Oh…Hello!

blogging, writing

Hey, there. Howdy. ‘Sup? And all that. Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the www-dot-world. Kick off your shoes and sit a spell. No need to hurry, even if it is the Internet and your finger is on the trigger (er, mouse button).

 First, I suppose you wonder what I am doing here. Glad you asked. My good friend, J. Patrick Lemarr, and I are co-conspirators in the web’s newest resource/platform/shelter for would-be, wannabe, oughtta be, and gonna be writers. You know who I mean. Don’t look away and whistle. You have it, just like we do. That itch you just gotta scratch. Sometimes, it keeps you up all night…until everyone else is getting up. Sometimes it wakes you up when the whole world is sawing logs. You have something to say and you just have to say it. We feel you. We’re here for you. We…are you.

Your next question might be, “Whydja choose such a goofy name for yer blog, Gene?”

(First, that is horrible grammar. Clean that up.)

Second, I chose it for a few reasons:

1. Everyone has several versions of him- or herself. There is the you the casual acquaintance knows. The one you haul out for the world at large. It is the watered-down version. Hide the flaws and the frowns. Comb your hair, brush your teeth. Best foot forward and all that.
2. Then there is the you that those who “know” you know. That picture has a little more detail. But the lens is still out of focus. There is still some of that spit and shine and polish going on.
3. There is the you your family knows. Your kids, your parents, the odd cousin, the odder uncle. They know you’re cracked a little. But, hey, they’re family. They have to love you, right?
4. There is the you your spouse or “significant other” (shudders) knows. That is the you that forgets to put down the toilet seat or spray after…well, you know. The you that pops zits on the mirror and scratches your butt. The you that passes gas and doesn’t even bother pinning it on the dog. The you without makeup. The you that hides peanut butter cups in your night stand. Need I go on?
5. Then, there is the you. The real you. The one that has thoughts you won’t even share with your spouse. The one that knows that you have more on your mind, even when you “speak your mind.” The one that needs Jesus way worse than anyone really knows.

Sound about right? Does to me, too. So which me will you see when you read these posts? Which Gene will you get? Well, that depends. It depends on the day, the mood, the topic. One thing is certain, whichever me it is, it will be the real me: the authorized version.

 Too often, we let others define us. People say, “Oh, she’s moody.” Or, “That guy’s stand-offish.” But those are unauthorized versions. Those are the things people think they know about us. So, this is me, the way I see me. I have authorized myself to tell you what I think.

Besides, I like the double entendre. This is a site for writers (authors) or aspiring writers. So, as a co-founder of thewritecrowd.com, I hereby authorize you…

Write on. Write away.

D. Gene Strother @ October 16, 2007