I posted my first blog almost ten years ago. In all of that time, I have only missed posting weekly a few times, and I have never missed posting two weeks consecutively. That will change if I don’t post this weekend. I have had difficulty getting this blog written. This blog has been a commitment of mine for almost ten years, and I am not ready to give it up.

One reason for not posting is that my very able assistant who has posted my blog for many years is no longer able to do so. Now, I have had to learn how to do the technical aspects of WordPress. Previous to this I just wrote, sent my blog to Gina, and she posted it, including cropping the photos, placing them where they need to be. Having to do the technical aspects of posting is way outside of my comfort zone. This change is one that I have not embraced, so it is easy to put it off.

Another reason for my delay in posting is not knowing what I want to write, with all that is going on around me. The devastation of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, Black Mountain, and surrounding areas has been so traumatic. Although I am three hours away from this devastation, it has reached me emotionally. I have a friend who is from Black Mountain, and we were together a day before Hurricane Helene hit her area. We were together at the University of Virginia at a celebration of the graduating class of 1974.

Eight 1974 University of Virginia graduates returned to Grounds (not campus, but Grounds!) to share Memories and Lessons of our time spent there being the first class of undergraduate women to attend the University. There were 350 traditional first year students and 100 transfer students admitted to the University in 1970, most graduating in 1974. Our fifty-year reunion was held at the end of May. September 25-26 was a two-day Symposium whose purpose was to share our Experiences, Memories, and Lessons with current students and others. I was privileged to be one of the eight students selected by the Symposium Planning Committee to be on one of the two panels. My friend Betty from Black Mountain was on the Symposium Planning Committee and was also one of the eight panelists. I so enjoyed getting to know her and her husband Chris at the Symposium and grieve at the devastation they faced when they returned home. There were also many who were devastated by Hurricane Helene in Florida and Georgia.

After I arrived home from the Symposium Mike and I were spending the weekend with dear friends in Wilson. Their son and his family live a few minutes from Asheville, and were involved in Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Their home was not destroyed, but they did have significant damage, and were without power, cell service, and other things we take for granted, for days. After four days they were able to leave and get to their parents home in Wilson.

I am rambling, which is my current state of mind. I am sad about Hurricane Helene’s massive destruction, as well as some personal challenges, challenges greater than having to learn WordPress. While I am grateful for my blessings, I am having difficulty shaking the sadness.

Life is temporary at best. At times like this I am reminded of life’s fragility. I want to spend more time being grateful for my blessings than sad because of problems. As long as we are healthy, we can overcome most, or at least, many, of our challenges. If those suffering massive destruction in Western North Carolina. Florida, and Georgia can dig out, I have no excuse for being immobilized by my challenges.

Let me get busy, before life passes me by.