Hay, I mean, Hey, I'm working on it.......

Probably my great grandfather and great uncle?
Haying, Dallas Plantation, Maine (near Rangeley)
Probably 1930's

Every once in a while, I will be composing a post, and hit some key that deletes everything.  I have no idea what I do, but I think it may be related to the heel of my palm brushing my laptop touch pad as I type.
Usually, what I have lost is fresh enough in my mind, or unedited enough to warrant re-writing, and while it is exasperating, I get over it and re-write.
It just happened again, and I lost a story I'm not up to re-doing at the moment.
I've been writing down my thoughts most of the day, and finally decided that I would do a blog post.
And then it vanished.  I bet there is a way to recover these things, but I just can't figure it out.
I have often thought that I should compose my posts in a Word document first, but I think I then found cumbersome to get photos in the right places.
Anyway, besides some reminiscing I was doing, I was simply going to post that I am working on some posts.  I still am; I think that some of what I have been writing today will appear in this space in future, just needs a little more work for blog-readiness.
I will say, however, that I have seen many blogs whose authors primarily write about hobby/crafty activities, and apologize when they are pre-occupied with life's challenges, and "fail" to post regularly.  Or even, apologize for making reference to their personal concerns, which may be "unhappy" topics.  "I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but....."
I happen to feel that we, none of us bloggers, have an obligation to our visitors.  Like any other medium, people can take or leave what we have to say.  Not that I don't work at expressing mutually gratifying content, but I usually don't shy away from being direct about what is on my mind.  For one thing, I use this blog, not so much as a personal journal, but at least as a general chronicle, suitable for sharing.  I think there is value in what I have to say. After all, if I didn't, why bother?  I trust that the occasional visitor will find value too, since I find value in the simplest of blog posts.  Want to discuss the merits of how you store your coffee filters?  I'll listen.  Rant about the frustration of getting your vacuum cleaner fixed.  I'm all ears.  Puzzle over why you couldn't make sense of a sewing pattern instruction.  I'm captivated.  Maybe I find comfort in our commonality.  Likewise, if you are struggling with bigger issues like being sick or out of work or worrying over something, I never feel disappointed when reading about it on your quilting blog.  Maybe I'm just nosy.
So.........
Thank you to you if you came to visit and read my last post, and had the time and words to leave a sympathetic comment.  If you read it and didn't know what to say, that's okay too.  I know it doesn't mean you were indifferent.  If you were disappointed not to find pretty little baby clothes or something like that, I know it was only temporary, and you wandered off and got your "fix" somewhere else.  I hope you came back and here's why.
Sooner or Later.  Mama always said there'd be times like this.  Unless you die young, or don't love anybody, you will face the fear and worry of having someone you love be sick, or possibly even die.  And while blog-surfing may be "merely" an escapist activity for you, I believe our blogs can serve an even better purpose.  Escapism is a perfectly good coping strategy, to an extent, but it is limited.  Their can be real power, however, in knowledge.  If the information you consider is truly wisdom, and you apply it to your life, you have broadened your options for coping.  Many peoples' experiences garner them wisdom, and those who can benefit from the experiences and wisdom of others will avoid needless suffering.  No amount of wisdom can insure against suffering, but facing tragedy with limited coping resources causes suffering that is truly needless.
So, I will be sharing a bit about the challenges my loved ones are facing, but I think the focus will really be on what it is like to be a relatively healthy Bedside Sitter, wanting desperately to make things better, but feeling powerless.  Being in the immediate support network of someone who is sick can be vulnerable and lonely, but it can also be fulfilling and empowering.  If you're up to it, read my posts.  If you're not, they'll be archived for later.  And I'm not done stitching and homemaking and laughing and enjoying life.  I'll share that stuff too.

Sad.

Waiting to see what the next tide will bring......

I will be taking a hiatus from blogging.  I already have been gone longer than I planned.  I have things going which keep me from making pretty things, and are more important than taking pretty pictures.
You see, my stepfather was diagnosed with leukemia in March, and I have been helping a little.  And now my brother has been diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.  It's a bit overwhelming.  I'm going up to Stratton in a couple of hours to hug my mother and brother and stepfather and sister-in-law and niece.  We'll talk, we'll catch up, we'll eat together, we'll pause and sigh.  Maybe we'll cry a little, but we'll probably tease and laugh and tell stories.  Some of us will pray.  I hope some of us will pray together.  I hope we'll sing hymns together to help us remember God's grace and truth.  We'll probably phone various other people.  And make plans.  And wonder what the future holds.  And maybe I'll blog some of it, but I probably won't for a while anyway.
I will wonder what you all are blogging about.  I'll check in on ThimbleAnna who is also caring for loved ones who are ailing.  So,  I'll be back when it feels right.

An up hill climb.