Public Viewing...

Liz and I had a long conversation the other day about public access to blogs like this. She writes on the web, just as I do, and the question arose: "Do you want your students in college to find it, what happens if they do?" It doesn't take much to run a name and a topic through Google to find a blog, so should we be open to the public?

Her answer was different than mine. I've made it a point not to connect to anyone else's blogspaces, and I don't really care if someone finds this one their own. If a client happens upon this site, reads about goofy weekends with golf buddies or wonderful trips out of town with Judy, feedback wouldn't be a big deal. On the other hand, teaching tech-savvy youngsters and learning that they may have "inside information" about their instructor is a different realm entirely.

As odd as it seems to this writer, there are those who might seek out my kids on Facebook after learning their ages and location(s). Others might try to look them up on Google Images. We live in a world far more connected than that which offered privacy we no longer enjoy.

Readership of The Journey is an unknown. There may be only about ten readers for all I know. I've bored enough others to the point that they no longer care to see what happens in Lompoc. As odd as it may sound, at least I don't feel the need to post medical information or test results, because things have gone well recently. And I'm not convinced I can ask truly demanding questions that will give readers pause--and the chance to answer for themselves. Perhaps it would be more thrilling, describing various tests and their results, detailing difficult emotions and and heroic recoveries, but if a little "medical boredom" has set in that may be a good thing.

I don't want to issue challenging questions at all times, nor do I mind sharing those difficult issues surrounding The Journey. But I do enjoy getting phone calls to learn that Bobby Kranseler had a hole-in-one, and life is much better on the outside of this screen than I find it to be inside. If THAT'S what the public learns when they seek out The Journey, then maybe I've taken a step towards making the world a happier place. There are few feelings like standing on the tee box when someone you've known since second grade watches a ball fly into the cup. Trust me. That pure joy rushes over you like a warm bath. Until I experienced the joy, I thought my own hole-in-one was my most joyful golf moment. Not true.

So whether you're a regular reader, or you just found me with the help of Google, I hope you have those joyful moments in your life, too. If you're looking for heroic recoveries and medical information, you'll have to catch me on one of the weeks when test results arrive. In the meantime, I'm going to keep looking for Jake the stick-figure, invented by the bright guys who bring you "Life is Good" t-shirts. I want to be just like him when I grow up!!