May I quote me? Someone responded to my post on this QotD and this is the part they quoted: "and a willingness on each of our parts to entertain one another while discovering ourselves". I was flattered that somebody picked up on something I said but it was more of a revelation about how absolutely true these words have proven to be.
Each time I sit down to compose something, post a picture, upload a song, I go through the process of catching myself being me and having the desire to let you see who I am. There is an ulterior motive. By exposing myself I am inviting you to do the same. I have not been disappointed. I will often post enticing or provocative headers to see what others think about the things I am thinking about, going through, or completely in the dark about. "God Hates Fags"! Now that I have your attention.....
One of the parts of VOX that we all find entertaining is seeing what we say and what others say about it. It is always great to have an e-mail waiting that says "So and So has added you to their neighborhood", or "Such and Such has sent you a private message". One of the things about Voxing rather than scrap booking or keeping a diary is that you are imploring others to actively respond. It is like peeling your skull back and asking others to look inside. Opening up your chest walls and begging others to watch your heart beat. I'm crying. Does the fact that I'm crying make you cry also. If this makes me wet my pants what does it do for you?
So, how do you pick people to put in your neighborhood? How do they pick you? It is all so random and for that very reason it is not random at all. It becomes "meant to be" rather than random. What you think is by chance is actually for a reason. The reasons are just different. At one point a Voxer posted some very traumatic stuff she was going through. At random, according to her, she selected 20 people at random and added us all to her neighborhood. She posted for several days and has since vanished. However, we are all still in each others neighborhoods just out of fascination of this alleged random collecting of us. I bet most of us don't even remember that is how it happened.
I have spotted my neighbors adopting second "personalities" by opening an alternate Vox account to live as their alter egos. I know people who double as animals, rednecks with gay themed political Voxes, and college guys who aspire to be President. I have spotted them on my own and seen through the second personality right back to the first.
Early on we watch for pictures being posted or responses to QotD's and look for profiles or tags that will be a perfect match for us. What ends up happening is that you respond to one person's post and love how another Voxer responds so you add them to your neighborhood.
What I love about Vox is that any day, any time, and place I have high speed access,lol, I can speak my mind and hope that somebody, somewhere might relate to it. By getting it out of me I make room for more good stuff to collect until it is compelled to leave through my finger tips. I can look back and watch my own growth, know a little more about what is going on, comment on something current, hear a new song, get to know someone thousands of miles away and do it all from wherever I am comfortable. I have the ability to participate when I am compelled to or simply continue reading until I find just what it is I am looking for at that moment. It is whatever I wish it to be and is always available.
Voxers are polite and personable. They are positive but will be constructive when asked to be. They are warm when warm is needed and naughty just for the heck of it. They are so very good at learning new tricks and always willing to share their secrets. Voxers are grown up bloggers with manners and talent.
I love the south. Tonight was like a lunar landscape outside. We shopped for baking stuff. I cut Kevin's hair. We husked morning glory seeds. We made gingerbread houses out of boxes. I washed two sock monkeys. I ate turkey stew. I hunted biscotti recipes. I hunted scone recipes. We pinked fabric. It's Christmastime in the city. I love the south. It is my home : ) .
I remember the summer of my thirteenth year. It was July 2nd, 1973. My dad's birthday. I had a bunch of my friends sleep over. We would camp out in the backyard in tents and sleeping bags. It was the seventies and we were smart ass kids so of course we got ourselves into trouble as often as possible. Very late that night we decided we would go streaking. Within an hour we were standing at my parents front door with four Police Officers in tow knocking on the door to wake my parents up. Busted. We got caught streaking and my folks had to call all my friends parents to let them know and to pick up their kids if they wished or in the morning if it would be easier. What I didn't know was that my dad's father had died that night while we were camping out. He didn't want to spoil our "camp out" so he just kept it to himself and mom until the morning. How different this time will be for me. I remember going to my Grandfather's funeral. We were at their house in Connecticut and my dad was remembering his dad. We went down in the basement and he showed me that the "belt" was still hanging right where it had for decades. He would take them to the basement and spank them. He was an alcoholic. How hard my father worked to make certain that his kids didn't have to grow up the same way he did. He worked, went to school, and was a good and loving father. He made sure that our lives were better than he had when he was a boy growing up. Tonight I sit and wait for word on my dad. He had a massive brain hemorrhage last night and they don't expect him to make it. They were figuring perhaps 36 hours and that was about 24 hours ago. Maybe, just for laughs I will take everything off and run around the neighborhood. I have been so lucky to have him. So many things that people like about me are the things I learned from him. He loved "my Kevin" like a son. His favorite son. Kevin and my Dad are techies. It's just that Kevin knows what he's doing so he's been my Dad's IT guy for the last 15 years. I've spent much of the day in denial. I went back to work last night to get things in order. I will be going to New York as soon as I am given the word. Kevin will stay home with the dogs and cats because they aren't in too good of shape themselves and we are committed to taking care of them the way our parents looked after us. Keep him in your thoughts. They have told us not to hope too hard for a miracle. I will always hope for a miracle. He is a good man and I love him dearly. Captain Bring Down, over and out.
Show us what you're thankful for.
This historic photo (pre-historic) is of my family getting ready for the big Turkey Hunt in 1967. We lived in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. My dad would make a fake turkey out of a sandwich bag and construction paper and then sneak out and hide it in the woods. We would go out and find it and whoever did would hide it the second time. My brother had a habit of finding it and bringing it home to show my mother while the rest of us wandered around the woods looking for it. Viet Nam was going on and we lived on a military base. I was one of the few kids in my neighborhood that still ad a daddy at this point. I believe my sister Cindy has spotted "Indjuns" in the distance. My mom is "native" and I find it ironic that all her kids are wearing the little Pilgrim outfits she lovingly sewed. Ah, the Melting Pot! My dad is Czech. My dad was still going to GWU and getting a degree in Physics. The old GI bill made it possible for over sexed Catholics with puppies to actually eak out a living, take care of the kids medical needs, and go to college to better yourself. So, it took him 30 years but he ended up being a Nuclear Physicist, Radiological Engineer, and a Micro-Proboscopist. Today I will thank all the kids who are fighting overseas. I can only hope that we learn to take better care of them when they return home. I don't have to believe in the war to believe in them. I hope they make it home safely and will always appreciate the sacrifices they make for all of us. Be safe kids. We are Thankful for your sacrifices on our behalf.
