Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Inspiring Blogger Award

When I found out the other morning that I’d been nominated for a blog award, I realized it was just what I needed. Catsby—the kitty who appeared on our doorstep just two years ago—has been sick. The nice thing about adopting a senior kitty is that he arrived neutered and declawed, and with very nice manners. The bad thing about adopting a senior kitty is…this. Just the other day I was thinking how much I’ve grown to love the little guy. If you can spare a prayer for his comfort and ease, we’d sure appreciate it.


So this award has been a bright spot, as is the blogger who was kind and thoughtful enough to nominate me, Lisa Ricard Claro of Writing in the Buff. I’ve been a fan of hers since I first happened across her blog, oh, years ago now. She is a fierce spirit who captures that combination of strength and grace and warmth for which the quintessential Southern woman is known. Add to that her own brands of wit, wisdom, and cleverness, and she never fails to inspire me in the most delightful ways. Her posts make me think, but she adds deft touches of humor while never, ever allowing those naked truths to approach the bad kind of naked. In fact, they never cease to be art.

On to the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! The rules are these:

• Display the award on your blog
• Link back to the person who nominated you
• State 7 things about yourself
• Nominate 3 bloggers (I guess it was originally 15, but Lisa changed it and so am I), link to them, and notify them about their nominations.

  1. The day before I was born, my mother—who apparently couldn’t see over her giant baby bump—tripped on the dog dish and broke her leg. It was after her due date, so when they took her to the hospital no one knew whether to put her on the maternity floor or the one for breaks. They couldn’t give her the pain medication necessary to set the leg, so they put her in traction and left her there, and then later discovered they couldn’t get her in the door to delivery because of the traction-contraption. When they gave her a spinal for the delivery, she was so overcome with relief that she flopped back and set her own leg.
  2. There’s a congratulatory card tucked into my baby book that says, “At least it wasn’t two broken legs and twins.”
  3. Supposedly my name means “trouble.”
  4. Almost majored in earth science in college because it’s hard to make a living as a writer, and I did major in psychology for the first couple of years before switching to English. Have possibly spent more of my life trying not to be a writer than trying to be one. It’s just that every time I get away from it, I seem to be drawn back in.
  5. Okay, I admit it: I’m a Downton Abbey fan. But now that this season just got over for those of us in the U.S., I’ve been awarded a new Sunday night love: The Last Man on Earth. I don’t want to like it, and I’m probably the only middle aged woman in the world who considers what is practically the antithesis of Downton Abbey to be a welcome replacement for the show, but so far (only two episodes in), I love it. Only don’t tell anyone, or they’ll cancel the show the way they do most of my favorites.
  6. I’m a little creeped out by beards. I know it's weird, and heck, my own son has one, but still.
  7. For some reason I attract: small children, large dogs, and the guy with the phlegmy cough on the bus who wants to tell me his life story.  Librarians love me—or maybe they love everyone and I’m just taking it too personally—and so do the clinically insane. Also spiders love me, or maybe hate me as I seem to get more spider bites than other people do. Oh, and I also attract men with beards.
Lisa Ricard Claro’s revised rules state that I need to nominate three bloggers. So I hereby nominate these women who always seem to inspire me:

  • Lynn Obermoeller of Present Letters. I don’t know if she will accept the award, but I do know she just had an anniversary, so stop by and wish her well. Multitalented Lynn is a critiquer extraordinaire who inspires me often with her disarming honesty, her unwavering spirituality, and her writing that positively soars on wings.

  • Donna Volkennant of Donna's Book Pub. Donna is a polished professional and a lovely human being. It doesn’t matter if I’m reading her work or meeting her at a writers’ group—I am always left feeling as if I’ve been in the presence of greatness. She truly is as gracious as she is talented and vice versa. Wow.

  • Pat Wahler of Critter Alley. I don’t think Pat accepts awards, and I respect that. I’m nominating her anyway because I think of her blog as an inspiring treat. It has a clear, focused brand, top-quality pictures, and short, pithy prose. I don’t know her well, but every time I’ve talked to her, I leave thinking that she, too, has her own grace and style. She also just got published in Sasee. Congratulations, Pat!

Thank you again, Lisa!


But the thing you don’t realize is that there’s good naked and bad naked. Naked hair brushing, good. Naked crouching, bad.

~Seinfeld, The Apology, 1997

17 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    POTP for your fur-iend... and for you who must care for him.

    I know two 'Tammys', both of whom are actually Tamsin's.... which in turn is derived from Thomasina and is considered to have originated in Cornwall. That said, there is a younger cousin twice removed who was christened simply as Tammy. She lives up to this description... trouble is a matter of perception! Congrats on your nomination - glad to have learned a bit more about you. YAM xx

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    1. I think I would actually like my name if it were Tamsin. Unfortunately that one is rare here in the states these days. And you made me realize there's a good chance my mother made that up about what the name means! Lol. Would have been just like her. I enjoyed both links, thank you. And thank you so much for the good thoughts!

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  2. So sorry about your kitty. Sending prayers. Your poor mother. Can you imagine!? Had to laugh at the things you attract. Thanks for giving us a glimpse of who you are.

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    1. I struggled enough in childbirth without any broken bones, so I can't imagine how awful it must've been. And thank you so much for your good wishes for Catsby. It's hard to know exactly how to keep them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, and I could sure use the guidance.

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  3. I am sending positivity to your kitty.

    Your little window into all-things Tammy was entertaining... and the award is well deserved.

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  4. I am thinking good thoughts for your feline, and hoping that you don't encounter a small precocious librarian with a beard and a phlegmy cough.

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    1. Thank you for the good thoughts and the big laugh!

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  5. Sending prayers for your little kitty. Hope he's doing better. And thank you so much for the award. I will be sure to feature it on my blog post today. I tend not to be an award blog tagger, though. I prefer to just invite anyone who wants to participate to do it.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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    1. Thank you so much, Pat. It's heartbreaking to report that the vet says Catsby will not recover. Right now I'm just hoping for the ability to make the very best decisions for him. And I'm so glad you've agreed to participate!

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  6. Wow. You made me sound so good! Thank you for that, and have you ever considered becoming a publicist? :) Prayers for your kitty. You know what we just went through, so you know I really empathize. It's so tough when they get old on us.

    Your poor mother! Oh,my goodness! I'd like to hear about how she cared for you after you both came home from the hospital. I hope she had a lot of help.

    Thanks for accepting the award and for playing along. It was a joy to learn more about you. One of these days I'm going to make it up to St. Louis to meet you and all of my other writing friends up there.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. I'm so sorry you recently went through this, but it sort of helps me in a way to know others understand the struggle.

      Fortunately my parents hired someone to come in and help when I was born. I'm sure they needed it. One of my sisters was still a toddler, and a wild one from the sounds of it. Ack.

      I enjoyed this and hope you make it up here! Would love to meet you in person!

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    1. I originally had the whole conversation between George and Jerry. I'm still not sure if less is more. It's pretty funny.

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  8. Tammy, I know I'm coming to this late (you know all about my computer troubles) but I just wanted to jump in here and congratulate you on the blog award. As you know, I've admired you and your blog for so long; your talent, wit, humor, and ability at micro-fiction leave me in awe. The award was so well deserved, and coming from someone as talented as Lisa speaks volumes as well.

    I'm still sending prayers for Catsby. All you can really do when they get to this stage is just love them -- which I know you are doing, so of course you are making the best decisions regarding his care.

    Oh my goodness, your poor mom! Guess we know why she told you your name meant "trouble," but I think the story of all her delivery woes just makes the miracle of you even more of a blessing!

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  9. I appreciate ALL of that, Theresa! Thank you!

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  10. Well, aren't I the slouch? I thought I commented, but I guess I didn't. Thank you for nominating me. I'm going to try and get to it today... it's only about two weeks since you first nominated me. Better late than never, eh?

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