On Blogging

Last Father’s Day, my oldest son set up a blog for me at wordpress. He did all of the hard work of creating a theme and template, and administered my blog. When something technical failed, I called on him. All I had to do was write, take pictures, and publish my stories. I enjoyed blogging and learned from the experience.

Blogging helped me work on my writing style and hone “my own voice.” After years in academia, even though I did write and produce plays, my writing diminished to the demands of the job. I perfected memo writing and classroom observations! When I retired, I started writing a journal, and didn’t worry much about form. I wrote observations, recorded happenings, and came to terms with my life. Writing the blog, with the character of pappy and the aid of photographs, helped me bring these experiences together and write without concern about commercial success.

Fortunately, I found an audience for what I wrote. Stories as diverse as The Gudgeonville Bridge and the meaning of “Boca Raton” where found through search engines. My reminiscences where among my most popular pieces; for instance, a story on my graduation from kindergarten has been read around the world. That long ago occasion inspired some fellow educators. Stories on my 50th high school class reunion allowed old friends to reenter my life. People were moved by stories about my mother and father. Furthermore, my academic expertise has lived on in articles about American Melodrama, the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and other historical and theoretical writings have been helpful for people’s research. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and such it is with my old blog.

I am grateful for the time spent writing these pieces, and even more thankful for the audience that has helped inspire my writing.

Now, as I conceive of a new blog, I will reconsider how I want to approach my writing by taking in the ephemeral nature of blogging.

Thanks,

pappy