Ever meet someone who is well known?
Well, years ago I met Barbara Sofer, a Jerusalem Post columnist, whose opinion pieces I actually read.
We met in the locker room at the pool. We talked while we changed, and were quite friendly.
Since she is a more public figure, I occasionally learned about life-events in her family, some happy, some not. But I switched pools years ago and, though I knew she would recognize my face, I did not think she would remember my name, or recognize it in an email. So, though I thought of sending her a "mazal tov" or a condolence email, I did not; I did not think she would know who it was from.
Well I guess I should have sent those emails, because I recently received a "remember me?" email. We met again at The First JBloggers Conference and she did, indeed, remember me from the pool!
She asked if she could quote from my blog and refer readers to it. (Is the sky blue?)
I was so touched that she remembered me and that she knew about my cancer/blog.
She wrote a very nice piece and was very kind and generous in what she writes about me. You can read the full article, The Human Spirit - Embracing Pink.
Towards the end of the article, Barbara Sofer writes "Matitya's blog somehow manages to be unbearably sad and inspiring."
I know my posts have been particularly heavy recently.
Still, I don't want my blog to be "unbearably sad."
Life is good!!
-----------------------------------------------------
What do you think?
Is my blog sad?
Is a sad blog good or bad or both?
Please be honest!
Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.
With love and optimism,
RivkA
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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25 comments:
NOT a sad blog!
Often a very funny blog!
And you are such an upbeat person that I can't help but be upbeat when I think of you!
Was she taking poetic license, maybe?
Barbara Sofer does not give your blog address accurately. She puts an extra space in the article, so the URL doesn't actually appear as a real link. Get her to fix it so that people who read the article can click the link and reach your blog.
I don't think your blog is sad at all. Obviously there are some sad moments, but overall, thats not the impression I walk away with...
I would use the term poignant, not sad. When I read your blog, I sometimes want to laugh, and at other times, I just want to be a friend and provide support. Life is not always easy. Your attitude and approach as transmitted through your blog is encouraging and inspirational.
Stay strong, Stay happy
It's "sad," because we're saddened to think that you have to deal with cancer for the rest of your life, but you're not a sad person, and neither is your blog.
Is that clear?
Refuah Shleimah!!
To know you is to love you! You're HONEST, wonderfully so - you admit to human failings and we all can relate - you write wonderfully, you ARE full of life, and for that we so admire you. Agree with Batya, the whole issue of cancer is sad, but as you've put it often, it is NOT what defines you, you are much much more than that, and so is your blog. Actually, you reflect life in all its wonders.
Klara - who is tired of being anonymous and can't wait til I conquer this computerese stuff
RivkA - you left out the "inspiring" when you were quoting her article. I find your blog to be more inspiring than sad, but sometimes there are sad posts. As Batya said, it's sad that you're dealing with this but I would certainly not define your blog as sad!! Hope you're feeling good :) -Jameela
I agree with "Jameela"
Sometimes the posts are sad, yes. But above all, your blog makes me think- about all the topics you delve into- and you inspire us all.
sad, glad and totally rad, but never bad. it is not a fad, my lad. sometimes we are mad, a tad, but we have not been had. eegad!
as others wrote-
inspiring and comic at times-
sad situation to deal with but you are making the best of what HaShem has given you.
sadness and anger are a part of life and more so with an illness/disease.
you inspire others more than anything else.
mikimi
Thanks all for your comments.
Jameela - I absolutely included the full quote! I would never take a quote out of context!!
That said, when I read the article, what struck me was the "unbearably sad" part. Only later did I notice the "and inspiring."
I am glad that the blog is inspiring, and I know that some posts are sad, but to define the blog as "unbearalby sad"? I just wondered if other people felt that way.
I suspect that Barbara Sofer is not a regular reader of my blog and perhaps got a slanted perspective from all the recent heavy posts.
Unbearably sad? Goodness, no! Some of your posts are sad, but the overall tone of your blog is upbeat and positive and inspiring.
Not sad, just human. And most times remarkably upbeat.
It seems that many have already expressed what I had intended to write:
the specific circumstance of your having cancer, the mets, and the way it affect you etc.. is (unbearably at times)sad, but you, through your humour and enourmously positive attitude do not come off as sad at all (most of the time)- and this is reflected in your blog; it is that which is inspiring, and i suspect it is that which keeps many of your readers coming back to your blog.
Love and hugs (and happy healing thoughts :-)
BW
yes,sometimes very sad,but your dealing great,your blog is first and foremost for you to express what you are going thru,you are not a sad person,but shit happens,you have a humourus way of dealing with it,keep blogging,if its somtimes sad ,well tommorrow will be a better day,the best is yet to come,your muffin pal looney
Rivka,
I have missed you and your blog. It's good to be back.
The header picture on my blog is something I just found on the web. I thought it looked very Sunbonnettey.
Your blog is not sad at all. You and your words are inspiring. You are most definitely correct. "Life is good".
Shalom!
Melissa
hi rivkA
my first reaction when reading your blog entry was 'unbearably sad?' uh uh! but then i read her article and i understood why she said that.
no rivkA your blog is not unbearably sad. it is very upbeat. but that might be bc i know you and know how upbeat you are and somehow hear your upbeat attitude when i read your posts. but i guess if you dont hear your 'voice' and if you dont read all the posts, what stands out are the grim statistics, which i tend to ignore, bc the statistics are unbearably sad.
as always praying for you and sending happy healing thoughts
faith
When I read the article in the JP on Shabbat, I definitely noticed the "unbearably sad" description. And I thought to myself--unbearably sad? RivkA?--
Look it's a cancer blog, so we all know it's not going to be a party every post. But I find the blog to be very balanced between your good days, and not so good days.
Whatever the blog, it's all academic. I hope you keep writing for a long, long time, Ad Meah Ve'esrim!
YEEESSS! You're famous - and I know you personally! (BTW, I wanted to write you an email because of the article in the Jerusalem Post (I read the paper version on Fridays) but somehow didn't manage...
RivkA, as I told you before, you are the most amazing woman I ever met and I learn so much from you. Your blog is definitely more inspiring than sad. Keep up the good work!
Love you
Anima
I'm glad I'm not the only one who had this reaction. I intended to write a letter to the editor but, as usual, never got around to it. I also suspect that she needed material for her article, remembered you, and read a few posts, rather than the whole blog. There HAS been a change in your tone recently and I've been concerned about it -- I hope it's just that having the flu and being bored and isolated is getting you down.
DEFINITELY NOT UNBEARABLY SAD! Usually amusing, sometimes side-splitting, but always interesting, and very often inspiring. Almost always my first click when I get onto the computer after work, dinner, and kids. But I would be deluding you if I did not mention that your blog is heartbreaking at times. Lots of hugs.
Na'amah
no not sad! realistic! life with cancer isn't sad...it's life!
Tesyaa -- thanks! who knows? I thought of that too.
Anon (5:02) -- thanks for pointing that out! I wrote to her about it (I hope they will fix it).
Anon (6:58) -- good to know. thanks.
Elliot Jaffe -- poignant works for me. thanks.
Batya -- I'll have to think about this more. I accept what you are saying. When I learned of my diagnosis (first of mets, then later of brain mets), I cried for a week (each time).
It is true -- having cancer is sad. But I do not think of myself as a sad person, and I am glad that comes across in the blog.
Klara -- next time you come over, let's try to conquer your anonymity together! I am far from a computer wiz, but I'm willing to give it a shot.
Thank you for your wonderful comment -- it just made me feel so warm and fuzzy!!
Jameela -- I'm not skipping you... I already responded to you in a previous comment. Love you!
Tafka PP -- It is nice to know that. Thanks.
Arnie -- sad, glad, mad, bad... look how much influence Dr. Seuss had!!
Mikimi, Rahel, Michele -- thanks!!
BW -- I have to think about this more. If there are elements that are unbearably sad, I should be able to recognize and accept that. I have to ask myself, why did I have such a visceral reaction to that phrase?
Hey Muffin Pal -- you know it!! thanks!!
Melissa -- definitely Sunbonnettey!! the very picture of a free spirit in her country home!
Life is good!! Glad you are back!!
Faith -- hmmmm. I'll have to think about this too. There's another blog post in here, somewhere....
Baila -- "Look it's a cancer blog, so we all know it's not going to be a party..." LOL!! That about sums it up, doesn't it.
When I started the blog, I certainly felt it was a "cancer blog." Then, I thought of it as a "mommy cancer blog." Over time, it became more of a "mommy blog" about a mommy who "by the way, is living with cancer."
But, I guess recently, there have been more of the "cancer blog" posts (maybe because during the 3 + weeks I had the flu, I was not doing much mommying!)
And, as you pointed out: cancer is not party.
Anima -- who are you???? (you can email me the answer: coffeeandchemo@gmail.com)
Karen -- As soon as I read your comment, I realized you must be right.
I also hope it's just the flu.... as I get better, I can see my mood picking up. But it is slow. I still spend a lot of time resting in bed.
I wonder if my physical health is influencing my mood or if my mood is influencing my physical health.
It's hard to know. I am giving myself to the end of this week to start getting back to normal -- I just wish I knew what "normal" means anymore!!!
The idea that such a terrific person is dealing with such a difficult situation is itself very sad.
Once you get past that and look at your postings themselves, I definitely think that "inspiring" is the best adjective for your blog.
Barbara basically got it right.
I think that the more people who know about your blog, the better.
So glad to find your blog and pass it on to a friend! Love from Gail, Alen, Gabi and Sasha who I don't think you have met.
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