Out of Touch With Blog Reality

I'm back! Not that you all knew I was even gone, but my goodness, have I ever missed blogging!

A summer blog break turned into a fall season all but missed, and here it is almost winter. At least it feels like winter! 29 degrees on our back porch until the sun hit it. Bbbrrrrr!

Now that I am huddled at my computer while the morning waits to warm up, I realize that I am out of touch with the rest of the blog community I have enjoyed so much. Not sure why today is the day to get back out here in blogland, except to say that there was a death in the neighborhood this week, right across the street in fact. And while we knew her and spoke with her, I have to wonder, what if I had known her better? If I had been more sociable, more neighborly - could I have made a difference in her final decision in this life?

Don't get me wrong. I am not an unsociable person. I am not a hermit that rarely comes out (although in the winter I wish I could be one sometimes!). It's just that social conversation does not come easily to me. I have to make an effort, work at it. I struggle with fluency in the gap between acquaintances offering polite greetings and dear friends with whom I can share intimately.

My family is one of readers and writers. In fact, we Clarks can trace our lineage back through the Mayflower to those of us in England who were clerks. See, the name itself didn't fall far from the tree! While the pen strokes flow more fluently for others in my family better endowed with the talent, writing still comes so much easier for me than speaking.

So, maybe that is why I am back. Because I can connect here through writing. I can read and browse to my heart's content and be encouraged and inspired by all you wonderful bloggers. Here I can give of myself too - in a way that suits me better - through writing - with the those of you whom I know well, those with whom I am acquainted and hope to know better, and even with you whom I haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet. For me, blogging spans that gap where conversation can be difficult and allows me to step into a sweet world of blessed friends.

And, here on my street? My desire is to become more comfortable with walking across the street and knocking on a door. Who knows? That door may open to a great friendship down the road.

Oh, the play on words in that sentence! - which means I have rambled written on too long. :-)

Thank you, fellow bloggers for opening your doors, your worlds, your hearts to me, to all of us out here! I am so appreciative to be a part of such a friendly community.

Jen