well, a few hours after I received that email, my brother called to tell me about a package my parents received from the cousin of my grandfather (who lived to be a week short of 99 and passed away about 10 years ago). She was cleaning out her house and found a box of old papers from my great, great, great grandfather. Not only does it include perfectly preserved love letters and postcards from the 1890s, but there was a manuscript, which was published in 1956 by my great, great, great grandfather. 

Turns out that he was a writer and a poet. He was commissioned to write the town's history of where he lived...oh, it's not a gripping read and really only done for someone who knows the area well. Which I do not. But the poem was neat and actually, fit the moon idea very, very well. Or at least, the last half of his poem did.

Now, some of his poem is heading to the moon, and I can't help but wonder what he might have thought of that if he had known.  

So, I'll just leave you with the last bit of his poem, too.

"Then let us pause a spell to write

that future youth may know,

Those valiant men who strove with might

to lay the forest low.”