My Tribe and a Thank You

In an e-mail exchange a bit back with Averil, she had mentioned that she had looked for my blog but couldn’t find it. I told her that I didn’t think that I could keep one up, between the job, the mommying, the writing, or that I had that much to say (yes, I really did say that, stop laughing). She mentioned that she does it partly to hone her craft, that she’s a work in progress. Bells started ringing the moment I read that. I had been following so many blogs for so long, getting attached to ones that brought me something.

I have been working on my book, pretty much in isolation with the exception of my husband, and the blogs I read and kept reading were ones that made me laugh, made me think, made me worship (some of you write so well), made me think. Altogether they gave me a sense of community that I had been lacking. After the exchange with Averil, I came across a comment on over at Betsy’s. I believe it was Sarah W who said, “I’ll make my own damn community’. And voila, that’s all it took. Without realizing it, I was looking for this tribe, all of you, who work so hard to find the right word, the right plot, the right character name.

But it is so much more than that. I am in touch with all of you more than most people in my life. I look forward to recommended fiction, nonfiction, writing books. When something tragic happens, I want to write, but I also want to share. I want to read. I want to read about your struggles, and your triumphs. We are so strong together.

I want all of us to not feel so alone and in all of those silly, fantastic links at the side of my blog, where you on a daily, weekly, monthly basis pour out your hearts, or your knowledge, or your support, and I cannot forget the photos, oh the photos (MSB), here is where I find me. Some people may do it to find an agent, and hat’s off to them. With what I’ve been writing though it’s possible that my writings may not work in my favor. But frankly, it doesn’t matter. That’s just not what this is about for me. It’s about people, in a disconnected world, people who give a damn, and take a moment to hold each other up, while keeping their families together and their mortgages/rents paid. People who try to find the truth, who speak the truth as far as they’re able.

Raw. Beautiful. True. Complicated.

So, to my tribe, and any of you who may be reading but don’t enjoy to comment, thank you. Thank you for giving me a community that I don’t have way out here in the boondocks. Thank you for your thoughts, and your wisdom, and your humor, especially the humor.

I have to say, I think I have gained more than I have given. Averil was spot on. It is a way to work on my writing in a completely different way, but it is so much more. And Sarah, this is our own damn community. And maybe someday if we’re very lucky, and work really hard, and open the damn door (Downith, I’m looking at you), something will come of all of this writing.

But if not, I’ve already won.

My tribe.

(I’m still trying to figure the link feature out. I did try to link to all of the beautiful people, but alas. If anyone wants to read more from any of them, please see the side of my blog. Over and out.)