June 29, 2012

Why you do the things you do...


Happy One Year Anniversary to MOI.  One year of blogging, is that the "Re-assessment" anniversary?   I have to admit I am rather shocked, SHOCKED I tell ya, that I am still here in Blog-land blogging.  And am even MORE verklempt that I have some people who are actually interested in what I have to show and tell.  My natural inclination is to think that the only people interested in what I have to say or think are....well....MOI.  Which I guess brings me right back to the beginning.  WHY I do the things I do.  Like....blog.



"Why Did I Do That?"
(self-portrait)


Truthfully, I don't think I gave much thought as to WHY I wanted to blog.  I'm pretty good at just jumping into things without any more thought than "Because I WANT to damn it".   Hate to admit this is no Earth shattering revelation to those who know me.  On the surface, I "rationalized" I wanted to be held accountable to improve my photography.  That sounded legit, right?  And I think I believed that was the initial impetus. But quite honestly, if I delve deeper I  guess I just wanted a space of my OWN to show and tell what "I" wanted to show and tell.  That becomes a rare commodity as a wife and mom.  We tend to sacrifice bits and pieces of ourselves until we willingly and happily give away so many pieces that we become unrecognizeable to ourselves.  Maybe I shouldn't assume this happens to anyone other than myself.  But sometimes I feel I am a flashing blue light special at K-Mart (haha..my family is laughing right now at the idea that I have even been IN a K-Mart) and everyone is stampeding at me.  Scratch that...I'm a pair of designer shoes at a Barney's basement sale.

At one time in my life, I was kind of a smart and funny girl...who liked shoes.  I'm just not sure where or when I lost the smart and funny part.  The shoes?  Luckily they were still in my closet.  But my Things sure didn't think I was very smart or funny.  Probably for good reason...because I wasn't anymore.  I lost my sense of humor right along with my brain cells thru the years.  But my Thing #2 STILL liked to borrow my shoes...so all was not lost.

When it comes right down to it, I blog to be me.  It's why I do many of the things I do these days.  The only role I play here in Blog-land is that of...moi.  And that is a welcome escape and sanctuary.  Funny how developing my photographic eye and skills, and dusting off my writer's pen keyboard resulted in a slow re-assembly of all those pieces of me that had been chipped away.  Having a place to show and tell exactly what "I" want to show and tell is very self-healing.  If nothing else, IF this self-evaluation is part of a mid-life crisis well then....my Better Half should be smiling that he got off without having to buy me a shiny red sports car convertible.  So I guess I also blog to save the Better Half some money, haha. Yep, still "Queen of Rationalization".

I'm 52 years old.  But since blogging...I really don't feel my age.  I think it is in part because I like what I re-discovered in myself.  I like seeing the beauty in the often unnoticed thru photography.  And I like the humor I see in the everyday happenings of my life.  And I STILL like my shoe closet.  Yes, I have a closet.  Yes, it is just for shoes.  Yes....I think that is kinda awesome, just sayin'. You know what else I think is kinda cool?  That I will have a tangible record of my words and photographs for my future grandkids (waaaaaaay future) to see.  And MAYBE they will say "WOW, (I need to first find a VERY cool name for Grandmom to fill in here) was a pretty awesome lady, AND she wore some kick-a$$ shoes too!!!!!"

It's just why I do the things I do.  Happy Anniversary to Moi...

--Kathy





31 comments:

  1. Happy blog-aversary!! I love reading your thoughts and seeing your gorgeous pics!! To may more blog posts!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the self portrait but then I am a massive fan of self portraits.... and have done tons and tons of my own.

    Mollyxxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy Blog-aversary. You've hit on exactly why I read your blog. You are smart and very funny (and you write about and show pics of Philly). I love your boots and am sure I would love all of your shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. There's those gorgeous boots again...and more gorgeous words to read, too. I, for one, am SO glad you blog. It's a pleasure to read each and every post! Your humor and your realness shines through.

    ReplyDelete
  5. good for you - everyone has there own reasons for blogging - I struggle with it sometimes and can't decide if it's too distracting for my family - but I still am plugging along - 7 years later!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy Anniversary to you...I love reading your blog, you bring out the best in yourself both in your wonderful creative writing skills as well as your beautiful photos. I agree, it is a way to express yourself and you do it so marvelous!! Congrats again!

    ReplyDelete
  7. love that self portrait - congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  8. To the woman who has LOTS to say and often with such great wit and sense of fun. Happy Anniversary. Selfishly I say I'm delighted that you've joined the ranks of bloggers I enjoy exchanging with. On crappy days, I know I'll smile when I read what "moi" (that's you moi, not me moi) has to say.
    As for the shoes, you go girl. I have no kick ass shoes, just love me my sneakers. On the rare occasion when I do wear some clunky practical shoes, everyone knows I've made a supreme effort to be a little more dressed up than tshirt and jeans.
    Love your selfie this month and glad to see it isn't a plank, cuz I ain't got no plank either. happy day to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plank, schmank...totally saw no point in that...for moi at least :). Thank you for your nice words

      Delete
  9. Congrats on your year of blogging. I have to say I think your pretty darn funny. I know thats why I keep comeing back to your blog. Most of the time you have me LOL.. Oh ya and then there is the awesome photos.. LOVE THEM..

    Hope you enjoy your weekend.

    Hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy Anniversary and congrats for sticking with it. I think there's a whole lot of us who see ourselves in your words. Rediscovering who we are keeps us sane or at least it did me. Because I refused to submit to the G (grandma)title, my only grandchild calls me Mimi and I love it each time I hear it, so when the time comes make your title uniquely you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy Anniversary! and hope you are here for a really long time being yourself. Great post, and.... great shoes too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Of course I am here to wish you Happy Anniversary on your blogging...........I have no quips or quotes today just wish you every success and pleasure from blogging for many years to come.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Blogiversary Kathy - and here's to many more years of your perfect pics and witty words x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, I for one am glad our blogging paths crossed, because I think you ARE funny and you always put a smile on my face with both your words and your pics. LOVE this one ...... and happy one year! In exactly one month from today I'll be joining that something-ish age that ryhmes with nifty! lol

    ReplyDelete
  15. I often think about why the heck I keep blogging... but when it comes down to it, I really love the connections I've made with other people. It would be difficult for me to quit that and be left wondering what ever happened to...?

    Congrats on your one-year anniversary. Not many bloggers make it to that day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy anniversary. So glad I stumbled upon your blog through Ashley Sisk & SHS photos.
    I've enjoyed getting to know you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dang it girl-I think you are funnier than hell.I tend to shy away from long reading bit NOT your writing. I fully appreciate every word, on awe of your photography and if I was 1/2 as witty as you, I could have written-minus the shoe closet!!!! But your words struck home about giving pieces o yourself away until you don't recognize yourself anymore. I COULD have written that! It happened in my 30's and I've managed to keep ME for the last 18years. I look forward to the next year!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kelly, thank you soooo much for being such a "familiar face" here on my blog. It is really appreciated.

      Delete
  18. Oh yeah- happy anniversary!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Well said. Happy anniversary
    Love those boots :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations. I love stopping over here. You make me smile and I hope your readers make you happy too. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  21. While it doesn't surprise me that you have, yet again, summed things up perfectly, I just want to tell you that you've summed up things perfectly. Especially the part where you've found this space, your space. Thank for the pleasure you've provided when I visit your space. I have limited time these days but your blog is a must for me, I delight in your wonderful, inspiring (yes, they really are inspiring for me) photos, your accurate words and your open and as a result warm nature. Thank you. And congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Is there really a blue light at K-mart? If so, apparently I haven't been there enough. Whereas Walmart has 20 something lanes with three checkouts open, K-mart has about six with one check out open and it never fails that when I get up to the register they decided to open another one. Okay that was my K-mart vent. You know I was going to say how I enjoy your blog (Happy one year) and WISH you had a subscribe by email button and low and behold there it is over there. You've got a new subscriber coming. I'm not sure how I found you but its fun to stop by. Sometimes I dream about going for a ride in the Tiffany car. I think those were my all time favorite pics. I don't know what movie this is from where the rich guy rings someones doorbell and says, "My wife really likes this house, how much do you want for it?" They say, "It's not for sale." They guy says, "You don't understand my wife REALLY likes this house." The next thing you see is moving vans. Well sort of off the subject again, but I wish we were rich like that and my husband could approach the owner of that car and say, "You don't understand...." SOLD to the lady at Here's the thing... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Okay that wasn't the subscribe button for your blog to come in my email. That was the subscribe for these comments. I want the blog one ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congrats on your blog anniversary...kick ass boots. There comes time in ones life where you have to do thing just for yourself. Good for you.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I totally relate! And I dream of a closet just for shoes...when one of my things moves on?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congratulations on sticking with it for a whole year, Kathy. I am so glad of this venue.
    And of course I love the boots, but I could never get my runner's calves in them. :-)
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy Blogoversary.

    Looooooooooooove your self portrait.

    Wish you were here to help me do one like that!

    You Rock.

    ReplyDelete