And the Years Go By...

I was just looking over my blog to see what I should move around or change or just what might freshen it up a little and I looked all the way down to where they archive the posts. Each post is filed under the year when it was written, and the years are listed so you can find the post you want. My first post was in July of 2009. Almost exactly three years ago! That just blows me away; I can't believe its been so long that I've been telling my stories, getting out info, and having the great privilege of people paying attention and enjoying my work.

Three years ago my life was completely different. I was still with my ex-boyfriend, about whom I wrote in the book, although things were not going well. I had finished what I thought was the final draft, and I was researching literary agents and sending out proposal letters in the fierce hope that I could get my book published. For me, it was never about being famous or a big signing bonus or anything like that, although admittedly the thought of taking book tours was a wonderful one! All I really wanted was to get the book, and my message, out there.

The message that its okay to not know what you're doing - at all! The forbidden fact that you might not LIKE your parent very much, but that you're taking care of them because its the right thing for you to do. The revolutionary concept that it's okay to take care of yourself first so that you can have something left over to give to your charge. Just the plain reassurance that you're not alone; there are others going through the same thing, and there is help and understanding and compassion out there. I felt that all of these concepts, and more, just needed to be out there; and, thanks to the wonders of self-publishing, they are. However, the blog has turned out to be even better than the book, if possible.

My life now is hugely different: the book is published and wonderful; I'm newly married and happy; Dad is comfortably in what I hope is his final home. Through the blog, I've been able to tell my day-to-day story, not just a moment caught in time. I've also been able to tell Dad's story, and that's almost the most important thing to me. Together, he and I have been on this long journey -- we've forged a relationship I never expected, that has had its rewards, and its not over yet. The support and contact I've gotten through my blog have been a huge help; and the idea that I may have helped someone else in the same situation is a very good one. I'm going to keep on bloggin', and I thank all of you who are sharing my journey!