My Valentine’s Day gift to the crew is a trip into town for a hamburger patty.
Reggie looks out the window for Carl’s Jr. restaurant.
The three of us spend the day relaxing in camp.
The day is warm with temperatures going into the 80s. Frequent breezes keep us comfortable.
Inscrutable Bridget — I’d love to know what she’s thinking.
My Valentine’s Day present arrives later in the day.
The desert turns pink! This is better than chocolates!
The view to the northeast of our camp, Blythe, California
This is what is seen while standing with one’s back to the sunset!
A note about this blog:
In a couple months I will reach the 5-year mark for this blog. It’s been an incredible ride — both in the Perfect Tow Vehicle and in this blog. People have been wonderful to me and the crew.
Here’s the sunset!
Even so, sometimes the blog becomes too much.
I’m not sure I can explain what I mean. My blog is exceptional for the lively interactions that take place in the comments section. Most of the time, that is. We have some great conversations, we share a lot, we learn stuff, we act silly, we console each other, we cry, we laugh, we become cyber-friends.
I love it!
However, there is a down side for me. I become wrapped up in the lives of all these people who write on my blog. I care about them. They write messages that express caring towards me and the crew. Once in a while somebody is snotty, but, for the most part, comments are great and I feel like I’m among friends.
And then, after months of conversations, a person disappears!
No explanation, no goodbye, just GONE!
It bothers me. I lie in bed wondering. Is he/she okay? Did he/she drop dead in the night? Did something bad happen in their life? Are they too lonely to write? Is it something I said? Did I offend? Are they tired of my blog?
Are they tired of me?
I know it’s ridiculous for me to have this reaction. No one is required to check in with me! People’s lives change. They drop in and out of online “rooms” for various reasons that have nothing to do with me or the quality of my blog. Maybe I take relationships too seriously, whether in real life or in cyber life.
That’s why my blog is the way it is.
If a person comes to my blog and takes the time to write a hello, I’m going to invest time and heart into them. I can’t ignore them. Instead I make a connection. To do that means sharing even more of myself.
No doubt there are folks who look at my posts and my comments and think, “What a narcissist! All she does is talk about herself!” Yes, I do talk about myself. A lot. That’s what this kind of blog is, a journal about my life.
And that’s how I reach out to people.
I’ve found that sharing something about myself encourages the other person to share something about themselves. Usually. Not always. You may have noticed I try to add something interesting to almost every reply I make, even when the reader reveals nothing of themselves. This is how I build and maintain the popularity of my blog.
But damn! It’s tiring!
There are times when the conversations catch fire and take off on their own without me constantly stoking embers. That’s when I can sit back and enjoy, kind of like being the quiet person in a group around a campfire. Those are the good times.
I truly appreciate the tiny percentage of readers who keep the conversations going. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sighed with relief over the appearance of a sentence or two!
Lately I feel like I’m carrying rocks uphill in a shovel.
I lie in bed at night while the roll call of people who haven’t commented in ages goes round and round. I search my brain for how to make the next post interesting.
Gosh, only women are commenting. What can I write that will inspire the men to show up? Am I writing too much about the crew? Not enough? Do I need to be funny? Add more information? Do I need to move camp all the time?
It’s insane! Round and round I go . . . .
Where does it end?
Lord knows there are a gazillion other RV blogs, good ones, as well as the stuff on Facebook, for people to find entertainment and information.
Don’t take this wrong; I’m not ungrateful. Maybe I’m just in a slump and need a break. I will try not to “connect” for a while!
Thanks for “listening.” And thank heaven for these wonderful sunsets, eh?
rvsue
NOTE: This post isn’t a plea for sympathy, just sharing where my mind is at the moment. Feel free to start a topic of your interest. Any questions you’d like to ask? Experiences you’d like to share? What’s it like where you are? What are your plans? Dang, what’s your weather report? BTW, thanks to those who give updates regarding their ongoing situations… Sue
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