BEFORE I FORGET

Sometimes we read or hear something that answers a question we haven't honestly considered. 

I recently read  Before I Forget, by Leonard Pitts.  I was able to get it free as a teaser.   Sorry but now if you are interested, it is full price.  It may be at your libraries?  

I really found the book interesting and was caught up in the story on two fronts.

First thing that hooked me was that the fictional story centers around a 49 year old, 70's soul singer who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers. As my being of the age where memory loss is more of a probability than a possibility, the premise peaked my interest. I curiously wanted to read about this slide into oblivion that faces so many of us with out-of-warranty mileage on our brains. That story line made me punch "buy now". 

But the story is way more than a journey into Alzheimers. It takes one into the lives of three generations of black men who had no father to count on and how they passed the same legacy of loss on to the next generation.   The men are quite different but produce similar inherit patterns in their offspring. None have any idea how to be a father. 

Second. it took me into a culture that I only had vague, media fueled conceptions about and certainly no real understanding. Mr. Pitts took me into the bleak soul of the young black men who feel there is no hope for success unless they grab it by what ever means available.  Neither legality nor morality is a consideration. 

I felt little compassion for the hardened thugs in his story, yet felt so much for the few who tried to break the mold. It is  far from a feel good story, but I feel a worthwhile read.

November 20th. I just saw where Leonard Pitts book "Freeman" is being briefly offered free on Amazon for Kindle. Not sure how long it will remain free. I snapped it up. It is about slavery after the Civil War. You can check here.

Oddly, the title alone is what answered that question I hadn't really properly answered before.  "Why did you become a blogger" is a question posed often by fellow bloggers.   

Suddenly, as clear as day, "before I forget" was the answer I wasn't aware of seeking. I think I am so far free from Alzheimers (I satisfactorily passed the peanut butter test) but age makes memory a slippery slope for all of us and can't be taken for granted.  I think originally I wanted to record what I know--- before I forgot or was forgotten.

When I first started blogging, I was just a story teller , relating past segments of my life and my ancestors' lives that I thought interesting or funny that few, even some of my family, were not aware. My target audience was my next of kin. Interestingly, only one family member reads my blog. Thanks Jan for hanging in. 

There were the family history and events I wanted to get into print for future generations. There aren't many of us left who know the stories, some I am not even sure of. Being too lazy to write a novel, I found Blogging the perfect answer. Snippets of familia history, plus a record of a mostly fun life slowly slipping  away were the meat of my blog. My desire was to lock them into the permanency of the Internet--- how perfect. 

However, I am finding that the reason I started to blog is no longer the same reason I keep it up. While I originally started as a record keeper, most of those stories have long been told and were thankfully posted "before I forgot."  

I now blog almost purely for the social aspect. I really enjoy the interactions with my fellow bloggers from all over the US, different countries and from all walks of life. People I would not normally have met.

Five years later, I am no longer racing the memory thieves but just enjoying daily visits with interesting friends that you don't have to get out of your pajamas to share lives with and care about. Gotta love it. 

Do you blog now for the same reason you started??