OPENING BLOG:WHY WANDERING AND WONDERING?
How can I ponder this photo and not wonder what my dad was thinking when he turned to my mom and said, “Here, take a picture of me balancing Frank on one hand!” And instead of talking sense into her husband, she captured the moment on film! Obviously, Dar and Marlys raised me to take risks.
Why “wandering and wondering?”
** I live to meander, observe, and reflect. My mother used to tell me, “When you were a kid, you hated going to bed because you were afraid you’d miss out on something!” FOMO was my life theme long before it became a pop term. I don’t march from Point A to Point B in a straight line; I don’t even like getting into lines, let alone having to walk one. Life for me is meandering, observing, and reflecting.
** I love to write. Frank Bruni recently said, “Writing is thinking, but it’s thinking slowed down — stilled — to a point where dimensions and nuances otherwise invisible to you appear.” Because academia requires most professors to publish, much of my past writing was transactional: I wrote and published to meet expectations. But some crazy people have encouraged me to write for fun, and I have the itch. So, I created a natural outlet: a website featuring stories, opinions, and frivolity!
My initial hopes for this website:
~ to be transparent
~ to harpoon the farcical; to be the little boy in The Emperor’s New Clothes, calling out what others promote as “truth” by exposing the absurd
~ to be a shining example of playful irreverence
~ to promote that which has the potential to heal, create fun, and illustrate possibilities
~ to connect deeply with people and ideas
~ to enjoy the process!
I welcome your comments and emails – all suggestions considered. Let’s make this a dialogical space whenever we can. And remember: if it’s not fun, let’s make it fun!
Onward,
/fnt/