This is the 300th time I have posted to this blog since I started it in October of 2010. Since I have started I have received over 9,000 hits which works out to each entry being read approximately 30 times. Personally, I don't think that is too bad, but I wish it were better. I thought about this and it brought to mind how Paul Molitor of the Brewers must have felt like when he smacked his 3,000 major league hit. The Brewers were in Kansas City playing the Royals and it was early September. The season was coming to a close and once again the Royals had nothing at stake in the ballgame. There were more empty seats then filled ones that night when Molitor passed that great milestone that only a handful of players do. I imagine as he crossed first base and he heard the small spattering of applause that here he was at the top of his game, his 3,000 hit and there wasn't hardly anyone there to see it or appreciate it.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy writing and it has been good for me. It has given me an outlet to express myself and to recall times in my life and to share them. Posting one writing at a time and getting 30 hits per entry is pretty good. It hasn't been easy writing 300 items though.
Since I started this blog I have introduced you to some of my Uncles and Aunts, to some cousins and to my siblings. I have told stories about my parents and grandparents as well as my nephews and nieces.
I have shared songs that seem to speak to me with their lyrics. Knowing that not everyone has the same taste in music as what some of the songs may be played, I included the lyrics so that who ever is reading the song can get a feel for how I feel and why this song means something to me. Songwriters such as John Lennon, Paul Simon and Don McLean were included with many others as they expressed their feelings and experiences in song.
I have tried to give some philosophy of some of the "comedians" in my life that took the truth and showed us how ridiculous the truth can be at times. George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Lewis Black, Lenny Bruce are but a few of these that I have grown up listening to and appreciating their special outlook on life.
I have written a few poems of my own that have been published here and a few short stories of mine. They are a little dark, I''ll admit, but that is how I feel a lot of the time.
Through this blog I have been able to pay homage to some people that were very important to me in my life. My father and grandfather topping the list. I don't think Grandpa ever really knew how much of an influence he had upon me. He taught me how to think and how to express myself in a manner that was respectful of others views. Okay, to be honest when he would talk he would sometimes raise his voice and express concern about how the person he was talking with could ever think the way they do, because he knew that his thinking was correct. He listened though. He would always listen to what his opponent had to say. That is where the respect comes in. He would show respect to others by giving them the courtesy of listening to them even if they were wrong, which I seemed to be most of the time. I hope my dad knows how much he has meant to me. He taught me so many things about life. He taught me about not giving up. Baseball games were never over until the last out of the last inning, you don't give up because anything can happen up to that point. Dad taught me how to take pride in my work and to always, ALWAYS do the best you can. He also taught me that when you are employed by somebody you give them eight hours work for eight hours pay. HE showed me that you can work through things even when the pain of working through them is too much to bear. Both he and Grandpa taught me the value of honesty. They both taught me the value of being able to be counted on. They taught me a man is as good as his word, and both of them lived under that rule and people could count on them. These two men were, without a doubt the most influential people in my life out of ALL the other influential people. I consider myself so lucky to have had them in my life.
I have shared things about my home life, both as an adult and as a child growing up. I have shared some of my interactions with others, some good, others not so good. I have tried, but feel I come up short, of describing who I am, How I am and why I am that way. I have a feeling I'll be opening up a little more as I continue with this blog.
I have expressed the love I have for Kansas City, the love I have for Missouri and the love I have for this great nation that we call The United States Of America. I have also expressed concerns I have for my city, state and country.
I have written entries and then deleted them, censoring myself or being censored by others. I try to remember that "words mean things" and to put that into practice with every piece I write.
I have a lot of stories left to tell and a lot more thoughts to express. These first 300 entries is only the beginning I hope. I do appreciate all that read this little space. It isn't very well written and certainly not the most exciting blog there is. There isn't a lot of controversy here or a lot of excitement. This thing is just stories of life, feelings of life, and thoughts of life.
I hope you have gotten at least a little something out of reading it as I have gotten a little something out of writing it. I hope you stick around and read some more. I am not use to opening myself up like I do on this blog. It is your best chance to get to really know me.
Hopefully the next 300 entries will at least match the past 300 entries. I promise to do my best in being open, honest and to dig a little deeper into myself to share it with those that hang around here once in a while.
Thanks for sticking with me this long. My next goal is to get to 500 entries. I think I can do it.
WHC
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