Welcome to November y’all!
It’s that time of year when I terrorize myself, my readers, or both with NaBloPoMo. Thirty posts during the traditional 30 days of November each year. To learn more about NaBloPoMo, you can refer to a previous post on it here.
Ever since BlogHer became SheKnows, the official hosting of NaBloPoMo has simply disappeared. No announcement, no death note. And there’s still no sign of acknowledgement, much less renewal of the idea.
It’s as if NaBloPoMo’s been kicked out of it’s home and no one’s admitting it happened.
It’s unfortunately not news. You might remember my anarchist rant about it a bit last year. After you read last year’s post, you’ll understand when I say – I haven’t designed my NaBloPoMo #NoMoNoBlo badge for this year, but I will! 😉
It’s easy to say geez, no one’s officially supporting it and it’s really too hard to do it right now anyway. Give it up. But how can I let a decade of obsession just die without even a eulogy? Especially when it’s not dead yet. In fact, it’s feeling a little better. Might even go for a walk.
I’m not alone. There are a few of us diehard NaBlo nerds out there, along with some newbies who just caught wind and think we’re cool.
Well, we are. I mean. Ya know.
In the last decade of participating, I’ve lost the challenge only once. That one time was last year and for the obvious reason of my husband’s death, if you’ve followed my blog at all, then you know. And I’m grateful if you’ve stuck with me along the way. I can’t promise that I won’t talk about deep things, sad things or even haunting things. I mean, my teenage son was diagnosed with cancer this year, so things definitely still suck, very much. But my soul is not keening with the same rage it was a year ago.
I’m not ok. I’m not. I never will be. Of that I’m certain. I was forced to be reborn and I’m still angry about it. But I’m putting one foot in front of the other, I’m learning and in new ways I’m living John’s favorite teaching motto: Embracing The Suck.
This year will be a challenge to see how NaBloPoMo goes, with an upcoming surgical procedure and a few other irons in the raging fire. But transmutation is never a process of ease, is it? If a caterpillar has to completely dissolve to become a butterfly, then… well…
:: shudder ::
Actually let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Look for a list of NaBloPoMo resources in the next post.
On to it!
Crochet Liberation Front:
Aberrant Crochet (TM) 
Happy to have you as a Pepper!
Thank you! ❤❤
Cheers to embracing the suck! #NaBloPoMo18 #Create30
Thank you! ❤
Oh my goodness I can’t imagine having to embrace the suck of having a child diagnosed with cancer. I’m incdibly sorry.
Thanks for your encouragement Hasty. It’s awful, but he’s also not facing the severity of what his dad (my husband John) suffered either. John’s brain cancer was terminal from the beginning and fighting it wasbrutal. Thankfully my son’s kidney cancer isn’t. It’s a mixed bag of crap for sure, but in the shadows we have to find the bright spots even more, right? Right now we’re in the monitoring phase. And he’s finally getting his appetite back. This makes me feel better. Next scans are in February.
I had a brain tumor and it was not benign thank goodness but I have to get scanned every two years. We call the anxiety associated with waiting on results scanxiety in my house. My best friend died of brain cancer two years ago and it was devastating to see what it does to someone especially that you love. My heart is with you guys. Sad when we find the blessing in certain cancers over others but… we are thankful for the smallest of hopes when we’ve witnessed the worst.
We know scanxiety well!! I appreciate that you *know* where I’m coming from, but I’d never wish it. No one who knows would. I’m sorry that you have the misfortune of being in the club no one wants to join. My husband had unmethylated wildtype glioblastoma. He fought hard. We all fought brilliantly. And it was the worst thing I couldn’t imagine. My heart and prayers are with you as you deal with your BT. I have other friends who live with benign BTs and sometimes it’s an educational experience when they have to remind their friends and family that vigilance is important because even benign brain tumors can kill. Space in your head is precious. A benign brain tumor may be better than worse, but it’s not the end of the fight and it’s not “not dangerous.” Love to you! ❤
Thanks, Julia, for keeping the spirit alive. Prayers and cyber hugs coming your way! Liz
Thanks for your encouragement Liz! I really appreciate you. 💙💜❤️
Sending warm thoughts and positive vibes your way. I just found your blog and looking forward to sharing the craziness of #NaBloPoMo with ya.
Thank you and awesome! Glad to spend it with ya!
Way cool Julia. 4 posts daily for me for months, so I am in 😉
Dang! That’s impressive Ryan! Thanks for joining us! You must be writing for a living. That’s awesome! 💙💙
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I’ve just read your first NaBloPoMo18 posts. I love reading your careful words and thoughts, and I want to give you huge appreciation for your honesty and authenticity in describing life in the avalanche field (how we refer at our house to that special reality when it’s clear all life’s happily ever after warranties have run out, and the rocks keep raining down). Your family and especially your son are always in my thoughts, and though I think you may be correct that you’ll never be all right in the way you once understood the term, there is a strength and vibrancy in these new posts that seems brighter than it has been. I hope your metamorphosis reveals itself as ultimately glorious, and that every pain and sorrow will burnish the glow of your growing wings, and that when you land in in that new world your new self will inhabit, you will find that along with the sorrow of all you have lost you will find the peace of joyous memory and the knowledge that many people, known and unknown, hold you in their hearts.
I remember our conversation from last year Julia. It is a terrible shame how BlogHer/SheKnows has cast aside this month, particularly how popular National Poetry Writing Month is in April, it seems like such a wasted opportunity for them and so sad that they are not doing anything to encourage new writers. I’m also saddened to hear about your son, big hugs to him and yourself, I sincerely hope things turn out alright for him soon and he can fight his cancer, I’m glad to hear in the comments that he is getting his appetite back. I appreciate your efforts too in sharing all of those very useful NaBloPoMo resources you have found, we need all the help and inspiration we can get at a time like this if we want to face the challenge and crank out enough posts/words to cover the entire month!
Aww, thanks so much. I really appreciate your words of encouragement and thanks for reading my post! 🙂 I’m really glad there are still quite a few of us out here who want to keep this challenge going every year. Who knows, maybe someday it makes a difference in the world somehow.