Wednesday, September 1, 2010

And the BON Goes to...


FADE IN.

We see a virtual ballroom in Hollywood. The crowd gathered and filling the seats is represented exclusively by little square-shaped icons. In some cases, a single face occupies the square. In other instances, it is a pair of faces representing two generations.

There’s also a tree (or the top of one).

A ladybug.

A bicycle.

The face of a dog.

THE ANNOUNCER calls out a name that not everyone hears (because, at the moment, not everyone is online). One of the squares appears shocked and surprised. Maybe even a little flustered.


Shaking her imagined forearms excitedly, she (the icon; the square) races to the stage. "Jeez!" she begins, clearly excited. "I didn’t even know my category was coming up, and here I am! Yeah, so, …uh, I wanna thank the academy. … my producers. … my agent. Oh wow… … Oh and yeah, Griffin! Vesta! Lotto! You cats at home… Go to bed already!"

FADE OUT.

What a crock of a fantasy.

Cats sleep 18 hours a day.

It is absurd to imagine any moment – no matter how lofty or ephemeral – that would justify telling cats to go to bed.

… I also belong to no academies.

I have no producers.

As for getting an agent? No one can say I haven’t tried.

But I still have something to thank: The First Amendment.

If you haven’t read it lately, you should.

But, if you haven’t read it lately, you also shouldn’t feel like a slacker.

Seriously.

Me? I just found it online (had to, since I mentioned it). And so – just now – I read it fully for the first time in God knows how long.

Not only did I read it, I copied it for all of us.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So there you have it.

… I had a grievance for many years. (Actually, I wouldn’t normally call it a “grievance,” but I’m trying to do a segue here, so work with me.) I was despondent at times because, although I love to write, no one in the world of ten-percenters seemed to care.

I entered the blogosphere reluctantly, my grievance on my shoulder.

I have since discovered a peaceable assembly.

It is called Words of Wisdom (appropriately, WOW), and the website, which was launched by two wise women named Pam and Sandy, celebrates blogs of substance.

Today, I am WOW’s Blogger of Note (BON), and per the BON tradition, I will share with you links to three previous posts.

I hope you have the time to take a look. And if you don’t have the time now, I hope you’ll come back.

*Technology is a subject I cannot get away from, and that’s because it concerns me… The technology is developed, after all. Us? Not so much. Here’s a piece I wrote after watching footage of a community parade: The Subtext of Texting.

*Do you shop at Trader Joe’s? Click here.

*Alright then, Ikea?

I chose those three posts intuitively. Now, as I look at what I just typed, I fear you might think I’m all about shopping.

Don’t even go there.

There’s really not that much about shopping in those second two posts. They’re more about life… and the words that go into it.

I am grateful to the First Amendment for letting me share my life in words.

I am grateful to WOW for peaceable assembly.

18 comments:

Jo said...

Hmmm...how to write this without becoming too verbose (and make no mistake, I will fail) is my lament for this early morn.

I can scarcely recall when I have been more excited to become a follower (*see also heart racing at finding a simpatico, gal after my own heart...um, sister from another mister, ::enter now readers choice of euphemism::).

I, too, entered blogverse with a feeling of "Well, hell -- it's here and what have I got to lose?". Not that you EXACTLY said that -- I'm just sayin'.

I have blogged my life away for nearly 15 months and have gained so much and am just very pleased to meet another writer.

I say 'another' as if I've done any writing of significance other than blogging.

Okay, so, I'm a bit fanicful, whimsical, Utopian, ::Enter now second euphemism of readers choice::.

I'm also a southern Californian (Riverside, to be exact, while hubby toils away in L.A. and succombs to daily freeway commutes and it's demands) who wants to sincerely congratulate you on being today's 'B.O.N.'.

Enjoy your special day -- been a pleasure stopping by. Looking forward to doing so again.

Peace and serenity,
~Jo
'The End Of The Rainbow: Life After Bankruptcy'

Savira Gupta said...

It was a pleasure stopping by and enjoy this special day

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Katie! I wanted to be the first to comment on your BON day but the time difference got to me. It is almost lunchtime here now and my morning has been chaotic but I have read your Bon post (excellent!) and your three links, which I enjoyed for the second time and they made me think how our way of life differs and yet is the same all at once.
Enjoy your day and keep in touch! :-)

Cheryl said...

You rocked this Katie! I love your writing, your wit, and your style. Heading out to reading your link-up posts but wanted to be the 4th to congratulate you on your BON day! You deserve every 86,400 seconds of this day.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Well deserved, Katie. Off to read more of you.

Martha Gates-Mawson said...

So, so very proud of you, my dearest sister. Your wit, wisdom, and writing is something the whole world deserves to know, appreciate, and share. Screw the ten-percenters - we all know what a gifted writer you are! Congratulations!

Mansi said...

And I am grateful that you, even reluctantly so, decided to blog. You have such wisdom to share -- many people do, but not everyone can make the words carrying that wisdom sing. Yours stay with me. Congratulations!

OJ Gonzalez-Cazares said...

congratulations on your BON! I love your blog and found myself feeling proud to see your name, a blog I ALREADY FOLLOW, today at WOW's...clever introduction, the academy awards with little "blogger" pics as attendees, that's what we are in this cyberspace, tiny squared faces with a voice and the power of freedom. When you have the chance, please check my latest post(on my way to post it as we speak) - I will love your comments back!

Sam Liu said...

Happy BON day! You deserve it, your writing is wonderful :)

Lazarus said...

You have a very well-written blog Katie, nice job. And entertaining too, love your take on things. Keep up the great work!

Design It Chic said...

Hi there, I am your newest follower and i came here from SITS! I would love to see you by my blog;)
Also don't forget, if you need any help increasing your blog's traffic or easy HTML tips, you know where to come!
Today we have an amazing giveaway: two custom blog banners, so come on by to sign in and take a brand new blog banner home! Happy Thursday!

Paul C said...

Always a pleasure to read your posts which explore your creative side. WOW is a fitting acronym.

BECKY said...

Katie, oh my gosh! Congratulations!! I'm behind in my blog reading and I'm so happy I stopped by!! And yes, I'm another one of those already lucky enough to know your blog and your writing, and therefore, I'd say, know YOU!(...and hey, did you get my e-mail I sent this morning? I got the thingy that said do this, and then another thingy that it didn't go through, etc.Does that make sense?!) Again, congratulations! I, too, was a reluctant "joiner-of-the-bloggers-of-the-world", and like we've all discovered, we've made such wonderful friends! I'm off to check some of your commenters, too! :)

Lora said...

you mentioned trader joe's and ikea in one post. i swooned a little :)

congrats on your day!

Jessica the Jacked LDS said...

ur bein all sneaky mcsneakster with your reply comment blocker so im here to tell you...

thanks for stopping by on a day i needed a little extra love :)

Patricia said...

Hi Katie,
I loved this post and your book just arrived at my door about 2 hours ago...I can hardly wait...

I am presenting you with a blogging award on Monday the 6th...and you have one here...who needs an academy? I will be back to read in detail, I am leaving to help my daughter set up her Library for her first career job...and the books are too high for kids to discover....I will be back

Many times
Happy weekend

Deb Shucka said...

Congrats, Katie. You so deserve this. I'm proud that we discovered each other before you were WOW'ed.

rayna diane said...

I am among those who had to come to this later but I am so happy for you! That's wonderful! Keep using those 1st amendment rights! woo woo!