Rambling About Rambling...Perhaps a New Low

During #reverb10, I discovered a blogger, Elizabeth Howard writing at Letters from a Small State, I like an awful lot.

I haven't been following her long as I only just discovered her toward the end of December but I've found myself nodding along with her more than once, resonating with her. I find her writing accessible and warm.

Perhaps it's because I respect her as a writer - someone who has been writing for quite awhile and has established herself as a credible voice among voices - that this entry got under my skin today.

Since I know I'd be too lazy to click through and read to what it is I am referring, I'll attempt to sum up: she wrote a blogging tip advising bloggers not to ramble. Specifically, she said this:

"A blog is a Mom and Pop corner store. Readers are the customers who usually know what they want when they come in, even if it isn’t necessarily a product: sometimes they want to come to get the experience of a wonderful, special place.
The customers expect a certain amount of chit-chat at the counter. But they also want to browse around, unfettered in the experience, and be engaged by unexpected treasures on the shelf.
And, of course, they want to leave with a bag full of what they were looking for.
So here’s a question that is easy to answer: What makes you turn around and walk out of a store almost every time?
For me, it’s one of those over-friendly, gabby, won’t-leave-me-alone salespeople that follows me wherever I go.
Rambling on and on about whatever matters to them, without regard for what I came here for."

Let's face it, Lovely Readers, sometimes? I ramble...and it's always about what matters to me.

Perhaps this got under my skin because I was already feeling a little sensitive to begin with since I'd stumbled across a number of well-written fellow #reverb10 blogs and bloggers who were mentioned and re-tweeted again and again...when I and mine weren't.

And this reminded me of something I'd long ago filed away under "Past Realizations That Truly Sucked".

I began playing the piano at the age of 4. When your mother, the lovely and talented Blind Betsy, is a concert pianist herself, it's what you do. Now, growing up in the least populated state in the Union, it's not difficult to be hot shnizzle at something - particularly when it's something very few people know how to do. So, for awhile, I thought I was some seriously hot shnizzle at the piano.

And then I was accepted to a summer-long, prestigious, intensive music camp (no, not like band camp...well, OK, sorta like band camp shuttup). There I discovered I was not, in fact, hot shnizzle. Surrounded by the best - prodigies from around the country - I realized I was nothing in particular.

I quit playing altogether - quit everything - shortly after returning home.

Realizing I was and would never be anyone in particular in music broke my heart. Only my family and perhaps just a very few people who were there then and are reading this now would understand just how much. The rest of you will just have to take my word for it.

Now, I've learned a few things since then. The most important is that it Does. Not. Matter. if I've got talent or not. If I am passionate about something and it fills me with joy to do it, then by gum! I'm going to do it with everything I've got!

And that's where you've found me...doing something I'm passionate about with everything I've got! *smile*

Still...

I have no idea why any of you come to this place to read what I've got to say. I mean, besides my mom (hi, Mom! Love you! Miss you!).

What's interesting and relevant, is that, prior to reading Elizabeth's suggestion, I'd raised the subject of why anyone reads my blog over sushi last night with BFF Matt, BFF-in-law @telecon (who, by the way, abhors pie and never wants to eat pie again to which I say, bite your tongue, Sir! I shall make you pie that'll have you weeping for joy), and the Divatologist.

They all assured me that they read because it is good. Maybe the content itself isn't anything in particular but the writing is good. I think that was the gist anyway. We got a little distracted by the vehicles for wasabi.

I don't suppose the reason really matters because, while I value their opinions and sincerely appreciate the support and the praise, I'm unlikely to quit any time soon - even if no one reads.

But I do wonder if perhaps this little space - my virtual living room you all are invited into and given cookies fresh from the oven whenever you'd like - is all I've got to offer.

And I do worry...is it even any good?

/ramble