...and when it’s not appropriate.
2013 was my third year of taking part in the A to Z. The
first year, as a relatively new blogger, I found it exciting. I would go as far
as to say exhilarating. I learnt a lot about the etiquette of blogging and met
many bloggers, some are still blogging friends. The second year continued to help in my explorations around Blogland and I met more lovely Bloggers, made
more blogging friends. This third year didn’t work quite so well for me and I
think that the blame lies with my choice of topic.
For those who didn’t follow my A to Z posts, I selected
snippets of song lyrics and briefly discussed deeper issues that they raised. I
was forgetting how manic A to Z Aprils are. My blog posts were well visited and
well received but the main enjoyment and discussions were about the songs and
their memories rather than any deeper meaning.
But all is not lost!
Those issues are worth having a little more time invested in them.
So over the next few months I will be dropping in the occasional 'lyric snippets in a little more depth' post so we can really get our blogging teeth into the issues raised. A to Z, I now
realise, is not a time for depth.
I'm talking here about a whole range of issues, from mental illness
to the environment to caring for each other to war and more. One theme that was common
to all of my song lyric posts was the memories that songs can evoke. I’m doing a bit of a DJ link
here because it’s not only songs that have this power. Flowers can be a wonderful memory prompt too.
Last year I blogged about the way that my Mum always
recited the A. A. Milne poem Delphiniums Blue and Geraniums Red as she dragged
me along to school [and, no, that wasn’t when I was 15. It was when I was 5!] Delphiniums
always bring back lovely memories of Mum and I took this photo today of one of the
best delphinium heads our garden has ever produced.
I still miss you, Mum.
If you're interested in the theme of flowers evoking memories then do visit Alex Gutteridge writes... This blog post called Grandma's Garden is well worth a read.
Those flowers are beautiful, and I am glad you are going to take a deeper look at some of those more serious issues. I look forward to reading your insights!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I look forward to the discussion too.
DeleteGreat photo. I am just waiting for one more day before I photograph our blue delphiniums. Must be a good year for them - our best ever too.
ReplyDeleteThanks and they're good for attracting bees too.
DeleteI'm looking forward to this, Ros - getting our teeth into some knotty problems (great mixed metaphor there). It will be good to discuss things that matter.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds painful! I must admit I'm rather fond of mixed metaphors :-)
DeleteGreat ideas for forthcoming posts, Ros, and the memories that flowers bring back is a lovely subject too. I'm not very good with plants and didn't know this was a delphinium, but it's beautiful and lovely that you associate it with your mother. I like holyhocks (not sure how to spell them) as we had them in our garden when I was a child and I loved that garden. It was walled and felt very safe. I associate them with peace and tranquillity. Sadly, they (the holyhocks) don't like my little Dutch garden. Looking forward to your next posts!
ReplyDeleteI love walled gardens and they really suit all spiked perennials.
DeleteI love the idea of connecting song lyrics with deeper issues, especially since I was laying low throughout the month of April and missed your A-Z. Sounds like a great plan, and I look forward to seeing where you go with it.
ReplyDeleteAs for flowers, I think more than anything, it's their scent that evokes deep-seated memories. It has to do with the way the brain is wired. Your delphinium is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm glad it's associated with such happy memories for you.
Oh yes, perfumes are so evocative.
DeleteLoved the post as I did your A to Z post.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Thanks but it was a manic month, wasn't it.
DeleteI did try my best to answer what I knew you wanted on the a-z but I could see your questions were being lost because the a-z is so fast. I'll be glad to read your ponderings again. Love the flower and the memory that goes with it.
ReplyDeleteYou did, I know and thanks for the support.
DeleteOH! The Dormouse and the Doctor! A wonderful poem.
ReplyDeleteIs that what the poem's called? I'd forgotten that.
DeleteIt's my Dad I remember when it comes to plants.
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely. I have Dad-related plant memories too.
DeleteYes it is very difficult to keep up with daily posts - both writing and commenting so it's probably not the best place for in depth discussions as by the time you've thought of something vaguely intelligent to say another couple of posts have been put up and it's old news.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading them now.
And your flowers are beautiful. Your Mum would have loved them.
Ann
Yes, I don't know how people write daily blogs all the time.
DeleteThat's a beautiful photo of the delphinium. I love the idea of flowers evoking memories and realised that it is very true (perhaps a great way of adding a character's thoughts on backstory in a novel). I remember picking rose petals with my sister and spending hours making perfume with them as a child. The scent of roses always brings back that memory. Trees also evoke memories I think. My mum planted a fig tree in her garden about twenty years ago. She's passed away now and when I go home I look at the tree, which produces loads of figs each year and think of her. I've planted one in my garden now too.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter used to make 'perfume' with rose petals too. I wonder if it was a coincidence or maybe Blue Peter had a hand in it!
DeleteWell, I enjoyed your A to Z and now look forward to your more in-depth adventure. Loved your picture today and your mom reciting a poem to you. Whether it was 5 or 15, that's cool and such a sweet memory. I keep reading, Rosalind. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThose are great themes. It's because I remember how intense A-Z was that I did opt out of it these past two years.
ReplyDeleteBe well, Rosalind. Thanks for stopping by, too. It's always nice to see you in cyberspace.
xoRobyn
I liked your A-Z posts - always interesting to see what songs you chose..and a good way of getting through a challenge (I ducked out). Blogs are interesting places - as you know, I have a variety of 'strands' from the campaign (political), guests (literary) and the Grumpy Old Sods (the most popular...dunno why). What I personally don't do, and good luck if you try it, is be too personal. I've read some of those 'very up close to me' blogs, and tbh, it's not why I read blogs. It's why I support friends.....which is completely different. However, I'm sure, knowing you, that you will find a way to balance the issue with the personal and I look forward to reading what you have to say . xx
ReplyDeleteHi Ros .. mothers are special - and I love the delphinium link ... I 'm sure we had those in a cottage part of the garden when we lived in Surrey .. my mother was a brilliant gardener ...
ReplyDeleteI've loved your down to earth postings .. giving us snippets of info - not everything can be in depth .. yet it will be interesting to know more - we learn from these connections ...
I miss my mother - it was a year ago last night .. I'm thankful I am able to remember in peace - I was lucky with time and we had a few happy years, albeit she was bedridden.
With many thoughts - this is a lovely post .. cheers Hilary
I loved your A to Z posts this past April because of the memories the songs evoked. Which were, of course, my memories and they were also helpful as I blogged about my 50 years here in America. Driving to California in a VW bug, with the radio blaring Miss American Pie, day in and day out, for example.
ReplyDeleteFor me this year was a bit weird. I put a lot of effort into trying to recreate my memories, but too often I just got comments on my looks. Which was flattering, but had nothing to do with reality. People even said I was blond, which I was not, just the image had of Swedes, I guess. Since then I have also thought about how much to share and when to share it. I doubt that I will participate in any more A to Z Challenges. If I do, my theme will be very simple.
Finally, imagine my consternation when my most popular post for the entire 2013 A to Z Challenge was X is for Xerox!! Wow, and there I was writing about 50 years of my life! Thanks for this post, it has really helped me get perspective on things.