Goodbye November, Hello December

Just in time for us to wave goodbye to November and say hello to December, there is a breeze outside that seems determined to chase the warm temperatures away.

In the distance clouds have formed, the sight of them leave me hoping that the weather channels warning of a rainstorm this week, is real. The idea that winter will finally dig her heels into our dry region — suits my mood.

It’s day 30  of National Blog Post Month and that means it’s the final day to publish in November. Ironically it is also the first time since I took the challenge to post daily, that I have struggled to find my words.

The truth is I am kind of blue that it’s coming to a close.

Over the past 30 days I have been fortunate enough to be part of a Facebook group comprised of other writers who also made the commitment to publish daily.

As the days drifted past I came to look forward to hearing from each of them. I have laughed, nodded my head in agreement, cried and in some cases simply just been in awe. While some of the women were local friends to begin with, most I have never met in real life. Now, hours before midnight, I feel as if they all are my friends, I have come to care about their daily musings and the thought of that ending is a bit sad.

I now imagine Jamie collecting pecans from her large and quite brilliant tree so she can bake and sell pies to raise money for Ronald McDonald House.

Donna showed us her courage as she shared her brief encounter with Bill Cosby when she was younger, an experience she realizes now, could have had a very different outcome.

Feelings of grief tend to be so universal so when I read Angela’s post about Thanksgiving, depression and missing her dad, although different from my own experience, something about her essay really hit home for me.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry while reading Elaine’s post Don’t Lose the Body, Eight Tips to Plot a Funeral. I have to say I found I was thanking my brother for carrying our mothers ashes across the country safely after I read about her experience!

Although most of Linda’s posts made me literally laugh out loud, her post about her #1 New Years resolution got my attention in a more serious way. I have a hunch it may get yours too as it involves reducing stress.

One of these years I’d like to take Jackie out to dinner so she can take a night off from the countless people who seem to make a career out of tormenting waitstaff workers in restaurants. Read why she wants patrons to realize that the individuals waiting on them — don’t cook the food. Her points simply prove what I have long believed; everyone should have to work in the restaurant industry at some point in their life, preferably BEFORE they eat out.

Living with Multiple Sclerosis is not keeping Cathy down, she writes all kinds of empowering posts that share how she is not defined by her disease, this one where she asks to be seen as she is, really spoke to me.

This month Ruth, my local friend and brain expert, set a goal at the beginning of NaBloPoMo to “Turn up the Noise” in her life and “Boost her Brain.” One of my favorite posts that she wrote this month involves Age, Choices and Shifting Perspective via music, a post that shines a light on her playful and loving spirit.

Mary is one of those writers who bares her soul, I love the way she weaves together stories about her life, garden and children. Does your teenager ever seem a bit grumpy? Look no further than this lovely post, Motherhood Monday, to help pull you through.

My friend Lois and I do happily know each other in real life, in fact we met because of her website! She just wrote a piece about Pinterest the other day that has never made me more grateful for a social media platform, why? Because it is her retreat, her place to dream and for that alone, I am now a raving fan.

Well November may be over but my commitment to write and publish daily is not.

And even though my desk shows all who enter my office world that I am under the spell that is creative construction — with all my multiple projects strewn about — I have grown attached to sharing a little piece of me with all of you daily.

Thank you to those of you who show up to read my posts, your being here means more to me than I can possibly express. After all, that’s what it’s all about — connecting with people — the December NaBloPoMo theme is Joy, I welcome you to join me…