It’s like you pulled the last paragraph right out of my heart. I often keep thinking I can write. And that I’m good at it. I just need to *make* myself sit down and do it. But, I sorta quit doing every day when I was teaching. I couldn’t keep up with the work involved to do both well. So, I picked one. Then, two years later, was too rusty to do anything I was satisfied with. So, I quit trying.

For what it’s worth, the blog I’ve been keeping here is the first bits of writing that I’ve done where I’ve *thought* about what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it. And tried to craft…..something…..

And, it’s the first time I’ve done anything like that since 2001. My legs and my skills are weak. They are unpracticed. But know that it’s because of both the comunity that you helped to create *and* this bit of wonderful that is hedville that has inspired me to try.

Also, my general interactions with you, limited though they be, have completely convinced that you are one of the most kind, patient, and generous human beings I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I find myself wanting to be a beter person because you call me a friend.

So. Thanks grimmy. Truely – you may have to put on that stupid monkey suit and do a job you hate because you *need* to buy silly things like food and a place out of the weather, but never for a second think that you are not creative. Not an artist. Look around, look at the magice *you* have created.

I know how stifling that feels, I really do. Change can be a great thing– just do it SMARTLY in this economy. Take a graphic design class at a tech college nearby– see if you like it? See about getting involved in your local theater productions,

It does not always have to be giant leaps from the outset– those can come later when you figure out what it is that you love and how to make money doing that.