This is the end of November’s NaBloPoMo. First I want to thank Seiji Pulmano, a graphic and web designer, son of a good friend, and my son’s high school classmate (go Garfield). Seiji held my hand and helped me set up this site and learn the rudimentary parts of navigating it and then was available for questions along the way. Thank you Seiji!
I say if you are looking for a web or design consultant, Seiji is your man. He can be reached at hello@spulmano.com. Thanks too, Rae and Bruce, Seiji’s parents, who gave me the gift of his support.
Thank you all who have come and read these pages, for sticking with me as I muse about things that are important to me. The blog will continue but not like November’s daily post. As I said when I opened the doors here, I welcome questions and topics you would like to discuss.
We talk about the moments in our lives throughout our days— in stories that are written, spoken, and sung in prose, poetry and song. There are several wonderful events in December worth publicizing for those in the area or wanting a trip to the area.
The Moth (Moth Radio Hour, True Stories Told LIve) is coming to Seattle in just a few days, Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at the Neptune Theater, 1303 NE 45th, Seattle, Wa. You can buy tickets here.
On December 15, Sunday, come hear some great jazz/gospel Christmas music by one of Seattle’s best gospel groups, Shades of Praise and Jubilation Choirs. The Map of St. Therese (3416 E Marion, Seattle, Washington) shows it really is on 34th Avenue. (They let me sing with them.)
Then two nights later, on December 17th, The Blind Boys of Alabama are performing at Benaroya Symphony Hall. Tickets are still available. See them here too.
from http://ronepraiseindy.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/blindboys071.jpg
Remember to send those letters to the senators and representatives conferencing regarding the farm bill, live on a food stamp budget, and buy the Hedgebrook cookbook and you will have a great gift that supports women’s voices “authoring change.”
Image from: www.whidbeylifemagazine.org
Moments 
Congratulations on your achievements for the month of November! The choirs would be amazing to hear. I will look them both up on YouTube since I won’t be able to see them live in your part of the world.
You got me thinking about oral history and the sharing of such. Wasn’t there, a few years ago, something set up in New York ( I want to say Grand Central Station- but I could be wrong) where individuals passing through could record a piece of their family history. I thought how amazing that was.
So many families are so busy living their lives in the now they have little, or no connection, to their history. They have forgotten, or did not know, that they came from a long line of gifted, talented, tremendously determined to live, human beings.
In the daily living the sharing of family history can easily be dismissed or set aside to be discussed “later”. Unfortunately “later” soon becomes never and bits and pieces of family history gets lost.
Becoming the keeper of the family tree history for my husband’s side of the family recently made me keenly aware of how easily it is to loose entire branches of Family History. Turns out my MIL detested her MIL so other then a partial name there is absolutely no information on this woman in any family records. Just like that. One person who held the last bit of knowledge about this little piece of the past dismissed it and it is gone.
I have no idea how easy it will be to loose the history we are making today but I am sure in 100 years people will be looking through archives saying, “Who is this and why are they important to me?!”
It would be cool if we could give them the most complete answer possible.
Michelle, I agree. Maybe that is some more of what I will explore as this goes forward. Moments and stories…
I have hade several moments in my life time that have defined who I am and the standards that I try to live by (not always perfect, I am Human) The first moment, which I had no control over, was when my Father moved my family from Arkansas to Washington in the early 1940.’s. I am sure that I would not be the same person that I am today.
The second moment changed me was when I was about 40. Over my life time I up to that point I had accumulated a life time of Jokes that that I could use in any setting.
One day I was playing racket ball with good friend. After the game, as we were cooling off I turned to my friend and said “my dad does not like your kind (pause) you wear glass”. I have not told a joke since.. What I realized was that most jokes are are geared towards race or gender.
My very good friend was both African American and Gay. I am now 70 years old and I can still count him as a very good friend.
Humor is a funny thing Bob…Really it is. People either get your “brand” of humor or they don’t. I have come to accept that I don’t “get” most of what is currently considered humorous by the masses. I love a quick wit and agile mind. I am certain the defining moment has not repressed your sense of humor other then to give it an alternative outlet.
One of my defining moments came when I realized I was One Of THOSE Parents. You know the Rabid Sports Parent. To this day if I bump into one of the adults who’s kid wrestled with my son’s high school team I get the whole “HiBye!” thing. They beat feet in the opposite direction right quick.
Took me a few years to let go of my kids’ results and not make it about my ego but I pretty much did it eventually.
Ah the lessons we learn…
Bob and Michelle,
Thank you both. You give me a great topic for another blog another day: Defining Moments. I hope all who are reading and following this blog will contribute. My friends across the street are going to write something and they are in elementary school.