I’m a bad blogger

11. November 2008 by admin.

Yes, I know it. Far too few entries, far too dry, a bit too formal…at least that is my perception. Plus, I can’t get past the thought that absolutely no one is reading any of it. But I was brought up short this weekend at the Memorial Art Gallery’s Fine Craft Show when at least five people commented on the blog, and wished I were more current with it. So, some of you out there are reading…I had no idea!

But, lest this become a Sally Field moment, I will move on…

When I thought of the idea of a blog, I figured it would be a way to chronicle the parts of my days and weeks, to give entree to the process of being a full-time potter.  I imagined that people would read it, ask questions, and there could be some sort of dialogue on what essentially is a static web site.  But, I found upon returning home from a day in the studio, that I had no desire to rehash the day’s activities on the computer, that I was more interested in getting on with other things, and generally bored with what I had been doing.  I’m pretty much socked into the studio during the day, and sometimes into the evening, and when I get home, most often get in an exercise and stretching session before settling in to do some cooking.  Not the stuff that the producers of Entertainment Tonight are looking for…  So, what to do?

Those of you that know me personally know that I am never short of opinions or ideas on virtually any subject.  My passions run high,  (just check in with any of my studio mates!) and I’m often found mid-rant at the studio, responding to someone on the radio or to something in the news.  So, perhaps some of those rants will get transcribed to these pages.  Perhaps I’ll offend or stimulate some of you enough that you’ll reply, and we’ll see where that goes.

Maybe I’ll just gently recycle some of the ideas that I’ve been ruminating on during the day.  Maybe I’ll share a recipe.  Maybe I’ll think to pick up the camera when something interesting happens and I’ll get a shot of it and post it here.  We’ll see…

Meanwhile, today is Veteran’s Day.  I mostly think that holidays in America have lost their meaning…to most folks they are just an excuse to take a day off, to fit in a trip, or an inconvenience with the banks and  post office closed.  I like to think about why the holiday became that.  In this case, we commemorate the signing of the peace that ended WWI, on the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.  We take that day to honor the service of all of the men and women who have worn our country’s uniform.  I never served our country in the armed forces, though I do believe in the idea of service to an idea or entity that is larger than each of us individually.  So I sat down with my friend Rich this morning, a Marine veteran of Vietnam who saw a good bit of combat.  I asked him for his ideas of the day, what it meant to him.  He responded that to him it means recognizing that freedom is never free.  That he, and all the others, fought, or fight so that, among other things, we could be having the conversation we were having in a private place, without fear of having the door broken down by force by a government not of our own making.  He says he wants it not to be about old vets like him, but rather about those who are in harms way right at that very moment, in the hills of Afghanistan perhaps, not knowing if this would be their last moment on earth.  And without any false bravado or sentimental posturing, he talked about his love of America, of the idea of America, and how if needed, he would go and serve her again.  It was a moving conversation, and I found myself reflecting on it throughout the day.

So, I guess that is my thought for the day.  Now it’s time to go stir the soup and then get on the exercise bike.

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