Saturday, August 21, 2004

AOL J-Land Anniversary


I have been smiling on and off all day,thinking about tonight's ball, and all the hard work that has gone into it- Thank you all so much!   I realize that Im smiling because I fell into journaling in July, and unknowingly joined a community that is interesting and diverse and full of fascinating people writing about everything under the sun. As we have moved through this anniversary time, I have enjoyed the fun, the cleverness, the drama and the amazing talents of those who have worked so hard to make an online community grow and work and become a real support network. And I am so grateful.

This has been one of the worst years of my life- my accident and the problems stemming from it have cut me off from my work community. and from some people I thought were good friend. I am exhausted in a way I have never experienced before, I am having to struggle with chronic pain, and for over 6 months I couldn't even concentrate enough to read a book(a disaster for a former English major!). Even now my concentration skills are poor, and I can't do many thing I took for granted last year.

Journalling has given me another community to be part of, a whole new group of  people to meet and get to know, and (on really bad days) a reason to get up in the morning (as opposed to late afternoon!). I appreciate each comment left for me, the sharing that people do with me, and the fact that I can spend time mulling over what I want to write.

I am looking forward to this next year of AOL Journals-my own and others, and will find an even better dress for next year's Ball than I did for this year's!

Many Blessings. Margo

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are a warm place in the land of journals.  I always feel as if I am visiting a friend when I read your words.  Pennie

Anonymous said...

Hi Margo--just wanted to stop by and say hi, and thank you for the complimentary comment in my journal!  The journaling community is pretty awesome-- it's still pretty new for me too, and I've gotten so much out of the people I've met, and keeping my journal... thanks for reading, and hang in there, it sounds like a time of transition for you that will hopefully lead to a good place.  I'd love to hear more about your work as an HIV counselor-- haven't scrolled through old entries, have you written about this?  I did quite a bit of volunteer work in this area back in the 90's... Albert

Anonymous said...

I do love this journal community.  I have been thinking about what I am going to do when school starts back, I hope I have at least an hour a day to post and read.

I am glad you have a journal and making the rounds meeting people and having fun.  It is good to have something to look forward to.

Just a little spin off of the previously comment, -----have you read Paul Monette’s “Borrowed Time, an AIDS Memoir”?  Even though it is a little “high brow” compared to the gays I knew who died with AIDS.  It is a well-written book and very poignant regarding how devastating suffering with HIV and AIDS actually is.

Anonymous said...

Well said  {{{{{ Margo }}}}}  this is a wonderful place and I'm very glad you fel into it. I've enjoyed meeting you and look forward to being here in J-Land with you for a long time.   I hope your health improves!

Vivian