My Own Personal Blogging Award

…”THAT REMINDS ME OF THE TIME..”…

When I was growing up, I was considered the “shy one” in my family. We moved away from my hometown after I graduated from High School, and one of our old neighbors saw my Daddy several months later. He asked, “How’s that daughter of yours—the mute one?” He had lived near me all my formative years and didn’t know I could speak!

Looking back through the window of my memory, I realize that I probably wasn’t shy. In my family, I just couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I do indeed come from a family of people who are outgoing. We love to talk.

Still, people who knew me back than are surprised that I work as a storyteller in front of large audiences. They are amazed that I am at ease in front of audiences of hundreds, even thousands, of strangers.

I will freely admit that I love applause. As with most performers, I “feed” on audience response. When my audience is enjoying a performance, my adrenalin kicks in and I perform better. I always know if my performance was a success when an audience member approaches me after I leave the stage and says, “That story reminded me of the time that…” They proceed to share a story. I then know that my storytelling has struck a “universal chord” in them. As much as I love applause from strangers, the most meaningful kudos are the ones from my family–specifically my big brother.

Big Bubba is a typical “oldest child.” He is an achiever; he’s been phenomenally successful in public relations for large companies and colleges. I think that’s because he has “never met a stranger.” He is outgoing and friendly, and he probably is on a first name basis with half the people in Texas and many more beyond the state. He is also a tireless volunteer and is very socially responsible. To top it off, he is the funniest man I’ve ever known (at least he was until I met my husband who now outranks him in that department). Though I’ve always admired Big Bubba and have struggled to emulate him, he set the bar high for the rest of my family.

Last week, I made Big Bubba laugh with my essay To Kill A Mockingbird. He was kind enough to e-mail and tell me so. He also told me a story:

The latest one, about that pesky bird, reminded me of when I saw the movie version of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. In one scene, the character played by Gregory Peck has just shot a rabid dog in the middle of a neighborhood. He yells to the boys assembled on both sides of the street “Don’t go near him! He’s just as dangerous dead as alive!” That prompted me to stand up in the middle of the Palace theater and yell “Then why did you shoot him??”.

I can see my Big Bubba doing that. I’m glad I spurred his memory and he shared that with me. He didn’t know how to use the “comment” section to tell me.

That brings me around to something I really want to tell you. I’ve seen many bloggers who say in their profile that they are writing the blog just for themselves. That may be partly true. But, anyone who makes their blog public harbors a secret hope that someone else is reading it. I hope when you read any blogger’s post and find that it “moves” you, that you will comment and tell them so.

I’ll make no bones about it: I hope you are reading. I hope that something I say prompts a memory for you. And, I hope you will comment when I do. I can always delete it if I don’t like it.

But, whether you comment or not, Big Bubba did. That’s the best “blogging award” that I ever hope to get.

Related posts:

1. Storytelling 101—Do Tell
2. Is Ginseng For Memory? I Don’t Recall.
3. The Dance Recital
4. To Kill A Mockingbird
5. Roomful of Rocking Chairs

Tagged as: All Things "Blogging", blog comments, Memories