Checking In

When I started this particular blog series I dreamt of approximately 100 posts that would serve as rough drafts of stories and essays for a book I hope to put together someday.  I wanted to share my experiences with others in a way that, if only for a moment, took them out of their own lives and into another's in hopes that while they are there they might laugh or cry or cringe in a way that would force them to look at their own experiences in a new way. What I ended up doing was writing 2-3 blogs about important lessons I was learning (BORING) and then my life blew up and I let those difficult experiences distract me from my goal and rob me of the bravery to keep going. I never stopped writing, but I definitely stopped posting. I am now checking in with the 3 or 4 readers I might have left (my mother-in-law, my husband, my best friend, and maybe my oldest brother) to say that I still want to do this and I could use some extra motivation and the occasional pep talk! Also, don't let me keep drafts for more than a month, don't let me delete posts after I publish them, and don't let me read the posts for at least 48 hours after I publish them or you can guarantee that I will secretly delete it using my phone as soon as you leave the room. In exchange for your efforts I promise to change your name in any stories that might embarrass you. (Except you, Ashley. I need to post our camping story and it wouldn't be as charming pretending it was anyone else. I am also working on one in which I list all the reasons you and I used to not kiss various boys in high school. Everyone knows you were my only friend in high school. I wouldn't be fooling anyone by changing the name.)