My wonderful friend Cheryl shared with me this great essay entitled "On Keeping a Notebook" by Joan Didion. In it, Didion explores the notes in her notebook and the purposes they hold. She jots down interesting observations of life--some that seem illogical, or boring to most, but yet they're in her notebook, so there must be a grand purpose for them, right?
Well, not always.
And that's okay.
She explains that our words hold meaning because we have taken the time to observe an aspect of life, big or small, and then we have chosen to capture that moment with words.
Sometimes these words mean a lot, other times, not so much.
But they're still our words.
Hmm.
Sounds an awful lot like keeping a blog, huh?
Following the article, a college student analyzes Didion's words and it really resonated with why I/we blog:
The occasions and conversations she notes down allow her to recall and recount moments
of her life, which is in turn her reason for writing. The point of her keeping notebooks is not that she should note all the interesting parts and people of the world, but that she can relive her own life. Writing is, for her, both an act of selfishly pleasing herself and, indirectly, pleasing the world
with her bright and cogent observations.
I am finding that this little blog, and the 53 or so of you that may read it, are precious to me.
You see, hold and experience my words; my observations of life
{Whether you like it or not!}
and for this I am grateful.
PS: Coolest typewriter, ever?
YES!
And it's MINE!
I inherited it from my Uncle Roy and it's just so pretty.
I can't wait to get it repaired and use it!
