"I'm a writer, I can't help it." This reminded me a bit of the line from the movie, Throw Momma From the Train: "A writer writes—always." (I can still see Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito repeating it together.) But it didn't come from a movie; Jim Watkins mentioned it over dinner one night at Gospelcon 06. A number of us were sitting in a Hawaiian-themed dinner, munching Jamaican jerk shrimp and crab cakes, and talking about blogs.
Blogging has always been a love-hate thing for me. I was the last of my friends to actually put my blog together, but I enjoy the venue. I update my blog less frequently than most of my peers, but I tend to update with a lot of heavy information on the occasions I actually write. I hate having it out there, floating along as yet another ship in the sea of blogging irrelevance—but I can't seem to close up shop either.
I have plenty to say (as anyone with whom I spend more than five minutes can confirm!) but can't seem to find my voice to say it. More than anything, I find that when I eventually carve out the time, whatever I wanted to say has lost most of its significance and timeliness. (I really need to just finish that post on The Passion of the Christ. ;-) Seriously, it's easier to IM, talk to my wife, even (shudder) talk on the phone... why bother writing it all down?
I guess ultimately, when I actually write it down, I do so because it's cathartic. It's good to talk, to chat... but it's also good to construct my thoughts, to really analyze them. It's good exercise (since, you know, work is so wretchedly mundane... or something...).
It's also instructive for me, down the road, to see just where I've been. I have the tendency to forget the details of where I've been; I remember the road, but forget the potholes. I remember the restaurant, but not the ceviche. And in the end, life is in the ceviche, rather than the unassuming restaurant decor with the plastic, faux-gingham tablecloth covering the table that doesn't quite balance.
So I'll continue writing. Maybe not every day, or every week, or... maybe not regularly whatsoever. But it's worthwhile enough that when I do get the wild notion of spilling my guts, I'll have an outlet in which I can do so. So stay tuned... only don't hold your breath for the next post.
Posted by pcg at October 4, 2006 9:21 PMUnfortunately, this is one my primary means of communication with you. You're there in my IM list all the time, but we never really take the time to "talk".
So the periodic blog posts are refreshing views into what's going on in your world.
Posted by: Topher on October 5, 2006 5:35 AMAhh, you gotta love the blog in defense of mediocrity. ;-) At least you're not blogging about the new state quarters *not* having George Washington on them anymore, when in reality they do. Perhaps I should blog even *less* than I already do.
Posted by: Mark Veerman on October 6, 2006 9:20 AMI recently had the realization that I tend to only say things that are supposed to be funny in blog comments. I suppose it's a lame attempt at masking some brand of insecurity with poor attempts at humor. So, in an effort to be more supportive, honest, and a wee bit less sarcastic ... I love your blogging and would like to encourage you to post as often as you feel like it. I appreciate that your opinions are often blunt, unexpectedly funny, and always intelligent -- even when ranting. Twice a year is better than none, so thanks! It was great to catch up with you at the conference. I look forward to the day I can meet Vanessa. She sounds like an incredible person!
Posted by: Mark Veerman on October 13, 2006 7:37 PM