Saturday, April 27, 2013

Post No. 1000: All Those Simple Thoughts

This is my one-thousandth post here at Velvet Sacks. It's taken a long time to reach that milestone -- seven years and three months, to be exact -- but the sense of accomplishment is sweet all the same.

I had no expectation when I started this blog that it would last as long as it has. In fact, I wrote in my very first post on January 27, 2006, "I hope I'll stick to blogging longer than my feeble attempts at journaling lasted. All of my journal entries seem to be dated in the first few days of January--of different years." So what made the difference? You did.

When I wrote in a journal, I wrote alone. Here, I write as part of a community of other writers and readers: warm, friendly people who come together in a joint effort to understand and explain how it feels to be human in today's world. You've made me see that we're all running this human "race" together, and when I've stumbled, you've picked me up. You've kept me going.

There are no literary masterpieces here, but there are a few posts I consider my best work. There are many others that I read and find so lacking in substance that I wonder why I bothered writing them. Then I think about that, and the answer comes to me: I wrote because I was reaching out. I may not have had anything meaningful to say, but I needed to connect with you. Thank you for being there. Here.

Mindful that this significant-numbered post would fall on a Saturday, I searched my iTunes list to pick out a relevant Saturday Song Selection. When I scrolled down to the JJ Grey & Mofro song posted below, I realized it expresses my feelings beautifully. It's a wonderful song about life, but it also happens to be a perfect metaphor for sticking with something that's challenging, even during the times it seems most difficult -- for example, the process of writing an ongoing personal journal on the Internet.

"'How many more days can you hold out,
How much longer can you wait?' she asked.
There was a time I thought I, I could answer,
But my tongue gets tied as my thoughts drift away.

"All those simple thoughts, all those peaceful dreams,
Share the space with a hard-worked, hard-worked day,
But it's the little things, the little things, not expectation,
That make life worth living, worth living.

"Glory, Glory, Hallelujah,
The sun is shining, shining down.
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah,
I'm alive and I'm feeling, Lord, feeling fine."



The song is "The Sun is Shining Down" by JJ Grey & Mofro.
Thanks to Jeremy Smith for creating and posting this lovely video on YouTube.
Click here to read the full lyrics.


15 comments:

  1. Congrats on 1000 posts, Mom! I haven't missed a single one and don't plan on missing any of the next few thousand, either. :) You're such a wonderful writer. Love you!

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  2. Congratulations! I've read almost all of them and I thank you for sharing these interesting snippets of your life with us. You are a fabulous writer so the literary trips you take us on are most enjoyable. Big hugs.

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  3. Congratulations on your 1000th post! Great song for today. Thanks.

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  4. Congratulations, Sis! I, too, have read them all - some more than once. You are a gifted writer and an even better sister. I love you bunches!!!

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  5. Kim (bluffroadglass), that's high praise coming from the real writer in the family. Thank you so much for your encouragement on this writing journey. Love you, too, sweetie--SO much!

    Val, thank you and right back at you! I could say those same nice things about you.

    Rottrover, thank you, and I'm glad you like the song. There's a soft spot in my heart for people who share my taste in music.

    Judy, thank you so much, and I love you, too, Sis! When I write about childhood days in Springfield, I know you're the only person alive who lived those experiences with me, and it means the world to me that we have that bond and share those memories.

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  6. Congratulations Linda, I'm so glad I "found" you!

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  7. Congratulations on 1000 Velvet! You are still my favorite! ;-)

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  8. Laura, I'm glad, too. We always missed you.

    Holly, awww, thanks! Your "favorite" comment makes me want to try harder.

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  9. I know I probably don't comment as often as I should to show my appreciation, but your blog is truly my favorite. Reading your blog is as good as getting a handwritten letter from an old friend. Thank you for the time you put into this. (I'm glad you retired so you have more time for it!)
    Cheryl

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  10. Congratulations on number 1000! Reading one of your posts always makes my day. Your spirit constantly inspires me. Love you, my friend. Annette

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  11. Cheryl (pup), thank you, both for your nice comment and for sticking with me here. I'm glad I retired, too. A job certainly does eat a big hole in one's day. :)

    Annette (Writing My Novel), thank you so much! You and I and our writing efforts go back a long way. Blogging is lots more fun than writing company newsletters, don't you think? Our friendship goes way back, too, and I treasure it deeply. Love you, too!

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  12. Love your blog. Have read it for more than a year.

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  13. Anonymous, I don't know who you are or where you are, but I'm happy you're here and I appreciate your comment. Thank you.

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  14. Linda, I came across your blog years ago when I was in to making lamp work beads. I was always checking your daughter's website to see what beautiful creation she would come up with next. One day, I happened to see the link up in the corner of her website that said "Velvet Sacks/Mom's Blog." Boy, am I glad I clicked on it! I've read every post since then. Congratulations on your 1000th post. I'm looking forward to 1000 more!

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  15. Joy, thanks for your nice comment and for your company on this ride.

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Your comments might be the very best thing about blogging. I love it when you care enough to share your thoughts here, so go ahead and say what's on your mind.