Nobody Better, Vol. 1

I initiated this post with me starring in the role of dorky, wide-eyed middle school girl, squealing with delight that my best friend is coming to visit me this weekend.  Nobody Better is the title of my new favorite song which was love at fourth listen, and though it hasn’t supplanted the tune that brought me greater than gravity, its quirky off-beats and harmonies sing to me.  Anyway, I was going to write about the anticipatory tidal wave I’m riding this week.  My BFF is the best.  Nobody Better.

Then my blog friend at My Dang Blog, legit Canadian, went and nominated me for a Liebster Award.  She published a book this week!  Like for reals published a hold-it-in-your-hands (and/or electronic reader probably) book!  The Liebster award is awarded by bloggers to new-ish, small-ish blogs they deem worthy of attention and readership.  I was nominated and accepted in March 2016, and it meant a good deal to me then. It means even more to me now, but do the rules allow me to accept?  Google returns several iterations of the truth, so we’re gonna play real fast and loose on the rules here.

I revisited my first acceptance post, and realized I haven’t kept up-to-date on a few of the blogs I recommended then, and some publish only rarely, if at all.  Blogging isn’t difficult exactly, for me it’s a complete labor of love, but it’s work.  The work is enjoyable, so much so that it isn’t work at all, but the creativity part–having something worthwhile to say and giving it voice?  I liken writing to shouting into a void–you don’t always know you’re heard.  For me, that’s OK.  Don’t get me wrong–I enjoy getting positive strokes, but my purpose isn’t notoriety.  My purpose has morphed since its genesis, to be sure.  Crying all the time about my son’s MD diagnosis became pretty one-note.  My point?  It’s easy to abandon blogging, and I miss some of those stories.  Can you miss what never happened?  I miss the idea of what could have happened had their stories continued.

A metric ton of life has dropped on me since I began to write.  I appreciate the kind words and backing of My Dang Blog, along with that of another real writer, @seanpcarlin, whose unfailing encouragement moves me. I appreciate every kind word; that you take the time to read and often leave a comment is a gift I’ll never be able to repay. Nobody Better, guys. Thank you.

The award comes with an assignment. To answer a set of questions the nominator poses, and to pay it forward.  I’m going to score a 50% on my execution here.  And I used to be such a good student.

Questions and Answers

1) Why do you write?  Initially I began writing because my older son, then age eleven, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.  I was incapable of any meaningful speech and dissolved into tears every hour on the hour.  I found that I could write the horrible words more easily than I could speak them.  When anyone newly found out about his status or asked how he was doing, I could say, “Here, read this,” with a steadier voice. Now, obviously, I write for the awards.  NO!  Now I write because I like telling stories, and it’s rare that one gets the opportunity to share stories with an audience in real life.  I love making people laugh or reflect or wonder, and sometimes I’m able to do that through my little endeavor here. Writing is still cheaper than therapy, so on my dark days, writing grabs me by the back of my shirt and pulls me safely ashore.
2) Which of your own blog posts should people read if they want to really know you?  I once believed I’d remember every word I’d ever published.  I once believed in the Tooth Fairy too, so yeah. . .  My first blog Thanksgiving is a post I remember well. I felt like I’d found my voice, and that voice sounded more balanced than it had during the preceding months.   Give me five minutes, and I’ll recall ten I think fit more aptly here. 

3) Best hybrid animal and why?  The dogotter.  Because dogs are awesome and otters are adorable.  And also because otters are awesome and dogs are adorable.  Have you ever seen a despondent otter?  Exactly.

4) Flowers or chocolate?  I underappreciate flowers as a gift; chocolate rides the fence of “Do you sincerely believe I will enjoy these or are you sabotaging my weight loss maintenance again?” Ack. Flowers.  They’re beautiful.  And mostly guilt-free.
5) What was your favourite childhood toy?  (See, My Dang Blogger is Canadian and uses the “u,” and I’m pretend moving to Canada, so I’m keeping it). I was given a third- or fourth-hand Magnus Chord Organ in elementary school, and I played it til my fingers bled.  The Barbie Camper was a kickass sa-weeeeet second place finisher here.
6) What is one thing about your life that you would change?  I’d choose for my kid not to have a progressive neuromuscular disease.  That would be super.  I’m not a hostage to regret, but there are two major life choices I sometimes wish I’d done (or still do) differently:  When anyone I know moves their residence to a faraway location, I wish I’d had the nerve to have done that at least once in my life.  At times, I wish I had worked professionally for another entity than a public school district.  I wanted to be a deejay when I was in college, but the idea of job instability crushed my dream.  No, that’s not true.  I wanted to be a deejay, but I was always a “good girl,” a dutiful, loyal student and employee who was predictable, reliable, and got good grades. We are who we are.  Apparently we are not deejays.
7) Who is your favourite writer?  An impossible question to answer. Jenny Lawson, @thebloggess, is my favorite blogger.  I tend to obsess over books (Jane Eyre, The Shadow of the Wind, Wonder) more than authors.  Having said that, I tend to read popular fiction detective/lawyer series, so I have some favourites, but no cheese stands alone.
8) Are you crafty? (Either ‘cunning’ or ‘able to make crafts’) NOT AT ALL ABLE TO MAKE CRAFTS.  Yes, I’m shouting. Not sly either. I’m the openest open book ever written.  My brilliant coworker Christine once mentioned how I’m quite skilled at making people come around to agree with my point of view, so maybe I am a wee bit crafty at that.
9) What movie do you like to watch over and over? Why?  There are a few. Should I be embarrassed to admit The Hangover may hold the top spot?  At least 45 lines from The Hangover have wended their way into our everyday family parlance.  It’s so inappropriate and frat boy immature. And hilarious.
10) What makes you laugh? Everything makes me laugh. I’m wildly inappropriate (see #9 above).   I am not exaggerating when I say I snort from laughter at least four to five times per day.  Ask my coworkers.  I love a good highbrow spin as much as I love fart jokes.  Good timing, tone, and sass are a total turn-on.

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My Dang Blog. Come for the laughs. Stay for the lunacy.

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Random Writings on the Bathroom Wall. Little blasts of fun.

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Jackie, the Baseball Bloggess. Because baseball! Not just box scores.

I’m Not Good At Following Directions And Also My Best Friend Is Going To Be Here In Less Than 24 Hours So I Have To Finish

What are YOU reading?  Really, what are you reading?  I want to know.  Maybe you’re reading one of the blogs I mentioned above or one I nominated for the Liebster a few years ago (I’m looking at you Psychomother and Disabilty, Dating & Determination).  Cool!  Maybe you’re reading a novel you can’t put down.  Tell me about it.

Because I’m not sure I can formally accept again, and I’m sleepy and bad at rules, I’m going to say this:  Thank you.  Thank you for thinking enough of me to include me here, and for all of you who remind me that I make a sound when I holler.  There’s Nobody Better than you.  Nobody.