Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Thoughts from the Veranda

An inch of common ground

DSC_2760For the past week I have been DEEP into blogging.
I now have 9 ‘followers’ and I have visited each of their blogs. From those blogs I have gone to THEIR followers’ blogs and onward until I was lost in cyberspace. I have left comments whenever moved to comment, sat in silent contemplation at others, and at times been overjoyed by what was being said – thought – shared and the connection to my thoughts shared or not.
 
I can remember what I have read and the thoughts provoked – but not necessarily where I found those words.  I cannot call those that have touched me with their thoughts ‘friends’ – I don’t know if I will ever touch them again. There are so many bloggers out there with something to share.
It is incredible - this special group of people. Even with just a moment spent with each of you, I could never read all of what is being said.
 
DSC08376%255B8%255DToday sitting on the veranda, my feet propped on the railing in our warm sunshine, I was thinking WHY all these strangers? What is happening here that I find touching them for only one moment feels so good?
 
Do I not have friends or family to meet my social needs? Well no I don’t. All these strangers, no matter how distant, no matter their land of origin or their native tongue, have something in common with me.
It may be that they are strangers in a foreign land, or they are grandparents far from their grandchildren, or they like to cook or to take photos outside their homes, or that they are women raised in the 50s still trying to find their way out into the modern world.  Maybe they see in a poem what I see in the camera. We all share just an inch of common ground that added up allows us to be a part of the patchwork of a very lonely and complex world. Thank you all for allowing me to share, to be a part of the world OUT THERE, outside of my veranda.

9 comments:

  1. some times we will get the most important clue for our life only through this strangers...to be a part of the world OUT THERE, outside of your veranda.

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  2. Your view from the varanda is, as the teens like to say, "awesome".

    ExpatBrazil

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  3. Your pictures are so beautiful that I can imagine myself sitting on your varanda with you. Maybe we are even having a Mint Julep....

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful view!!

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  4. I can imagine the sitting on the veranda together part but no mint julep here... caiprinha will do just as well. I love to sit out with a large cup of cafe(cha)Americana as everyone calls my coffee.
    Make your plan.

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  5. Be careful what you say GingerV...my husband Prince works for and international airline (no names yet) and I get free plane rides to anywhere they fly.

    We may just have to have a large cup of that cafe and a little caiprinha. I am a devout lover of caiprinha!!

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  6. I really love to show off my knowledge of this country - if anyone is coming let me know I will show you around - that MIGHT include a short stay in our guest house on top of the mountain.

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  7. Ginger...as always your picture and notes are just wonderful and inviting.

    Last night I put up a piece about the people that I have actually become (in real time) friends with. I'm hoping to post their pictures too. We all did get together several years ago for the first time down in Maryland...what an estrogen weekend that was! After that we have enjoyed going to visit each other and meeting their families. It's a delightful experience...I strongly suggest it to anyone (of course, that doesn't mean one doesn't use good common sense before just going off)

    In the manner of saying goodbye with my Hideout group...
    Tata kiddies...have a great day.

    OWW/Claire

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  8. Ginger...When looking at your label, I clicked and was bought to the content. I have tried to get labels to work for me and it just doesn't seem to happen. I have gone to various sites to learn how but I'm just not getting it right. I would appreciate if you could perhaps direct me to the best site so I can organize my blog. Thanks much for any help you may share.

    Have a great weekend...
    OWW/Claire

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  9. Claire - I went to OWW and chose the lable Current Events and the three entries you had labled came up. this doesn not look like you are having a problem. email me gingerv@gigalink.com.br and lets talk about what exactly you think is happening/or not in more detail.

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