In 1931 the immortal Duke Ellington gave us the song It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing. Of course in my house swing translates into bling since Pixie loves bling. Bling is more than something bright and shiny to look at. Bling is a quality that reaches up and grabs you. I love art. I never get tired of Van Gogh's The Starry Night. Christmas becomes Christmas when I hear Silent Night. My favorite song is, and always has been, Unchained Melody. I can read Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince over and over. Their are writers here on Daily Kos that have that bling for me.
I read what Kos writes not only because he is the boss man here but because his style is entertaining, although, as my Dad used to say sometimes his language would make a sailor blush. Bill in Portland Maine never fails to brighten my day and make me laugh. I learn a lot from Meteor Blades and I always go away from reading what he writes with the feeling I have been in the presence of a true gentleman. Ojibwa is my favorite teacher. Susan Grigsby shares my love for mysteries and I am always discovering new writers that she has recommended. I have learned so much about politics and how it works from Joan, Jed, Hunter, Ian, and the other Front Page writers.
I came here on May 5, 2008 from the old Street Prophets. Ojibwa realized he could get me to continue to write twice a week by making me an Admin on Street Prophets here. It is mind boggling to see that I have written over 800 diaries. I have 92 people following me and that blows my mind. Like many I came for the politics and stayed for the community.
Why do I write? I write Thursday Coffee Hour and Sunday All Day Brunch as part of our Street Prophet's community. I write because I'm an artist and photographer and sometimes we need a visual break from politics. I write because I have learned how to cook healthy out of necessity. I was Mom's caregiver and she had a bad heart so I needed to cook heart healthy and now, as a full time caregiver to a severe diabetic, I cook diabetic healthy. Their are many people here who are new to dealing with diabetes or heart problems and I share my recipes to help them eat in a new way. In answer to the common question, no the cookbook still isn't finished but hopefully by next year. I write because their are people here who are new to care giving and maybe what I have learned as a caregiver can help them. I write because I have been in the throes of serious grief in the last couple of years and the community here has helped me through that grief. I write about my cat Pixie because good grief do you know how many people are owned by pooties here on Daily Kos?
I have tried to incorporate some of that "bling" I find in other writers. I try and use humor, entertainment, teaching, passion, and courtesy in my writing. What is important to me as a writer is writing from my heart. It is a wonderful feeling when something I write gets tips, on the Recommend List, or Community Spotlight. I am honored that 92 people want to know what I have to say. My validation as a writer since 2008 on Daily Kos comes from the friends I have made, people willing to give me advice when I need it, people who will rejoice with me when something exciting happens in my life, and the people who have been there for me when I have felt I have hit rock bottom. I have a Community Quilt on my bed. That is all the bling I need. I write for the love of writing not to boost my ego. I don't mean a thing if it ain't got that bling.
What friends are for.
Got to have bling!