Musings

I can’t really tell you when I first met Rose. I must have been very very little. Even as a kid, under 5, I recognized that Rose was someone who lit up and then took over a room. Her energy showed through her face, and her long hair coupled with the ponchos and cute hats she tended to wear made quite an impression. Whenever we would say hello or goodbye, she’d hold me close and say, “Ohhh, gimme some sugar.” It took me ages to figure out what that meant, I’m not going to lie.

Rose was my grandpa’s cousin, but rather than referring to her as “first cousin twice removed” or whatever the heck the correct terminology would be, my family and I always referred to her, her children, and her grandchildren as cousins. As I came to appreciate Rose more and more, I created my own special name for her – Bubbin, which is a combination of Bubba and cousin. She seemed to like the word pretty well.

[Read more…] about The final chapter of an amazing life

Relatively early in his career, Mark Twain got a letter from an adoring fan. He writes that this letter just really made his day. It made him really feel like he had made it.

Then the person who wrote the letter asked Twain for a favor, and Twain realized why exactly he had gotten such a nice letter.

Twain was reflecting on this early correspondence at a time when he had received another letter. I’m going to type this in, because I think, for those of you who are engaged on Social Media sites fairly often, it will give you quite a laugh:

Dear Sir:-I have written a book-naturally, which fact, however, since I am not your enemy need give you no occasion to rejoice. Nor need you grieve, though I am sending you a copy. If I knew of any way of compelling you to read it I would do so, but unless first few pages have that effect, I can do nothing. Try the first few pages. I have done a great deal more than that with your books, so perhaps you owe me something-say ten pages. I after that attempt you put it aside, I shall be sorry-for you!

I am afraid that the above looks flippant-but think of the twitterings of the soul of him who brings in his hand an unbidden book, written by himself. To such a one is due in the way of indulgence. Will you remember that? Have you forgotten early twitterings of your own?

Maybe it’s just the word “twitterings,” but if I was asked to find a 19th century version of asking a major “influencer” for a tweet of a post, this letter would be my first pick.

[Read more…] about It’s a Matter of Motives

Regardless of your religious background, you’ve probably heard something about the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve lived there for a long time in total bliss and happiness, and all they had to do was avoid the Tree of Knowledge. If they could just avoid eating that apple, they’d be fine. But a serpent fooled them into thinking that their transgression would not be noticed, so they partook of the one thing in the world they were not allowed to have. And here we are, wearing Prada and Calvin Klein instead of tree leaves.

When I first joined the Social Media world about a year ago, I kind of felt like I had stepped into a very 21st century Garden of Eden. The possibilities were endless, not just for business but for improving the world. When a disaster strikes in Italy, Haiti, Greece, Japan, Libya, or Jopin, Missouri, the online world can situate itself to respond and help. What could possibly be more magnificent?

But there is a serpent looming. The serpent says that there is big money to be made here. The serpent says that if you can just outshine everyone in the online world, you can work from home, make the exact kind of living you want, and never have to worry about a thing. I hear this serpent’s voice more and more clearly every day. I think about listening to him. I bend down to listen to what he has to say.

I need to step on his head.

[Read more…] about We’re spoiled rotten and it needs to stop