I’ve been trying for some time to come up with one post to leave up and just quietly fade out, but nothing seems to fit. It seems a bit melodramatic and self-centered to make a grand announcement that I’m taking my ball and going home. Really, who cares? But it also seems somewhat rude to just leave without saying. . .something.
Once before I just shut down the blog, and that seems hardly appropriate, since I’ve gathered so many kind followers (thank you). I considered taking it private for my family and (non-blogosphere) friends, but that also seems more dramatic than it needs to be.
The simple truth is, I’m just ready for what’s next.
I’ve shared this feeling that the blog is ready to wind down with a few people who have offered words of encouragement, understanding, insight and wise perspective (thank you).
Yesterday I heard the perfect response, the one that fits and just feels right, from someone who knows me very well. I loved the response, “What’s next?” (see the West Wing clip below) and the advice, “Sometimes it’s really scary to say, ‘What’s next?’ but it’s the right thing to do.”
Such a smart advisor.
I’ve also been hoping to publish a couple of out-standing (and no doubt, outstanding) “Dear Guest Blogger” posts and to wrap up The Oma Today Project.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to those pending guest bloggers, and I will publish those if you still care to write them. I also intend to complete T.O.’s current itinerary if his host/esses are still in.
I started blogging at a time of transition in my life. I never set out to entertain — and most of you will agree that I’ve succeeded in not being entertaining. I do have a very separate life from “the Hippie” that doesn’t jibe with what I put forth here. That life needs some tending. I enjoy the persona, but it’s run its course, at least in terms of writing.
I have been entertained by and I have enjoyed getting to know your blog selves. It has been fun and enlightening.
I’ve learned a lot about myself here. For example, I am consistently inconsistent in the way I feel about things. Also, the choice to be fascinated and/or amused is sometimes harder than I originally thought .
I’ve learned even more about my writing. I depend on one particular sentence construction far too much; I overuse adverbs, which is really, really annoying; I have a certain tempo and rhythm that is so distinguishable that I’d never get away with writing an anonymous ransom note; ( the list goes on. . . ).
I’ve learned some new things about other people, especially those of you writing from other parts of the world – some of it heartwarmingly encouraging and uplifting, some of it not quite those things.
I’ve always said that the Great American Novel does not reside within my soul. That has been confirmed by this experience. I’ll leave that to all of you who are working on your own personal masterpieces. I wish you the best.
I’ll continue to peek in and comment from time to time, and maybe there will occasionally be a story to share, but the responsibilities of the regular care and feeding of a blog have been interfering with my ability to decide what’s next.
Thank you for reading, for writing, for making me laugh, and for keeping me company during this time in my life. I look forward to seeing what’s next for you, too. Feel free to share that in the comments below!
I can understand your decision as I have done the same twice, and yet here I am back with yet my third blog site. Good luck with whatever is next. I’m sure you’l be sucessful- however you define that for yourself.
The trick is in the “defining,” isn’t it? I do know that I’m not really a hippie!
Best wishes with your third site. I’ll try to be by to visit soon, so it’ll be in my reader.
Well, crap.
and…seconded!
I see your “crap” and raise a “dammit”.
I’m gone a couple of hours and look at all y’all, cursin’ up a storm. (Thank you).
Well, do forgive my language; I’m no more a “lady” than you are a “hippie”. I’ll miss you, of course, I feel like I was just getting to know you…and honestly, you were my last best hope for ever learning to wear a scarf. Best of luck on whatever is next – I hope it is big, and full of wonderment.
That’s perfect. Thank you.
OK, this makes me sad. But happy for your next big thing. Please keep in touch!
I’ll be around, just not as much. I’m keeping tabs on a big wedding coming up.
I’m starting to wonder if my relationship is all I’m known for around the blogoshere. Not complaining, it’s just interesting.
I was surprised to hear this, but glad you made a formal announcement rather than merely fading away. It’s so much nicer that way! Good luck in your next endeavor!
Thank you, Lynn. This is very kind.
Best of luck to you.
Thanks.
Brilliantly played, Shore Acres. Brilliantly played.
I’m with Lenore. This is terrific. I smiled and tapped my toes the whole way through! Thanks!
Well, you are the boss of you, and when it is time, it is time.
Pardon me while I go look for more cliches…ok, back.
I hope you’ll consider not deleting the blog so you can make a post now and again. Make mine a vote for dormancy, not destruction.
I am the Boss of Me, and I just fired myself. My boss of me is such an a**.
Gosh, I’m sorry to hear this, but I totally understand. Blogging can be time- and energy-consuming, leaving you little oomph for other things, whatever those things might be. I remember when you just kind of slunk away before, though, so I’m glad you decided this time to make a “formal” announcement. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you through your posts and comments, and I sincerely wish you the best with whatever’s going on. Still, golly-gee-whiz, I’m gonna miss you. Perhaps you could do as Oma suggested and go dormant instead? Huh? Pu-leeze? Think about it, ‘k??
You’re so sweet, Debbie. I do plan to keep the blog. I paid for the upgrade and domain name, so I should get my money’s worth. Plus, I’ll be reading and maybe occasionally writing, just not as often. I just want folks to know that if I miss something big in their lives (hopefully all good), it’s not because I’m ignoring them. Thank you. . .
I’ll miss you. Thanks for being cool. Best of luck, best of love, best of peace and best of hyperbole.
All of those same things and more right back to you, Man With the Coolest Gravatar.
Thank you. Sincerely thank you. I’ve written a similar post in my head for weeks, Hipster. Months, even. You’ve inspired me. No, I won’t go away for good, and I am not going to delete my blog. But I’m ready for whatever is next, even if it means I come back here at some point.
*Exhales* Really. I am so grateful you posted this today.
It should go without saying, but I’m a babbler, so I’ll say it. I hope you will really pop in on occasion – write a snippet or leave a note. I hope the “let’s stay friends”-type sentiment you wrote wasn’t just hyperbole. (I don’t even understand the meaning of that word, did I use it properly?) Regardless of your Hippie or not-Hippie status, you’re an entertaining blogger. Thanks for sharing your stuff with us.
Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and a deep breath, Lenore. Often I think I need to get back in the real world to have something to write about. So, maybe that’s just what we both need a little bit. You’re a pillar of this corner of the blog world. They need you to keep the good cheer rolling.
As are you, Pillar Hipster. As are you.
“What she said….”
Ahhhh… I have had those same feelings and wrote about considering my pending “retirement” recently which you read. Interesting how many bloggers could relate. Well, sounds like you’re serious about moving on to the next stage… so although I only knew you a short time, I wish you absolutely nothing but the very best!
I will be keeping an eye and ear out for campfire songs. Thanks for commenting. That’s so nice of you. You’ve reminded me that I have to go by and see if you picked a tee-shirt winner. I don’t recall seeing results.
You know, I did never choose a winner. I think the one with the guitar got the most votes. My personal fav is still the first one though!
I’m not saying goodbye because I know this will pass. At some point, you will feel the need to share with us again.
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In the words of Carol Burnette, “I’m so glad we’ve had this time together…”. I’ve enjoyed reading you and having you read me.
I love that you used the “What’s next?” line from Martin Sheen’s character. He used it in every episode and I always waited for it. It was brilliant that he could switch focus just like that. My wish for you is for whatever is next to be all that you want it to be.
I am sure there is an Irish proverb I could quote here but i wish you the best. One of the comments above used a word I am actually writing a post on ( I take several weeks to write and post to my blog because I am lazy like that) and that Is Wonderment. My we all seek some of that. Best wishes and though I will never rock a scarf like you …well unless I play a certain doctor in Rocky Horror Picture Show…it was a pleasure to be non-entertained by you!
I felt the same way when I retired from Star Fleet and had to turn over the Enterprise to some newbie.
Hippie, I hardly knew ye! What I do know makes me wish you all the very best. Enjoy the journey.
What ? What ? Where’s the “dislike” button ?
Ah well, I very much enjoyed reading your blog, even though I’ve only recently discovered it. I particularly enjoy your combination of humour mixed in with some “serious” thoughts about writing. It makes for very enjoyable reading, I’ll tell you that. Perhaps not for the next great American novel, as you say, but hasn’t that already been written anyway ?
Have fun in your next adventure, whatever it may be.
(oh my, did I really just use “enjoy” 3 times in two sentences ? Oh well, I’ll leave it unedited, just so you can feel how much I … enjoyed your writing!
)
I am sad. I’ll miss your voice so much. But I do understand. There is life elsewhere and you must do what you must. I hope that whatever you tend to next brings you infinite joy. Much love, girl!
Sniffle, sniffle. We can still do crab dip and Captain Crunch French Toast sometimes, right?
Ah, everyone comes to points in their life when change is a necessity. Good luck.
Oh no! Well, this just sucks. I just started reading your stuff, and found it well written and highly entertaining. And now you are off on some sort of real life, non-blogging adventure without me! Damn you.
We all need to do what is right for us, and sometimes that means walking away and moving on to a new challenge in life. I wish you all the best in your next endeavor and hope to see your hippie face and amusing bon mots around the blogosphere in the future. Take care of you.
WHAT? I’m out of it for a couple weeks and this is what happens? Well, this is a hell of a thing…
I think it’s all your fault, B! Do we need to stage an intervention??
Aw man. I ‘liked’ this, but I don’t really like this, Debbie.
Debbie. Let’s talk about this. Don’t leave us.
I can completely understand questioning what comes ‘after’ (or ‘in addition to’) blogging, and I hope what’s next for you still involves lots of writing? The fact that you have “a certain tempo and rhythm that is so distinguishable that [you'd] never get away with writing an anonymous ransom note” = a writer!
Ah man!
Well, if this is part of what’s next for you, I guess I can’t get too upset. But I wish you good luck and please do check in from time to time! You were one of the first blogs that I happened upon when I started this part of my own journey, and i have enjoyed your friendship and positivity on here.. You have been an inspiration to me!
When it is time – it is time. Wish you all the best with the next chapter of your life!
I’ll miss you. Say hi to the real world for me.
Hey, Hipster,
I’ve had a challenging student teacher for 2 months and have therefore not been around the blogosphere. I’m just catching up and wanted to wish you well on your ‘next’. Can’t wait to see what it is. As for my ‘next’, I’m not sure what it is, but I can say with assurance that it DOES NOT include a student teacher EVER AGAIN!
Ok, I’m replying to TWO comments, but then I need to be on with my day. I’ll come back to the others (thank you!).
Alicia — I owe you an apology and a visit, not to mention my condolences for the student-teacher experience. I know those can be terrific or not and it sounds like this is a case of not.
I saw your posts (from Uganda, I think?) and kept saving them for when I had time to savor them and reply thoughtfully and never circled back around. I’ll be by soon.
In other news, the Hipstermobile is gone and I have fallen in love with a bicycle.
Thank you for visiting. The semester’s almost over, she says trying to be helpful and supportive.
Aw, man! In response to “Really, who cares?” I reply, “I do.”
I’ll miss seeing new posts from you pop up in my feed. I’ve found your posts very entertaining — far more entertaining than the number of comments I’ve left would indicate. (I apologize for that.)
But I do understand, and I hope you have many wonderful nexts.
Take care!
I can understand how important it is to back away from the blogging world, if not completely, at least temporarily. (I’ve done it several times myself!)
How will you know what you want to do next if you don’t stop what you are doing that makes you want to find something else? (Does that make any sense?)
We’ll all miss you!
Sad for me, happy for you. I’ll miss your thoughtful posts and distinctive voice. And one of my favorite blog names ever! Can’t help adding the “MF!” every time I read it. I know that wasn’t how you intended it, but still.
Thanks for being one of my very first readers and for sticking with me through my own various sabbaticals. It was an honor to be Freshly Pressed beside you!
I appreciate all of the lovely comments here, but I wanted to take a quick moment to give a special thank you to this one.
If you’ll pardon the excessive adverbiality of it, I truly adore your blog and so admire your writing. You are one of the holy trinity in a 3-way tie for my favorite online writer.It was my good fortune (and perhaps a grievous error on the part of WordPress’s editors!) to be Freshly Pressed beside you.
I’m sure I must have said this to you before because I think it every time I read one of your posts: your blog is what mine wanted to be when it grew up. That just didn’t happen, which is fine.
I’ve grown fond of “Hippie Cahier” (and I also insert the MF, which I’ve more or less converted to “my friends” to make myself feel better), so maybe I’ll be feelin’ it again sometime. I will keep reading Stuff Southern People Like.
You and Todd make me proud to live south of the Mason Dixon Line, if only by a few miles and no one I know loves grits. Thank you, Kim.
Best wishes to you. It’s sad that you had to take such a decision but yes I can understand that there is a world other than blog world where we all live. But like all of your readers, I am going to miss your voice too.
Aram, you are so kind. Thanks. I’ll try to visit soon to see what you’re up to. I hope it’s all good.
I second the Traveling Wilburys. You’re a neat soul and a nice friendly presence on the net. I’m glad we’ll still see ya around from time to time. Good luck answering the big “what’s next?” question. That’s what it’s all about.
Thank you, kindly. Are you sure you’re de-motivational in your guru-tudiness?
Best wishes for solving the “What’s Next?” question. I, too, have pondered that, but unlike you, I haven’t got any answers yet. While I love the blogging community, I agree the responsibilities of reading and writing and commenting can be time-consuming. I just don’t know where else you can get the same feeling of camaraderie, support, and encouragement. Twitter? Doubtful. LinkedIn? Nope. Maybe Facebook — but I have to draw the line somewhere, and that didn’t make the cut. Now, if somebody could only figure out how to get more than 24 hours into a day…. Good luck, my friend, and stay in touch, okay?!
I pop in from time to time. This time it seems I left it too long before I popped in, with the emphasis on the ‘in’, though if I don’t pick myself off this seat soon, I shall pop… but that’s probably tmi.
Whether you keep the blog, don’t keep the blog, update, don’t update – I wish you well on your journey. We bloggers do this more often than I think we think (and I think I think therefore I am).
Good luck unhippie!