Following Other Hubbers
67Lifelong Joy of Reading and Recent New Joy of Reading Hubbers
It's such a pleasure to meet so many really talented, inspired, humourous, and informative fellow-writers! When I joined, (at the invitation and for the sake of one writer I already knew who had become a member), I could not have imagined or expected the sheer pleasure it's given me since that first day. The abundant joy of finding, not just an occasional, but many people with something to say and the ability to express it well is almost too good to be true! I pinch myself frequently to be sure I'm not imagining all of it!
But how many of us hubbers take advantage to avail ourselves of it fully?
Do we read and comment on others' hubs faithfully? I confess that at first, I didn't realize that part of the package! I saw that people were reading my hubs and commenting, but I was naive enough to suppose they were the official welcoming committee or something! I was thrilled, of course! Gradually it became clear how it worked, that I could also become a follower and a fan and that I could read and comment on their hubs and that they actually valued what i commented! L'il ole me! WOW! I just had to tell them I appreciated it, I was so thrilled!
So my next question is, how many of us take the time to go back after we've first commented on some one's hub to see what has since been added? While we're there, do we take a moment to read the responses of others who've commented and, of course, note what the author wrote in response to OUR comments? Oh, I know that at times we are so rushed, we do well just to make the rounds. But isn't it a bit like stopping to smell the roses, not just tov observe them in passing?
Often times a small valuable discussion will have developed among the comments! This all really is good stuff! It's just too good to waste even a comment! As I wrote in one of my first hubs, our hubs tell a lot about ourselves; and I'm coming to realize that our comments do, as well. It's an education and it broadens one's horizons to expose oneself to so many intelligent responses as much as possible! This is truly a network that works! So very valuable!
HubPages makes it convenient, too. We can program our profile settings so that we receive email notices announcing new hubs from people we follow and comments on our own hubs so we can just pop over and read them! Then they even list our "hubtivity". which shows where we've gone to post comments on others' hubs - among listing other activities of interest. This is a great help if we don't want to miss those second followups to see what's happened since the first ones.
Yes, yes - I know, It's time-consuming to follow up consistently, but what a rich exposure to good writing and thinking among our hubber-associates! Besides, if one needs a some good "strokes" to get one's spirits up - they're almost always there waiting. Who among us can't use a few more of those in our days? We do seem to find time for the things we've learned to value. :-)
You know, we could be reading some of the the best selling authors of today and of tomorrow! Some of them may become the classics to future generations. Heck - maybe YOU or your first "fans" will be! And we knew them "when?" - NOW! What a privilege!
I'm so impressed with the quality of writing and thought, as well as the talent for humor and fun among us. And the quality of news around the world and at home is really professional. It's downright amazing, in fact!
The Good Ole Days
Remember when people used to read the newspaper from cover to cover? Well, perhaps some of you don't remember and maybe some of you still read it! I actually have some friends who do! Of course they have no computers! They read a few magazines and special interest books, but the newspaper is their real current events and editorial exposure, not that newspapers don't provide a lot. They used to supply the bulk of what people knew about, in fact. And perhaps they were the precursors of the social networks, chatrooms, and blogs of our cyber world.
We read the Editorials, the Letters To The Editor, the Business and the Sports sections, the "funnies", "Dear Abby", the editorials, the fashion and food news, the Horoscope, and even the Want Ads. We did the Crossword and Word Jumble. We couldn't get enough. Couldn't wait till Sunday when there was the Parade Magazine or other special picture suppliement. Gosh, some of us cut out the grocery coupons and coordinated them with the grocery ads for the greatest savings!
You'd read the "breaking story" on page one and then there would be follow-up stories till it was concluded, You'd be eager to get that paper in the morning and see what had happened that day and the next. Now we're so spoiled with the glut of news, we can hardly absorb it all! You'd race to the front porch to be the one to grab it and bring it in, maybe you'd get up early, soon as you heard the "thud" when the paper boy rode by on his bike and threw it!
We've Come A Long Way!
We still have our beloved books - both the ones we hold and whose pages we turn, but online books. And now - we have something else of great value! HubPages! A flow of wonderfully varied, well-written articles and stories from an array of different perspectives and interests, including different parts of our world! We even get to actually know the authors in this community and know some of their profiles and many other things they share with us.
I only regret being unable to read more of them! I so thoroughly enjoy reading all I can get read and the interesting comments others write about them, too. Sometimes it almost seems like an imposition to have to pause to do chores. And this is almost never wasted time or effort - as so much TV viewing turns out to be.
I don't know about newspapers these days. They're sort of desperate to get readers now. Our Dallas Morning News started giving away a small paper in hopes of attracting readers. But we stopped subscribing years ago - before the decline in circulations - when we were spending half our time at the ranch without one, as well as without the Internet! We got satellite TV and that was our only connection with the outside world unless someone called us long distance or vice-versa. (serviced by the Big Bend Telephone Co. - no cell phones work consistently out there). But there is something so real about it without all the conveniences!!
A Token Of My Esteem!
Well - it just occurred to me what a privilege it is to read others' reminisces, good advice and tips on myriad things from news bulletins to the most tender thoughts - all so well written! I couldn't help but feel moved to write a little about it - and to thank each of the folks who allow me to follow them and those who follow me. It's equally a privilege when they offer constructive criticism or direct me toward an idea on the subject I hadn't considered.
I've been online for a lot of years and have enjoyed some wonderful friendships and good times, but honestly, - - never so many really bright, interesting, outstanding people as I've met and am meeting here! It's truly an honor! Thank you!!
I find that I can't seem to conclude this without mentioning some of the wonderful Highly Esteemed Hubbers to whom I owe much in getting acquainted and settled here. I find that there are so many! So I'm going to start with the first folks who welcomed me and helped me.
It's a bit like deciding which special mementos to "put out" to see and enjoy. The ones displayed are no less beloved. So my very first filter is for those who welcomed and encouraged me even before I'd written a word.
In truth - for my list of favorites - see my followers and fans - there are none I value less than others! And several who were the very first to comment on my first attempts at writing hubs. I am so indebted to you! But then those who have become friends later on are special to me, too!
So I'm going to mention the two persons who welcomed me even before I'd found courage to write a word:
Fist, the one for whom I was already a fan before joining, who told me about Hubpages. His work is well worth following and he is a published writer, too -> Thanks to Merlin Fraser
The very next person I was to encounter was my first fan and the person I've looked to for example, encouragement and inspiration. He's every one's favorite but he truly has been mine from Day One! He writes some of the wittiest and most erudite hubs online. If you're not already his fan - you will be if you check him out here -> Thanks to De Greek
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You write beautifully and with great wisdom, Nellieanna.
And yes, De Greek. God must make more copies of him, lol..
Much love,
Melinda
Ahh Nellieanna, so DG got you to mention him in a hub too! Let's see now...how many has he chalked up? :D
Seriously...HP is a great place. It's wonderful to read the work of so many diverse people from across the world, and while I am a die hard 'print' fan, I still need my HP fix everyday! :)
BkCreative, Thank you! You know, I was sceptical about a SIG (Special Interest Group) because the few of that type I've visited - poets, artists, etc. just seemed to be out to "best" each other, plus they seemed to talk "shop" mostly.
But when Merlin invited me, I couldn't refuse. Then Lo! and Behold! De Greek was practically there greeting me the moment I signed up and he even visited my own website and wrote in its guestbook. Well - that won me! He's been a dear friend ever since and I always follow his hubs.
I didn't write a hub right away. In fact, I really hadn't intended to do anything but follow Merlin's articles. But as soon as I wrote one, such nice, genuine people left comments! I was hooked. Then when I read theirs and realized what a really classy group of writers were here, I was bowled over. Everyone is so generous with attention and comments! It's truly a special place.
I'd like to list and link all the folks I've come to admire but really - my list of people I follow tells the tale. I'm most beholden to the earliest ones who took me under their wings and made me feel at home.
Melinda, thank you! I'm not sure there are any spare parts to make another De Greek. ;) He's truly unique. And he's generous with his support of others, too!
I appreciate you! You were among my first supporters too!!
Its a pleasure to have you and De Greek join Hubpages. You both bring in enthusiasm and well written hubs! I told my s/o, I treasure Hubpages, its a community of very supportive writers, and sometimes just by reading a hub I become inspired. I have made several good friends here!
FP - hehe. Well I haven't been avoiding it and he doesn't solicit my mention though he sometimes asks my opinion. Of course, like most of us, he likes it favorable responses! He makes no secret of that! Now he's earned too many adoring fans; - I lose count! For sure, I simply couldn't even start to talk about my great experience here in HP without mentioning how big a part he's played in it and I'm more than happy to say so!
And by the way - you were one of my early followers & supporters, too. I went back and looked at the encouraging comments from you and a handful of really special people I've come to trust and rely on for sharing meaningful thoughts and you're right up there. Of course, De Greek holds his breath till he hears your response when he publishes too - hehe. He knows good taste and fair-mindedness when he sees it! :) Me, too!
I was just kidding about our favourite Greek! He deserves all the attention he gets! Of course whether he considers me 'fair minded' is another story altogether! :D
And I enjoy reading your hubs Nellieanna....like I've said before, you tend to make us all think! :)
Violet Sun! I'm so pleased to have met you more recently. You bring such a deep level of thought. For me, your hubs do just what you describe: - reading them inspires deeper consideration at many levels.
Thank you for visiting and commenting here!
FP - haha - I know you think very well of our friend & applaud him in his well-deserved attention. You're right, though, - I can't claim to read his mind but I KNOW he respects you and what you think. Perhaps it was a bit ambitious to claim he judges it fair-minded, I can't really say, but he values it, that much I've observed.
I'm so happy to have you among my friends here and I treasure it. You inspire plenty of thinking yourself!
You have written another gem. I also think it is very useful too.
I enjoy going back to all the places I have visited and trying to keep up with everyone who visits me. The hub is something I would of never thought of as a way to make friends but I have.
My husband plans to join after he retires this summer. I think we will have lots of fun.
Sadly my Raven, who insisted I start this is too busy with school now. I hope she gets some free time soon.
I haven't gotten to your last hub yet so I feel I'm behind on my reading.I had a rough week with my health. So what ever time I had went to chores if you know what I mean.
Nellieanna, your writing has captured the generosity and collective energy that I've witnessed, firsthand, here at HubPages. Thank you for sharing your talent, and you, dear lady, have no idea what an encouragement your comments always are to me!
Hi Nellieanna,
I know you can't put yourself on your own list but you are certainly on the top of My 'Must Read' list and I love your support and comments of encouragement.
From our time at another Web location I just knew in my heart that HubPages was the place for you and I still want to encourage you to put your writing into a more permanent form not only for posterity but for the future education and enjoyment of people to come.
I absolutely agree with you Nellieanna Hubpages is the cat's meow. It's a never emptying pool of knowledge, fun and best of all friends.
nice hub once again
kindest regards Zsuzsy
BJ - I just came from reading more of your highly entertaining and thought-provoking hubs about your house's ghost and your kittens and kids. The stories are so matter-of-fact, - it seems impossibly to not believe there really is a ghost living among you there. Sometimes I wish the spirits I sense were ore vocal and visible. haha. But like me, they're a bit reserved. Besides they'd probably come fit me into a jacket with sleeves that tie in the back and take me away. Maybe my ghosts know that and don't want to lose me. hehe.
Thanks again for the visit. And by the way - if you do get time to read any of the Magnolia series - be sure to start with the first one - Magnolia (the prologue). It's a story. And yes - I understand about the chores that never seem to quit no matter how one is feeling. Hope you are feeling much better!
Nellieanna you are so good at this..wish I was !! My futile attemps at hubs are quite boring in comparison.....well done
lalesu - You are such a fantastic writer/poet and as I've mentioned, I really am not very often wild about other poet's poetry, though I appreciate all kinds of prose writing. If a poet is really a POET, though, it's something awesome - and you are! Thanks for the visit. I'm so happy to have you read my hubs and comment!
Merlin! Thank you! I thank my lucky stars that you thought to invite me here. I was gratified that you'd seen my stuff as having merit. Thank you for your valuable encouragement!
I may at some time write with an idea of putting it into a more permanant form, but I've written all my life without that goal, so I'd have to refocus a lot. LOL. Thanks again for the visit and encouraging words!
Zsuzsy Bee - YOU would be among the next two people I mentioned who came to encourage me at the very first! I was amazed and then reading YOUR work, even more amazed that you took time to come by. Thank you for then and for now! I truly value your good opinion.!
Bambino - you're a perfect example of underestimating your own writing and areas of interest! We have so many things in common, by the way! You're ageless too, we love arranging flowers and there's probably nothing in the world I love more than designing & making costumes!
NO - we do NOT have to dress "doughty" and look - ugh - dare I mention the 3-letter "o" word? haha -. Who dictates such a thing? Besides you're youthful!
I make no secret that I'm 78 and my pictures are recent. I don't pretend to look 20, but I feel happy in my own skin & have a strong sense of style, though I'm ok in jeans and sweatshirts too. I've never seen any reason to think I've reached a time when I'm supposed to become elderly just because of a birthday, though many of my own peers do that.
I'm happy to have lived so many years & to have enjoyed the advantages of experiencing a lot of eras. I always thought that one day I'd have enough experience under my belt to write! LOL. I just don't carry the weight of all of it on my shoulders. hehe.
I'm certainly impressed with your verve! Thanks for the visit and shhhhhhh with the boring talk! NOT so! Just write about all your many interests! You have much to share.
Nellieanna there isn't much more I can add here but let me try. The newspapers I truly believe are dying on the vine and soon to become relics of the glory years, I to had the morning addiction of newsprint and had to read with vigor my sports for the day, current headline, comics and horoscopes and yes even Dear Abbey from time to time, is she still alive? hah. Since the discovery of the many uses of a computer I now am joined at the hip with my laptop. It is my morning, noontime and evening soul mate. It was not until discovering Hubpages have I truly discovered so many talented writers like yourself and I find it hard to leave without at least one more read of someones hub or comments left. I do my best to reply back to all comments, if someone is kind enough to leave me a comment then I want to return the kindness of a reply. I use to watch a fair amount of t.v. but since finding the hubs, it's now my primary form of entertainment, I even edited my cable package and now only have basic, t.v can be a huge time waster, i get more enjoyment out of capturing movies or t.v. series we like and burning them to watch later at our convenience. I prefer giving my full attention to learning about every subject under the sun that in some shape or another will appear here. Your right, we are brushing shoulders with published authors and soon to become authors, there is so much talent in the hubs. You are also one talented writer and should look at your legacy gifting by adding a book or two of your life experiences, you have so many of them and I have had the honor to have read some and still have more to read. Thanks for sharing this fantastic hub with us, I am your loyal follower as well as our mutual friend De Greek and many others. I want to accumulate as many friendships as I can on here, I love hubbing. God bless and peace to you my dear. Keep hubbing
Saddlerider - Ken - thank you! It is an amazing forum, for sure! It's such a joy to receive so many good writers with good souls and to be received by them is almost beyond belief.
Yes, I suspect the papers are dying and it's kind of sad, but almost inevitable. I wonder if they were more (or less) opinionated and vessels of propaganda than TV and the net! LOL. I miss one feature of the San Angelo Standard Times. On days when it rained (it's in a dry area of Texas) there would always be a big outline of a red rooster superimposed on the front page - pale enough that it didn't interfere with the stories, of course.
In any case, they were fairly unchallenged even by the weekly newsmagazines. My Dad had to grab the Time Magazine and read it all as soon as it was delivered. There were sections to suit everyone's taste, too. Then magazines became more focused on one area - art, business, people, world news - etc. Now we get anything and everything with a push of a button. Google has just about cornered everything going on or which ever went on, it seems.
Remember "microfische" ?- They hoped to be able to store more information with less storage problems. LOL. Now look at storage measured in G and T bytes!
Even our first webpages seem limited by comparison to now - in a dozen short years! People used to say they wished mine was interactive. Now - easy, though I haven't worried about setting it up. With all the groups, chatrooms, IMs, social networks and blogs, why another of the same type? Nope, I'm hanging on to my monologue there! I talk to people everywhere else! haha.
And like you, I've cut way back on TV programming. I found I wasn't watching all that much and having all the movie channels when more often than not, the movies that appealed to us (when George was alive) were the ones I had in my DVD collection! Now I've cancelled all but the package which includes CNN, History and Discovery with the networks and if I want to sit and watch passive entertainment - I'm discovering the series on network TV I hadn't watched for years while pursuing the big movie channels. LOL. And honestly - my laptop allows me to do both at times! My desktop - far removed from the TV - has become the serious-business computer in this house. LOL
Now with Hubs, there is so much to participate in and to challenge thought - I'm hooked. And if the TV is going when I start to read a hub or edit my own - off it goes! I prefer to concentrate! If I want to stir the silence, I'd just as soon put on some nice CDs.
I certainly am enjoying reading your hubs too. I hope you don't mind my saying that I've sensed you're becoming more relaxed and comfortable sharing your stories, too. That's so good because they are full of wisdom and empathy to touch people where we "are".
I'm proud to be a part of this remarkable experience called Hubpages. Thanks for the great comments - you always have something significant to say.
Nellieanna, I remember those days of reading Time and Readers Digest and sports illustrated and enjoying them each and every page, those days are long gone now. I have enough old books in my library to reference when I need to, otherwise everything I need is on the net. I am glad that a portion of my life is rewarded with technology especially the past 10 years, it's exploded. I hope to be around for at least another 20 yrs God willing:0) to be part of more wonderful technical things, although with the world in a mess politically and the nuclear and terrorist threats, we may all be gone by 2012 in the meantime lets keep hubbing.
Well - I'm expecting to live to 100 and beyond so maybe we'll both still be reading each other's hubs! LOL. As for otherwise - I'm OK with that too. So long as I'm fully alive and experiencing LIFE till it stops, I'm OK with it. In a way, I wasn't really "born" till I was 40 so I'm still a kid here. (well, even at that - not too young a kid!) lol. But I'm so pleased to be a part of the technological age and to be engaged in it personally.
I have friends only a bit older than I who truly haven't really even gotten into the tape music and video age! They do have a current TV - but no computers or the many wonderful developments and devices that have come along in the past 20 or 30 years. They're happy enough I guess - and I wouldn't want them to plunge into computers now! He's still a sucker for telemarketers who prey on old folks! No telling what he'd get into with PCs. She has a cell phone, simply for protection when she's out and about - especially after getting mugged. I warned her about looking like Mrs. Astor and driving her Caddy - but she didn't believe me. She does love her Caddy though - it has a tape deck so she can play Julio tapes while driving around. lol.
Thanks again for more good comments here.
Nellieanna, I had a similar experience with hub pages--it turned out to be so much more than I expected. I just started out writing about my boat, and people actually read and responded. It was very empowering. Then I starting reading the work of people like you , De Greek, Merlin, and so many others. It's really been a wonderful experience.
Really enjoyed reading this hub!
Nellieanna, Thank-You!
Your writing and you website are truly a blessing. I am so glad that the internet has brought to me the ability to meet people like you who have such a gift with words.
I for one still like the print media but basically because I can view it at my leisure and I can carry it with me. While I only have a desk top computer, I can only use this at home.
Your website is a true labor of love. Thank-you for sharing your life.
Lee - I certainly eagerly read your hubs about your Argonaut boat and I truly loved reading all the labors of love and rewards of satisfaction you experienced doing all that. Those are the true "jewels" of one's life!
Yes - it's quite a thrill to expect little and find much! Of course, that's sort of basic to my personal philosophy. Over expectations really can crowd out the wonderful unexpected which one wouldn't have known to expect, but which are far more gratifying than most of what one can try to foresee! LOL. Also even if the expected things do materialize, one is never sure they came of their free will or if one just coaxed and forced them along. hehe - That's especially true in the case of relating to others.
So pleased that you've stopped by and read and commented on this hub. It came to me "unexpectedly" this morning in the wee hours, though I've been working on my Magnolia story segments. It was vital, though, to write and post this!
I have to confess that as a former journalist I have printer's ink running in my veins - I love to read newspapers! There is something great about reading a newspaper which I don't get from reading an on-line story. Of course, the advent of the internet has meant that I can now read stories from around the world, which I really appreciate, and from the amount of time I spend on-line you would know that I am an internet junkie! But that feel and smell of the paper, that feeling of being somehow close to the writer of the article - that only comes from actually having the newspaper in my hands!
I guess it's from having been there, and I was there in the old hot lead days when we used to have to go down to the print room and work "on the stone" to get page layouts right! I loved it! And I still feel connected although I know that newspaper production now is very different and done directly on computer screens - I wonder if journalists these days even know what I mean by "on the stone"? Not to mention the subs' horseshoe!
Thanks for starting my mind off on these long-forgotten trails!
Love and peace
Tony
djnuttall - what a pleasure to welcome you into my circle of hubber friends! I popped over and checked your hub home and will look forward to reading your hubs and checking your website. What a marvelous testimony to the the generosity of good folks that you were able to learn what you needed by their help, in spite of unsatisfactory attempts with commercial coaches! I'm glad for you. At this time, I have no ambition to earn online and - frankly - I have work I'm always neglecting to write & interact for the pure fun of it. But one never knows. I might get the bug to try and I'd certainly ask you for help!
Thanks for the kind words about my writing and website. It truly has been a labor of love - and over a number of years. Hope you visit often. There's a lot to see.
hugs -
Tony - I'm so pleased that you filled us in on that side of newspaper production. I've had strong attachments to special news journalists who always came through with something so worth reading, people like Dave Barry and my late husband's favorite, Paul Crume.
In fact the internet resulted in my George's receiving one of his most treasured gifts. I ran across Paul Crume's widow's & son's website after I got into the internet whirl. I wrote on their guestbook & mentioned George's devotion to Paul Crume & also said that George was soon to celebrate his 80th birthday. And the next thing I knew - they had sent him a birthday gift of one of their personal copies of "The World of Paul Crume", his biography written by his widow, Marion, and dedicated to their son.
It is full of anecdotes & snippets of his columns over the years when Geoge's first ritual in the morning was to get the paper off the porch & read Paul Crume! The book & how it came about were such treasures for him.
I knew a printer from the old days who set the print and I'm sure it was in the old-fashioned workplace. I've do doubt that producers of news sources online & on TV would not know those terms you used.
Thank you for sharing those memories. They add much for the spirit of this hub. These new advantages and privileges of being in touch with people and events around the globe do come at a trade-off price of the more intimate, hands-on feel & sense of the newspapers and other means of personal communication. But there's no stopping the surge, is there?
Nellieanna,
What amazes me so much about HubPages in the short time that I have been here is how there are new and delightful surprises to be discovered every day, such as others' perspectives on things. Every writer who is new to HubPages should read this wonderful hub you have written as a briefing on what "hubbing" can and should be. You touch on so many important points.
When I started, I had found HubPages by accident - so it's been a learning curve. It's great that you were "recruited" and even better that you are sharing your wonderful writing rather than just reading his hubs!
I feel very lucky to have found you on here. I don't even remember what led me to find your hubs but I immediately knew that I wanted to read more and more! This raises another valid point about reading and responding to comments on hubs. It is a wonderful way to find out about what is important to others and to refine your skills but also this process expands your world and introduces you to others that you may never have found otherwise.
Best wishes,
Margit
Oh, yes - Margit - YOU certainly defined the most important points about sharing this experience in HubPages. Its setup is masterful and so well run, and that there are so many gracious, generous and wonderful people who also happen to be so good at writing is what makes it outstanding. I feel the same way about finding you on here and many more. I almost know when I find a comment which grabs my interest on a hub I'm visiting, the person who wrote it will turn out to be someone I want to associate with and read more of! It's exactly as you describe it so well!
Thanks for visiting here and reading my hub. Hope you'll find others to your liking too!
Nellieanna, everything about this hub makes me want to shout YES, From the picture you chose to your sentiments about experiences on Hubpages. I know that I have read many before I realized I could rate them up and add to it. I still feel intimidated by the incredible writing and yours is right up there which is why it's taken me so long to comment. Your writing is amazing!
Oh my - SilverGenes - I'm humbled by your kind comments! I've gone to your page and see what an accomplished person you are. I'm going to be reading your hubs immediately. I'm so pleased to meet you now and happy that you like my hub. I've no doubt that you're a kindred spirit.
Thank you.
This is GREAT!!! I used to do this when I blogged on Gaia community. I tried to remind people the only reason I had some comments was that I took the time to read others blogs and comment as well. And I SO agree that there are some great hubbers here! After writing online for several years I took a class in "writing nonfiction" and was sorely disappointed. While my online supporters seemed to enjoy some of my writing, my classmates and my "teacher" (said with sarcasm!) were harsh and critical. I do not mind criticism, but there was no balance. It made me realize we all have the talent, and differing ways of expressing it.
In my World Literature courses, I ask my students to write me 2 creative papers for the midterm and the final. They are to take a piece of literature read, and respond to it creatively. They can write a chapter, they can write a letter to a character, or an author, and there are several other choices. Many balk as they are not English majors and feel they have no creativity. After writing one, they usually change their minds and end up not only writing great second paper, they take the next class!
My mother was a cover to cover newspaper and magazine reader. In fact, if she did not get to finish the paper, she often would get upset and wonder how she would "catch up". I do agree that going back to previously posted Hubs is a valuable thing to do as well. I know I should read and comment more, but spend an inordinate amount of time online, teaching and taking classes...so I do what I can and when I do..it is gems like this that catch my eye.
Deep bows to you and all Hubbers. There is much to learn, and we have a great valuable place to learn it right here!
Blessings,
Aley
Aley - I appreciate that!! Every time I go to your hubs, even just looking over the hub titles is fun and refreshing! Of course - we can only do as much following through as possible within time restraints. I'm thrilled that this caught your eye!
Yes - there is much to be learned! It's so good to have this golden opportunity.
Thanks so much!
Hi Nellieanna, great hub which newbies should read and certain hubbers who are merely trying to get as many followers as possible, regardless of quality...I use hubpages like a daily newspaper but I try not to read the 'tabloid' hubs! I never follow unless I consider a persons writing to be quality and then revisit them. Like having your own library and I enjoy the discussions, often returning to a hub a few days later to read more.
I think HubPages is what it is for two reasons - one, incredible writers and two, people who light up its pages with their virtual smiles. Now you know why you fit in so perfectly, Nellieanna. You always take the time and the trouble to read and post relevant comments on all the hubs you visit. Thanks for this reminder - I feel guilty that I haven't read enough!
Jamie - I knew that about you! You are an 'in depth' writer and reader. I appreciate it so much. I agree about being discriminating in what hubs to read and then giving them full and deserving attention! I've never written,or for that matter, done much of anything, just to score big numbers. It's quality that interests me, too, as well as spontaneity. I like to be genuinely noticed & to notice others because it's what is wanted, not from duty or scorekeeping. Oh, sure - it's gratifying when people do respond and that it's set up here to register that interest in accolades and recognition is nice. But that's not the reason to do it for me.
I confess that I am a bit proud to have found such an outstanding group of folks that I follow! Great taste just can't help but display itself! LOL And They never disappoint! I hope others find them too!
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I agree it would be helpful for newbies to know how much they CAN do to share not only their own writing but that of other great writers too!
Shalini - thank you so much, dear! You're a joy to follow and I appreciate your wise and astute comments. When I wrote the hub I hoped it wouldn't cause any regret for anything not done. I know I don't really ALWAYS get to reading others as I should, or at least not in really timely fashion. Also - there are times when a reply needs time to form, in order to express exactly what is meant. I don't always have "knee-jerk" reactions to thought or feeling provoking articles, or maybe not the sort I can graciously share just then. Sometimes it's too "close to the bone" and needs a bit of time before being expressed.
Also I'm aware that I surely have had more time than normal, since I've had shingles and my normal activities are more limited. A lot of us are terribly pressed for time and really cannot do everything we wish. And I confess that these shingles take the will out of doing even quiet online things that are more chores than what I do here & I sometimes beg off those ;)! (don't tell a soul, though)
Thanks again for the encouraging words and for visiting my hubs!!
Nellieanna, I will be immersed in your writing all afternoon! I feel like Indiana Jones with the treasure in hand!
Aw thank you, SilverGenes! That's exactly how I felt discovering yours yesterday!!! Your hubs are such a treat! However mine are not as entertaining!
But it's me & what I do! I am Aquarian with one foot in the future & the sky and the other probably held down by strong Capricorn tendencies, complicated by ascendant in Gemini - (well you know what a split personality who loves to write that can indicate), - plus moon in Sagittarius, which often leads to impulsively blurting out things without thinking! LOL.
But I does the bestest I can. Too late in life to try to redo me; besides all former attempts to were purely disastrous. hehe
Wow. This is a bit much for someone who just joined to get some links to my site! Every time a come across a post like this I just feel drawn in. Don't know if that's good or bad but it is reassuring to know that there are good people here. Thanks for sharing.
Tom - I know exactly that feeling! Hasn't been all that long ago for me, too when my expectation level was low. But the wonderful thing I found is, you can proceed at your own pace & test the waters for yourself.
There is beyond a doubt, though - a drawing quality about this place. It's like so much vitality generates so much magnetism! Right?
I'll pop over to your page and be looking to follow your hubs! And thanks for checking out mine!
Hi Mam NellieAnna, I like the way you care for others, you are truly an elegant lady and a superb writer. I agree with you HubPages rocks and this is a netwrok that truly works.
I rated it up -- awesome,
Take care Mam, Maita
Thank you, you pretty thang you! You're so sweet to say so! I'm about to go see what new wonderful article you've just published!!
Everything you say here is so true. I only wish I had more time. Great Hub.
I can truly understand that Suziecat. One can't always command the time to suit one's preferences. I've been in a bit of a special situation. I've had shingles, which doesn't totally discombonberate a person - but it does slow down full activity. So I've had more time to read and write than otherwise. But getting to all one's folks who write so well takes a lot of time, especially if one really likes to savour every word and respond fully. But whatever a person can do is rewarding - so just enjoy. I really loved your hub on nature's sounds. Gorgeous!! Thanks!
Beautiful hub and beautiful comments, many great writers left their comment on this hub. I still prefer reading on real paper than on a screen, less headache and more pleasure, but the amount of information which can be found on the web is almost infinite; plus it's easier to find the real truth on what happens around us. Rated obviously up, and you've a new fan, even if with very little time. :)
Dude - I understand about the time. Not to worry. And I also understand about the real paper for reading. My eyesight is so poor, sometimes I've had to print out the screen to read it, though on Hubpages, there just isn't time to do that! Thanks so much for visiting my site and reading and leaving a comment. And, of course - for becoming a fan! I value that immensely!
Well, now. This is really kind of you Nellieanna, to mention me by name. Thank you.
I have just noticed this after 2 days and the reason is that I do not get notices of new hubs by some authors. Don't know why.
Anyway, I thank you for the courtesy. And I also thank the others who were kind enough to agree with you about me in their comments. :D
Personally I have had a Spring Cleaning by removing people from the list of those I follow. If I do not get pleasure from reading what they write, if they write about subjects that are of no interest to me, then I consider it to be hypocrisy to simply follow them simply because they are following me for their own material ends. I expect them to stop following me as well and I shall be happy with 20 to 30 odd people whom I admire and with whom I can have the time to truly read and share thoughts with.
THAK YOU AGAIN :D
My mention is geniunely heartfelt and it's not simply your name. It's an active link to your page so people can go read your interesting hubs. I'm glad you're pleased.
I don't know why either. Have you checked "Your Profile" on the "My Accounts" tab? It shows your settings, such as how you instructed HubPages to give you notices of new hubs.
Of course, one should follow up as best suits his preferences & provides meaninng for & pleasure in being in the HubPages family. If it's not fun, why do it? Makes nothing but good sense.
Hope you have many splendid days to come!
My pleasure. :)
Well I would never have found you except finding hubbers to follow. Sometimes you find a needle in a haystack and that needle being gold. I try to keep up with stories and hubs and the comments that I have responded too, but at times my brain fails me. Sometimes I don't go back because I said my peace and that was left there that way.
I like reading the newspaper too because it isn't only they type but the person's feelings that are behind those words and with on-line print sometimes it doesnt' come across in the same vein as it was sent--too many passes through others before one gets the one they got. I know that doesn't sound right, but I can't explain it correctly. I am glad you are part of hp.
Oh - thank you so much Lady Guinevere! That's it - I've discovered wonderful hubbers by just noticing someone's fan mail to someone else or their comment on another hub. They reveal some spark that attracts and one just has to know more about them!
Yes, of course, keeping up when it's such an ever-expanding network of writers can become a bit much and one's brain, seat or stomach cries out "enough"! LOL. And for sure,
Old Chinese proverb: "Wise person know when it is enough!"
In fact if it became an obligation or a duty - it would already have outlived its value, although I think we sometimes need a little prod to get ourselves going and into the participation opportunity that this place provides. If we came from some other kind of online experience we may be numb to begin with. haha.
All human intercommunication risks that awful possibility of misunderstanding or misinterpretation. We know what we mean perfectly clearly (or hopefully we do - lol) and we don't always re-read it trying to see it from someone else's eyes which had no preview of it and must depend on what we actually SAY to know what we mean. As you say - when it's printed out - there's more chance to digest it in context and figure out the thoughts behind it. And in person - we can read others' "body language" too and that helps - or hurts - depending- lol.
Communicating was never a really easy matter. But is is so wonderful to be among people here who have a gift of it and are geared to be clear and to understand others clearly. It's pretty rare, in fact! And sometimes it helps if someone admits to having trouble saying it just right. It helps the reader to step back and take a close look and not form too quick an idea of what is being said, whereas if we are too sure of ourselves and don't really get what we mean said - the other person is justified in drawing conclusions, I guess.
It IS an interaction, anyway. No one is in a monologue when it's posted for others to read and respond to. Right?
Thank you! - I'm also glad we're both a part of HP!!
I love to read other people's hubs and often find interesting topics that I've never really though about before. I also enjoy reading the discussions that can grow out of a hub. But I forget to go back and check to see what the hubber said about my own comment! It's a bit like ADD.
Thanks for the visit - and Haha, Dolores - I understand. For a long time after I started on HP - It never occurred to me to check back on comments, until I did and found that more interesting comments had been added and the author expressed such nice appreciation for my & other comments. So it just became one of the wonderful perks of the place!
Did I mention that YOU were one of the first of three or four to comment on my first efforts with encouragement and to be a follower? Thank you for that too!! Hugs!
You know, the people are the most fun. I think there is something of what I think of as a "Summer Camp" effect at first too, sort of a glowing warmth of discovery and newness. I've seen it happen in waves of folks who come and find each other in that same moment of delight, bonded in a way with the common experience of learning the ropes too. As time passes, the list of kickass people grows and it does become harder to keep up, which I totally hate how much stuff I miss, but it's a reality (at least for me). Like you pointed out, there are so many, and they just keep popping up unexpectedly. I still find really cool writers on here that have been here longer than I have, and I'm like, "How in the hell did I miss the person whose been here for three years and has 159 hubs?"
I made the mistake of, when I first got here, seeing that people fanned everyone (followed now, lol, see I date myself). Being a total newbie, I thought that's what all the cool kids did, so I did for the first month or two before realizing it was just a marketing thing or something. That totally destroyed my ability to get email notifications, and I haven't the heart, nor the motivation, to go dump everyone and start over with only those I truly want to see everything they write. Which kind of sucks. :(
What is sad too is when your favorites leave. Imagine how you would feel if De Greek stopped writing on here? We would all miss him, I know I would, but since you have a special place for him, it would be very sad. That happens though, and amazing writers just drift away.
Upside, really awesome new ones show up. De Greek is one of those happy discoveries for me :) As are you. In fact, your hubs sometimes make me write longer replies than I do hubs. LOL.
Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying this place and you're right about what it does and means, or can mean, if someone wants it to. Which is why I sometimes tilt at the commercial nature of things sometimes. Don't want it to turn into a "company"... a "writing mill."
:)
You're so right, Shadesbreath! We can't always get around to all the hubs of those we follow. It's a quandary when we can't. Sometimes we just have to sort down on which ones we can do justice to with our replies & hope it's better to give quality responses to fewer rather than cursory ones to everyone. And sometimes we may choose to do one or the other for a time.
Sometimes I have to think it's a lot better to have too many that I want to get to than to have too few! I'd rather be eager to get to a next "OH,WOW" than dragging myself to go to another "ho-hum".
I guess the challenge just shows how high is the quality of HP's "average" user. The least HP member is far brighter & more interesting than the best in most other venues. And of course that's going to trigger challenges in getting them read & answered! LOL
Anyway, - yes - we don't ever want to lose a friend or a special "light" in our lives. It would be a large vacancy. But if we've been around very long, we know it happens in life & if it does, we must go on. Many things change in our own and others' lives. Nothing is secure in a dynamic world. All the more reason to fully enjoy & appreciate things while we do have them & a caution against creating barriers which separate us over trivial things.
Perhaps most things tend to drift toward commercialization. We're often encouraged to market whatever skills we may have. It was one of the rare things my George & I tended not to see eye-to-eye on. He'd always be suggesting making a business out of an interest or passion. But for me, it can deflate the sails to have to herd it into that form, unless the actual interest is in creating business rather than doing the things I love. But his idea 'went-with' being an Industrial Engineer, I'm sure. LOL. I really like to do things I love to do for the joy of it.
But people are different - and so are needs. People have to balance them.
Thanks so much for your intelligent & very highly respected comments, Shadesbreath! I always feel so honored when you take time to comment on my hubs!!
It is tough to find the motivation to "market your skills." I know that's what you are supposed to do. I write for a marketing company to pay the bills, but there's no joy in it like there is writing a short story, or heck, even a boring hub about some grammatical nonsense. I keep trying to write a marketing hub. I actually have an idea that I almost care enough about to write, but when I go look at some websites that sell it, and start realizing I'm going to have to learn about them and whatever, I just kind of... blah. lol.
So, yeah. And I enjoy your hubs. I wish I spent more time reading on here. I feel like I miss tons. I do miss tons. BUt on those night when I have time, beer and music to read, I usually catch up to at least some of my favorites in one long, delightful sitting. :)
I confess that my schedule - including sleep - gets pretty bizarre at times! I've always been a bit weird in that respect, even as a kid. If I wanted to pursue something, it was like everything else took a back seat. I've had to work on balancing things all my life. But when I am really into something it seems it produces so much more and better! LOL. Now that I don't have George, I have to be my own "small voice" saying it's time to eat or sleep or whatever. And I know it's a wise voice. But it FEELS so good to do that special "more" that often results from the extra focus of all one's personal energies into one channel.
I once realized that I've no problem at all "selling" skills or services I do well but which don't require much of "me" other than application of the skill.
But selling something that does have a lot of "me" - well it's difficult. Sharing it is ok - just not selling or "having to" do it.
Maybe it stems from that my Dad would never allow my Mother to sell her paintings. Not sure his reasons were the same. I think he just didn't want to risk her getting too independent or his support (though he knew she was independent even for her day in the early 20th century!), so he hoped to limit her chances to taste it too much. LOL
It would probably be a different matter if a position of being an proven author whom people were eager to read were set in place so that all I had to do was write & produce manuscripts, with someone else doing the marketing. Think so? Well - that's not the way it works except maybe in movies - LOL. (Is it?)
Shades, maybe you just need an agent to take your work to the sellers & do all that so all you'd need to do would be produce the work! Maybe?
Awesome! I do try and go back to read later comments to the one I left, but sometimes I forget. I've found so many wonderful hubs here, I wish there were more hours in the day!
Yup - I know just what you mean, Habee! Even if a person virtually uses almost all the hours in a day, there are not enough!
The ony way found to be reminded is to routinely check the Hubtivity report on my profile page & click "see more of my Hubtivity". It tells how many hours ago I commented where & links to them. That helps, once the habit to is going. haha - Now all I have to remember is to check there and not fall asleep in the process! haha! That happens!
Not good to fret about it, anyway. We're not machines. We have lives beyond HubPages (Don't we??????? lol)
Thanks, Habee. I appreciate your visit!
Great write up keep it up
I wish I could access your site, creativeinchief, so I could properly reciprocate and thank you. But I do thank you and invite you to visit any time! I do love to praise this place and the wonderful hubbers I'm meeting. Can't say too much good about them!
That's too bad about your mom's paintings. I would say that was just the times or something, but I think that's just insecurity of a universal sort. I remember when I was just married (very young, in my early twenties) my wife wanted to sing. She talked about wanting to find a band to sing for and hit the night clubs and, just see where it went. (She had an amazing voice, somewhere between diva and siren... truly incredible). She also had this terrible stage fright that prevented her from really pushing it. I didn't push it for her. I should have. Even at that young age, I knew I should have pushed her to do it harder than just a "Go for it, honey" thing that lacked heart. But I was insecure and afraid I'd lose her somehow; she'd be stolen by some handsome rich guy at a club, or by some music industry mogul tricking her onto the music casting couch. Frankly, it's one of those things that I am still ashamed of twenty one years later. Hell, I could be rich right now, living off her fame and fortune, her boy toy, writing and drinking by the pool all day while she's grinding out songs in some stuffy studio somewhere. .
Anyway, I'm doing another one of those, Oh look, I'm on Nellieanna's hub and I'm rambling again things, so I'll stop. lol
Oh, and yeah, a good agent would be nice.
Shadesbreath you are just lovable no matter. I liked you since day one with your comment about me using scripture against them. LOL I think you are lonely--not the bad lonely but the kind where I am and that is why we talk--write so much.
So, I did make it back! HA! That's something that I am working on.
Shadesbreath - you are truly a rare gem! I don't know how I missed seeing the notice of your last comment - but it is so refreshing now, when I did! I have laughed heartily at the visual of you living off your wife's sweat over a microphone somewhere while you're her boy toy. I'd already snickered a bit over your fear of her ending up on some casting couch. LOL.
But - well - in truth - while my parents were born in the early 1890s - (yes!) my Dad had encouraged her pursuit of education and applying her best talents in the more practical ventures they shared and in which she excelled. He was wary of arty matters and people, though. He'd been raised a Mennonite,you see and that was a stretch for him. He was conservative, she was flamboyant. He loved chemistry, she loved botany. He wore neutrals, she wore "any color just so it was red" (or purple or some other vivid color!) He was orderly - she thrived on chaos. So a lot of his attitude was understandable. It certainly didn't subdue her.
Eventually in hopes of exerting a little restraint on her, he didn't want her to earn any money of her own at all, so she managed to get her Texas teaching certification and did substitute teaching for 3 years before he caught up with her! With the money she made, she bought a VW mini-bus she intended to use for painting excursions - he didn't know about that! In fact when I was a kid the reason I had piano lessons was that she had managed to get a small travel trailer (very small just big enough for an upright piano and stool!) and she traded the use of it to the piano teacher in exchange for my lessons!
At one time when his mother was staying with us and cautioned Dad that Elcy had too much freedom so that they "grounded" her by taking her Model T away from her, she started riding a horse around town! In fact, I'm pretty sure that following that incident, I am the result of a scheme to get her passage back to town from the ranch where her mother-in-law had decided she should stay and tend to ranch business so Daddy could spend more time in town tending to her! He'd only need to go out there less frequently! Mother Elcy's scheme got her back to town, in any case, for my birth! When she called me her little 'nest egg', it probably had lots of meaning for her!
Lady Guinevere! I'm pleased! Nothing I've wanted more than to host a "salon" where people with fantastic minds can freely interact together! Hugs! :)
Hah! How funny to think of you as the delightful accident of that incident, a living continuation of a beautiful moment. That's very cool.
As for the other thing, well, great, so I'm the only insecure wife-repressor! Here I was trying to give myself a pass as being the victim of a universal flaw, and here is the evidence contrary. (lol... I had to make up a word just to do my "poor me" thing right there... :)
Frankly, your stories paint a rich history and I'm glad you are willing to take the time to share them. You could collect these things, flesh them out a bit more into scenes and probably sell the memoir. Memoir is the genre of choice these days after all.
Is it, now? Well I've been under an impression that to be of interest, a memoir needs to be about the life of someone well-known and/or with juicy revelations to sell - er, tell. lol. I'm definitely not well-known and I'd have to summon a lot of fertile imagination in order to build up a case for my juicier moments. LOL (although that midnight stealthy sneak off into the night from my sterile little silent religious retreat room. . . . ) Ok, Ok, - so I was meeting my husband out there among the trees and underbrush. . . You don't hear me claiming it was after we were married, do you? - My lips are sealed!
NO, no - you're NOT the only insecure wife-suppressor or repressor - whichever, very similar as far as the wife is concerned. LOL. For sure, far West Texan "good-ole-boys" are frantically struggling to preserve the little housewife in apron with spatula in the kitchen, or - when called upon, in chaps with cattle-prod in the corral helping her husband brand or vaccinate the herd, of course - talking back ONLY to the Magic Chef or the cattle! Their success in that ignoble venture quite depends on how far the ranch compound is from any kind of civilization, which is getting harder and harder to find! ;)
Oh, don't get me started on vanishing ranch compounds. LOL. And yes, it is helpful to be a big famous fancy pants to sell your memoir, but lots of memoir that is NOT about famous fancy pants people are getting sold. Just needs to be interesting and well written, both of which I reckon you could pull off if you took a hankerin' to.
Oh, oh - you've got my number! I am an ole West Texas country girl at heart - and in truth, too, I guess. LOL. Having such a compound which is still relatively remote from civilization has both advantages and dis-ones for me, now that I'm alone. It's too dangerous; - very near the disputed southern border of the US and invasion from the other side of it, not to mention very remote from any kind of help in an emergency.
But its my roots and there are bunches of stories for memoirs out of it in this ole head.
http://nellieanna.com/ranchvisit.html is one of my pages about it
By the way , getting you started sounds like a very productive project to me!! :) Thanks for your valuable encouragement!
Today I thought I just did not feel like writing anything. I posted something this morning, but then the blahs set in and I thought that I might just read a few posts, but no more writing today. Then I saw your page on the Hubpages welcome homepage. I clicked on it and began reading and helping me to get rid of the blahs.
After reading your Hub I began to feel better, therefore I will probably begin another page today. Thanks for writing. Your story reminds of the days I read Life Magazine, National Geographic and Reader's Digest.
If, - after popping over to see who this was who had commented here, - if I can manage to close my jaw which dropped as I read your profile and the incredible qualifications and work you've done - and then to read the titles and a little of some of your hubs. . . and to come back to your comment saying you had blah moments and found my hub helpful - well - - I must tell you that I'm so honored that you came here and found it somehow refreshing! I truly do appreciate it!!
ps - a reason I first went to check your page was that I had an online friend whose nickname was WorldWalker whose passion was walking as well as writing. I was quite curious!
Wonderful, wonderful hub! Nowadays, we have a full schedule at work and with our preschool kids and seminars coming up so sometimes there is no more time for interacting a lot. But yes, we should, I agree! :)
Congratulations to your Hubnugget nomination. Enjoy: http://hubpages.com/_hubnuggets10/hub/Holy-HubSpac
ripplemaker - thank you so much! Glad you like the hub and agree. I totally understand about full schedules and narrow times for doing things of a discretionary nature. I know about priorities! We do what we can!
As to Hubnugget nomination - I'm in a fog - - what ? The link didn't seem to tell me anything. Am I in a contest? duh. . . .
Well - after a small refreshing nap - I returned to the site above and found that I am nominated for a Hubnugget. I'm floored. It's an honor I hadn't been aware of, but now that I am, I feel quite honored. Thanks for pointing me over there!
Congratulations Nellieanna...promptly went and voted for you! Fingers crossed now! :)
Thank you, dear friend! I'm just about the least competitive person I've ever known - but I admit I'm excited - if fellow hubbers vote for me, that's really something!
Truly astonishing. This article was written wonderfully, from the heart! You really know how to put your words together and make them just flow! You are a great person and your hubs make a great start to my day!
Thank you very much :)
Thank YOU cyekin! I'm pleased you read my hub and like it! Your kind words make MY day!!
Hi Nellieanna,
I fully agree with you. Hubpages is the best. I have my dearest best friend, Sally's Trove (http://hubpages.com/profile/Sally%27s+Trove) to thank for introducing me to it. She and I were talking and she happened to mention what she'd been doing, and that she thought perhaps I would be interested. I was reluctant at first, thinking I probably wouldn't care for it. Well, two years later, I think I was mistaken :)
This site satisfies my love of reading, writing, and socializing.
Welcome to Hubpages and thanks for sharing.
Trish! I am deeply grateful for your visit and your kind words. It's gratifying to have such nice folks reach out and be friends - and to share your experiences here with me, too. I love your pretty kitty avatar!
You sum it up precisely too. "This site satisfies my love of reading, writing, and socializing."
What a wonderfully well written hub. I feel as if I wrote this, because I agree totally with every word, although I don't do all of the things that you alluded to such as going back to previously read hubs to see what has been added, because there are so many new ones that it's hard to go back.
I can see why you were chosen to be a Wannabe. Congrats, you're good. I'm a follower!
Thank you, fastfreta! I can't always get back to them either but I find the Hubtivity list helpful as a reminder of where I've been! haha - sometimes it's hard to remember. It's a challenge, in any case. I appreciate your following me. I read your profile and felt a great deal of kinship of minds.
Nice hub - whenever I've made a comment, I always go back to see if the hubber has commented on my comment. I guess it's just nice to know you've been acknowledged for taking the time out to make a comment. I too love the interaction and how some of the comments can become a hub itself!
Cari Jean, thank you so much for visiting my hub and commenting. We definitely see eye-to-eye on the courtesy and graciousness of trying to follow through & acknowledge comments.
In these days of hurried lives and deadlines, it can be difficult, if not simply ignored, to take care of the niceties of human interaction, I suppose. But it seems to be more than just nicety because it is what truly 'fleshes out' the interactions, especially in such an unlikely place as cyberspace. It makes them seem so much more authentic. Just when one begins to feel sceptical whether anyone is who and what he or she appears, the rare person takes time and care of that special attention which is not always taken care of!
It's a bit like those jumbled letters/words sites insist on one typing out to be sure one is not a robot or mass-responder! LOL.
So thank you!!
How informative and reassuring your hub is. Being new to Hub writing, I found it be a 'guide' of sorts. Aiding my chances for social acceptance within the society. I had no idea of the proper use of this comment section! I am so plleased!
You kept my interest (and that's saying something) as i can be easily distracted by a shiny glance of light or tap of a twig brushing my window. I found humor and wisdom, both respectfully digested. Stored away to use at later times.
As a new Hubber-- thanks for the guide toward better hub experiences.
Hello Nellianna I loved your hub and I love the way you write you are definitely awesome and I direct people to you as much as possible because you have so much to say and are so wise about what you write about. You are definitely one of my favs. Congrats on your nomination I can't think of anyone more deserving. Cheers.
K9 - I knew I'd like you by your "shiny glance of light or tap of a twig brushing my window" expression - I checked your site and I'll be reading your hubs, I know. Thank you for visiting here and I'm quite pleased you thought it worthwhile! You'll be a wonderful addition to the HubPage society! Welcome aboard!
LadyJane - thank you! I always appreciate your positive feedback and good opinion! I'm flattered that they nominated my hub. Wasn't expecting anything like that! Take care!
Nellieanna,
I have been reading your hubs, the comments and the replies you write, but, I did not really have the courage to write a comment myself. They surely are special.They grab the viewers attention quickly and reflect the meticulous care you take in bringing them out.No wonder you have a few but of super quality. I visited your web site which again is refreshing. This is what all hub and blog writing is about. Its special category of its own. I have visited the site and it is equally well done.I happen to be a Taurean so I loved your postings too. Thanks for creating a new environment at hub pages.
RamK
Thank you RamK!! I'm most gratified by your perceptive (if possibly more credit-giving than I deserve) comments. Inspiraion is inevitably something shared in some way. The wonderful folks here provide one with much. I've gone to your hubsite and am humbled by your record of accomplishments as well as your mind and heart. So thank you all the more!
Taurean, hum? A most definite personality!! (and one of the other 4 "fixed" signs, one of those others being mine, Aquarius. Stubborn lot, aren't we? And we'd do anything for anyone so long as it's not being forced!)
Thanks for sharing such an inspiring hub. You've learned a lot in the short time you have been here. Congrats on being selected as one of this week's HubNuggets Wannabes' nominees. Good Luck to you! :)
I thoroughly enjoyed popping over to your site, reading about you and your positive direction in life - leaving you fan mail & following you. Thanks for visiting my site and reading one of my hubs! Of course I'm honored to be nominated, too. I just wrote from the heart what I have observed about being a member here. I've always tried to be active when I am a participant, and here, it's especially rewarding! By the way - we are obviously fellow Texans! :)
Congratulations of your nomination to Hubnuggets. I thought you wrote an excellent article and you seemed to have picked up the whole routine of Hubpages a lot faster than I did. Good hub!
Thank you, Pamela! I appreciate the vote of confidence! I guess I've lucked out. :)
I'm reading your profile and like you already! I plan to read your hubs too!!
Hi Nellieanna
Thanks so much for this hub. I can tell from the comments its been of great interest to all of us.
Your remarks about how the comments on a hub can be so stimulating if we were to all go back after commenting and pick up on the follow up comments.....brilliant....the ensuing debate SO compliments the authors ability to fire-up the old grey matter. I believe that a true exchange through the comments section not only truelly compliments the Hub content itself, but also is a fabulous showcase for readers to expound and develop objective views on the subject matter.
A good Hub is a good Hub, but good comments are often more stimulating and thought provoking...in my opinion of course. They are often an instant gut feeling response to something. Whereas the Hub itself is normally more planned and carefully executed.
Well done Nellieanna on your nomination, your from the heart articles deserve to be awarded some form of accolade.....3 cheers!!!!
You've said it all Nellieanna and so well. It is daunting when you first come to Hubpages and put your most heartfelt work onto the net and then it's appreciated, what a bonus. Thank you for sharing and pointing out what a great network we have going.
Congratulation for the nomination and for being mentioned in the newsletter. Well done Nellieanna. :)
MPG Narratives - thank you so much! It was quite daunting for me, in every respect. But so many fine writers gave words of encouragement - it soon felt like "home". It is, indeed, a fine network!
hypnodude - Thank you! I was thrilled to be nominated, and totally surprised, both for that and for being the first "runner up"! So happy that my hub was meaningful to some folks!!
you know how to mesmerize,great narration,great advises.Thanks a lot Nellieanna.
Suny - thank you so much! Look who talks! You have a lot of charisma your own self! Glad you visited and enjoyed it!
And thank you very much for becoming a fan - and #100!
That calls for some sort of C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N!!
A nice hub, indeed. I completely agree with you, and I must say I do come back to read the hubs I have already read (not all of them, of course, but those I really liked or commented on). I also have a nice collection of bookmarked hubs that I visit regularly. I love reading and doing research online - I have learned a lot of new things, here on Hubpages especially. Still, love to take a good book into my hands :-)
Whoohoo Nellianna! I see you've garnered yourself a winning Hubnugget here (and it is indeed a winner)! I have to agree that Hubpages has been an inspiration. For me it has opened up a not only a new avenue of friends but has awakened a new region of my brain! Thanks for another inspiring read.
very nice writing you are so talented. I love all hubbers and hubbing congrds!
Vox Vocis - Thank you so much. I had to go visit your site and read one of your hubs! I'll definitely go back for more! It was such useful information and beautifully presented! I appreciate your visit!
myawn - Thank you for the nice compliment! Yes - it's a great place with great people!
Green Lotus = Thank you so much!! High praise coming from YOU!
Nellieanna, your words are like a magnet, they draw the reader in and hold them in place. Congrats to you on your recent hubpages victory. You have my vote too. You keep writing because I'm still reading. As always.. I love your hubs Nellieanna!
Thanks sooo much, Susan!! I'm having my granddaughter and her two teenagers from Indiana visiting! Am really enjoying them - but am behind on my hubbaging - writing and reading. I really appreciate you!
Forgive me for sounding small Nellie, but what does your term " hubbaging " mean?
Igoofed - I was coining a word but I meant Hubpaging! Thanks for calling my attention to it!!! At times like this I'm tempted to play the aged card! lol
You have listed on this hub most of the reasons I enjoy being on HP. It is the community and the potential to meet people from allover the world that first attracted me and it is interesting people like you that keeps me hooked.
I have noticed you by reading the comments you left for others and I was impressed by your wisdom and your generosity of sharing knowledge as well as giving new perspectives. Not once have you engaged in banalities and platitudes and that alone have made your comments valuable and added to the hubs you commented on.
I also appreciate the ease and coherence with which you are expressing yourself, but after finding out you have a Gemini ascendant I am not surprised in the very least.
I'm smiling - first about the Gemini reference (!!) and also that I wrote you fan mail praising your wise and witty comments. Great minds think alike!
Sometimes the special folks on Hubs are so great and also so many it's almost too easy for someone we really enjoy to be barely touched as we're visiting all those we have chosen to follow! It's so satisfying to be able to keep up with these outstanding people!
How great to find it's not too late to make it more official when that's happened!
I really do try to keep up with all notices of new hubs and comments and I found out recently when I had company for a week just how quickly they accummulate when not attended to! I want everyone to know that when you have a full-time job elsewhere, obviously you can't always keep up here & it's totally understandable!
It's my ideal, sort of my "way", to want to contribute fully, but of course it's not always possible. Even without a full-time job, life is full and we can't always be everywhere simultaneously. I hope this hub didn't sound like I was insisting or judging!! It's just so meaningful when people come, read and comment on one's hubs! As you say - it's what makes this forum so enjoyable! We could all write in our little corners but it's so good to share and be acknowledged.
I truly appreciate your compliments. I hope to not be trite. It's hardly worth the bother unless one is trying to express original ideas with some sort of value & readable style, is it?
I was an extremely shy person for the first half of my lengthy life when writing was always easier for me. And I did it a lot. Lots of practice!
Thanks again, Petra! I truly appreciate you!
Nellieanna, This was a beautiful hub. I miss some of the old ways but love Hubpages also and all the new people I have met. It is a new day. Thanks for sharing all that history.
Yes - time marches on! I enjoy appreciating good old memories but I embrace today even more. It's a joy to meet so many wonderful folks here. I'm delighted to discover you, too. Thank you for this visit and for following me. I certainly want to follow you and keep up with your interesting articles!
I thought I wouold try to read one more of your hubs before tearing myself away from the laptop and giving my eyes a rest.I loved the hub and I would like to say I fall into a different category.I have a very addictive personality and when I find something I like I find it very hard to stop.I love the hub pages so much and the information it brings.I find I not only reread on the comments that I have posted but I read everyones comment on every hub before I post.I have to tell you on your hub I was on two weeks ago comments forever.I enjoy the interaction so much of how people react to the hub that I just read.Do they see it the way I do.Do they see something I missed and then I will go back and reread the same hub again.I have not only cut down t.v. time but it is almost eliminated.Once you start getting the fever t.v. doesn't compare or hold my interest long enough.Well I just want to say my hats off to you for all that you do.Have a wonderful day and hub away.
It's amazing how much we seem to have in common. I'm a bit addictive/obsessive too and have worked to keep balance as needed all my life - but I love being intense, too. So it's a balance of balancing! LOL Moderation in all things, including moderation!
I also read like that. I read all the comments and digest them too. I read books in a similar fashion - every word in the intro and preface - all the footnotes and references. When I run into an idea which seems to have more background than I recall - I go back and find it. So hub reading is very much the same. I always seem to discover new and exciting things when re-reading. But also - reading new ones beckons. It's very consuming and rewarding.
I cut out all but the basic programmng on TV. I have AT&T Uverse for TV, Internet and land phone, so I do use TV too. When on my laptop - the TV is right here across the den, so if there's something I want to see, I can multi-task. haha. I love "Boston Legal", for instance, which is no longer "on" prime time, but reruns are shown in the middle of nights on weekends I didn't get hooked till it was no longer prime time, so it's all new to me. More often than not, though - I've fallen asleep before it finally comes on!
Anyway - it's a pleasure to know your mind and how it functions. Phenomenal! Are you a fellow Mensan, by chance? If not, you should be.
I am once again rereading your comment.I am a far cry away from being a fellow Mensan.I Dream more and only wish I could do what you do.I have never ending spirit an inspiration that burns inside me and won't quit.I am a true believer of finding what ever you love in life and going for it.I have had many setbacks along the way but I try each day to turn them into accomplishments that I didn't see.I often talk about things many friends and family don't share opinions and the same views.I have tried and will continue to make my mark on the world.I use to spend a great deal of time with the seniors in my neighborhood when I was younger.Other kids would want to go out and play and I wanted and begged for any story to be told.I thought then and I still think now our future is in the experienced gifted seniors who have lived and enjoyed so much.They are able to live and tell about it.Why would I waste my time making the same mistakes over the years when I can learn from you and many others.I know life is short and you never know when that last day has come.I will search for answers with every person who is willing to teach.I will listen and understand your years of knowledge and apply what I can to make my life GRAND.I will learn from the wise and open my heart up to the world and see what surprise unfolds before my eyes.I am blessed to have talked to you and I have great respect for the time you have written on my hubs.I never put off today what I can say in the moment.Unfortunately work gets in the way and I am working on that one..I write all the time and even if the ideas are not complete I feel I will return to finish what I have started some day.My life is an ongoing book and everyone I have ever known is in it.I have done endless hours of voice recordings.Thinking that if I had someones voice I have the closest thing to them.I have something so unique and special that know one else has.This is before people were using video cameras.I have referred back to those voices of people who have passed and I often think they are as close as they could ever be.I wish I was more capable of doing more back then.I often beat myself up for not knowing a smarter better way.Why didn't I see that.No one else seems to care and says yesterday is over and done.Move on.Well if history repeats itself and I enjoyed all I HAD THEN.I want to make my future 10 times better and this I think is the way.By appreciating every thought and keep the positive thoughts coming.By surrounding my self with the most exciting,inspirational,heart throbbing,incredible people of all time.I am sorry to make my comment so long winded but I sometimes feel I am on a roll.I hope we can stay the best of friends and continue to share ideas and new thoughts.I usually scare away my friends by now by being to excited about life and the living.I tend to turn people away then turning them on to life.They just want to live each day and believe it is the same as yesterday.I believe it is so far from the truth it is not funny.I want to breathe life to all that need it.Thanks again for your time and all your thoughts.
Dream On - We share many of the same kinds of experiences and inner promptings. I loved visiting older neighbors when I was a child too - and my own parents were much older than most, as well as my siblings. Yes, one learns much for those who have lived through much. Of course the personal futures of the elders are limited and not everything lived through before is applicable now or in the future to come. But surely there are good reasons we have memories, curiosity, ability to step into others' views enough to both enjoy and learn from them. I learn from younger folks, as well. The "NOW" which is the prime time for younger folks is valuable and brings to power the next building blocks for now and to come. But underneath that is the past and what has been created, both the good stuff and a lot of errors needing to be corrected - but with the "inside" understanding of them, in order to set them right and to not "throw out the baby with the bathwater!"
I have to say to you that each individual - with all our weirdness and even our sameness - is what a group consists of. There is not some super-powerful group who has all the skinny that you and I can only hope to achieve. WE are the power, collectively and individually. It took me half a lifetime to finally wake up and notice that these "others" I thought so much "more" than I was were just also individuals struggling with their own doubts and demons and clinging to their own successes to keep afloat.
When one realizes that he/she really counts and that those bizarre ideas we have stewing around really are our own treasures and only we are experts on them - and that they're probably our best bet to use in exercising our right to be and participate - then we are no longer weighted down trying to "measure up" to someone else's methods or output. No matter how convoluted my thinking IS, it works better for me than trying to adapt to someone else's which is surely as convoluted as my own but not even familiar to me or built on my own strengths as mine is!
If you have a dream and you have throught of ways to implement it - get to it - at your own pace, with your own standards directing it. Your feel for using video to tie together the ideas you have stewing around - is practical as well as innovative in the context you have for it. I can't even begin to know or describe the way it would work - but if it's part of what you see as useful and perhaps even a pivotal factor - then just do it! You needn't justify it in order to develop it. Eventually you might have to explain it to others or even sell it to users - whatever the direction you'd be going - but you will have tied it together and made it work like a clock - so it can't be denied to be workable. You may want to study up on how it can fit in and fill a need and all that kind of thing - but your idea, your method, your vision - those are what YOU HAVE and need to run with. You know what of your talents to apply to what and when. Writing - appreciating - all of the things you've touched upon and the many more you and you alone have knowledge of and access to - can all fit as you see fit!
And never be discouraged if you find it doesn't always work out - but you be the judge of that. Listen to your inner director, filter out what doesn't fit, but on your terms. The journey is the fun anyway! And when you're driving your own self, you're always having more fun and worrying a lot less about incidental things! Don’t turn over the wheel to anyone else and don’t worry about how well or poorly they drive theirs – which should be their focus, not you, anyway! Beware of those who try to attend to your life when theirs are surely enough of a full-time job. For some, though, it’s easier to try to run someone else than to do the hard job of running themselves. But that’s their problem!
Thanks for your vote of confidence, by the way!
You make life sparkle.You take what you see before you and translate it into simple knowledge.I enjoy laughing at the silly mistakes I HAVE MADE.I enjoy the young and the vibrant youth of tomorrow.I just can't see why people don't try?I see many people who have many more talents and natural gifts than I and who don't apply themselves.I have struggled fighting for what I get.Nothing comes as easy as some others have it.I feel like I am on a different playing field.I have spent the first 28 years working hard for what I want.Thinking and believing hard work pays off.I am mistaken.You have to work smart not hard to get what you want.I should of reevaluated my path and seen it wasn't working.I was to strong willed to believe all things just take time.I can not change the past but I can the future.I will learn from everyone who has succeeded and press on.I look at all the soldiers who have fought for my freedoms and gave their life for mine.I have the passion and persistance to see a better way.You have said your husband was an inventor I am intregued by things that he may have invented.Please share?Good morning to you and your loved ones.I believe I ride on the positive energy that people share.I look and find people who genuinely care.I listen and learn because they hold life in their hands that is so powerful.They are grateful and so appreciating for the time they have.I have always felt blessed to enjoy my life.I try to understand the sick in the hospitals and those who are rendered helpless.I know there are only so many things one can accomplish in a day.I am always looking for ways to multi task to make my rewards ten fold.I am learning so much from you and I just wanted to express my happiest thoughts of ultimate joy.
Hello, DO, my friend!
Two thoughts for you to-day, ok?
1) STOP! Pause, take time out to re-lax! You're racing too fast! Enjoy the journey. The destination will always keep moving on ahead! This momen IS l-i-f-e!
2) A valuable adage for when you are on the move:
When faced with a mountain,
I will not quit!
I will keep on striving
until I climb over,
find a pass through,
tunnel underneath --
or simply stay
and turn the mountain
into a gold mine
with God's help!
___Dr. Robdert H.Schuller
I do relax and I often tell other people to do the same often.I have just shown you the way my mind thinks and a kind of a flash forward.I Enjoy all life has to offer as we speak.Thanks for a special gift or peace.Have a inspiring day.
I'm not surprised to learn for sure that you do know how to relax & that you demonstrate and promote it! ^ :-)
My reply was simply what I remind myself when I am caught up so in positive things I want to do and must get organized. It's then I remind ME to stop and relax. It always helps as you know! Yes - I am certain you know how to enjoy all life offers. It is that very enthusiasm which can be so intense at times which is the portal into true enjoyment! It's a bit of a balancing act and balance was something I had to master. I've been intense all my life! hehe - bet you know about that too!
Thanks for the lovely reply and I treasure the glimpses into your mind and how it works!
Hugs...
This is an excellent hub. Well done, I enjoyed it.
nellieanna, what an inspirational hub this is truly amazing, I have never seen you on hubs before, so sorry I have not done so. See what I nearly missed. And lets face it we have to be keen to leave a comment because it took nearly half an hour to get right down here at the bottom. Joking, really terrific and loved your pics too. will make sure I read more of these. thanks a lot
BobbiRant - thank so very much! I appreciate your kind words and so pleased that you enjoyed the hub!
Eileen, how gracious of you to come by and bring me such words of encouragement! I know what you mean. It's amazing to me to discover so many special people here I hadn't met before! That's sly about getting down to the bottome to leave a comment. (giggle) I've felt the exact same way trying down to where I could write my comments on some other hubs - - more than a few, in fact! There are so many good ones to read and enjoy!
Thank you so much!!
Fantastic Hub, Nellieanna. I was smiling the whole way through. Lots of heart, lots of excellent points...
Thank you!! I'm really pleased you stopped by and left me such an encouraging comment! I'm running behind on my follow-through - but I'm getting there, - hopefuly! LOL
Well Nellieanna I am one of those that always enjoys your input and feedback. Your poetry and artwork has been brilliant as is your magnolia series. Why I always get a big smile :)
I love visiting your hubs, too, Billy. I tell my broker I try to keep at least a little current on what's happening by reading your hubs! In fact, I've given him your hubsite addy!
I apologize that at present I seem to be so behind in my getting to all the hubbers' hubs I follow. It happens at times and it's like math courses. If you get behind in one, it's difficult to catch up in it and all math courses to come!
I really enjoy reading the great hubs though and they inspire so many ideas and inspirations! It's what hubbing is all about, isn't it?
Thanks for those really nice comments!! I like to give smiles!
I have let some time pass and I have tried to tackle my old inspirations by using new light and insight.I will try to work more diligently on achieving my utmost desires.I am trying to understand your wisdom and I take pride in your learning how to keep adapting to my current situation and still make progress.I never thought about it before but I now looking into non profit organizations that maybe can assist me in my efforts to achieve my goals.The pleasure is always mine to listen to you. Someone who is willing to teach and help others from the kindness of their heart.Have a healthy day.
What lovely comments, Dream On! I have no doubt that you will achieve your desires. When the situations are the most trying, it tests ones' mettle the most. And at the same time, that's a time when one's own system needs stay flexible, which sounds like your idea of looking into a the non-profit area, which surely has special opportunities to use your skills and get good feedback, as you say - taking you toward your goals even as it may be at a relaxed pace.
Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts!
Oh my goodness-I guess I am not the only one impressed with this hub. You are a bit of a legend here on hubpages. That was a very needed and important piece of writing. It is so important to give back and that includes on hubpages. By the way, I found you through my twin sister who is also on hubpages. So glad to meet you. God bless!
MT - thank you! I've just had the privilege of finding you from your sweet comments on some of my hubs. Then visited and read some of your hubs and of course, discovered you are the twin of our highly respected hubber, Healing Touch. I've signed up as your follower & asked to be your fan, too!
I do love to interact with other hubbers. Of course one can't do all she'd like to at times - there aren't enough hours in the day! But it is so satsifying to read hubs and comments. This is an amazing community of folks who are not only talented but extremely kind & helpful! Thanks for the compliment, though just wait - you'll meet some real legends on HubPages!! ;->
Nellieanna, I have been meaning to read your hubs ever since reading some of your comments, but just got around to it. I am impressed, not only with the hub itself but also with all the comments it inspired! You seem to be a very interesting, caring person. I am now a follower of yours and look forward to reading more of your hubs.
What De Greek did for you Shadesbreath did for me. I did not really appreciate HubPages until I had the chance to banter with Shadesbreath. From comments on his hubs, I have found many other hubbers, and I am beginning to feel a part of the community.
Before I forget, your profile page does not give your profile. My profile page changed, too. Mine does not even give the hubs I have written. I don't know what happened.
I am sorry you had Shingles. Two of my friends were miserable with them. The first day the vaccine came out, I saw my doctor. I was the first of her patients to get the vaccine.
I apologize for rambling.
ML - thank you for your lovely comments. Not to worry about rambling. It's one of my virtue-vices, too.
I have great admiration for Shadesbreath. I wonderful mentor, I'm sure! The network effect on HP is truly a wonderful feature, too. So many good people and excellent writers at the same time!
I hope the vaccine does its job! You don't want to have Shingles!! Mine is virtually over at long last. I believe it may have been an easier bout than some I've heard and read of. But it was about 4 months of gross unpleasantness! ugh.
I'll look at the profile page. Possibly a temporary glitch.
I did look. It's as it always was. I don't have a lot of info about myself on it. When I came aboard, I didn't intend to be very active and just referred anyone interested to my personal website. Now that people know me through my hubs, it doesn't seem necessary to add a lot to the bio. ;->
My hubs are all listed. I'll take a look at your profile!
Thanks for following me!! :-)
I am very glad to have found a new Hub friend, and thanks for following me,too! Please do check out my Profile page. I don't really have a profile, but I used to see a list of my hubs. Now all I see is small print at the top of the page, as well as some of my recent activities. It no longer gives my hubs.
I am glad you are finally over Shingles. My friends were miserable.
Of course, what I just now copied off your profile page was reduced to the plainest font, but it included (in appropriate font and enhancements):
mysterylady 89 on HubPages
Always a teacher, I love to read, discuss, and travel!
Hubs By mysterylady 89latesthotbestmore ?more ?
more ?
Why Didn't I Get Fired? Harrassing Administrators A Kid's Song and the InternetI Bled All the Way to the Cemetery!Writing an Expository EssayThe Roach That Would Not DieYou Rang! My First Night in Athens
Submit Fan Mail
Cool Great Hubs
Hubtivity
Thank you so much, Nellieanna. I am so glad that what other hubbers see is not what I see! I do appreciate your taking the time to do this.
But you should be able to see it, ML. Have you tried rebooting your computer to see if your profile info reappears?
Amazing!
Thank you but - in what way is it amazing, M.s Fowler?
OMG, it took forever to get here as I was reading a lot of the comments. Not enough time to read them all. LOL This tells me you have made some really great fans in such a short time, even some old timers. I am quite honored that you found me and even took notice since I am such a rascal at times. I keep up with most of the hubs I read, the ones that really grab me anyway. Shadesbreath is right about the hubbers that you really like and go missing, it does happen. there are some really creative writers here and I just can not keep up with them, but unlike Shadesbreath, I have dumped a few and I am fixin' to dump more. You know, the ones who go about fanning like crazy. Now I must read more of your writing cutie. thanks for the visit, Charlie Love and peace
Hello, ralwus. I admit you're a bit intimidating. Something about your rascality reminds my of my first love - (me at age 7. he at 9. Well - rascality in him developed later after he'd grown a bit. Then, he was just into bicycling and wanting to rodeo - and not knowing I existed.)
Yes, it would be true about hubbers who withdraw, though I haven't experienced it. Occasionally I consider doing it myself, though. I do have some really wonderful fans, as you notice. But I must admit I'm appalled at the mass-fanning thing I'm starting to notice more. But then, I probably go overboard on being for real. Might just mean playing myself for a fool. But at this stage of life, there's little time to play hide and seek.
As a fellow Poet I will be reading more of your Hubs as a Fellow Optimist; Peace and Joy:)!!
What a lovely comment! Thank you, MA!! And I'll be reading more of yours too!
Hi. yes. I agree I should go back and read what hubbers have responded to my comments. There are so many and time is so short. How can we do it? There is the bed, and the computer calls - yet I do need to get up and work tomorrow - the computer lulls me to one last hub...
Nellieanna, very beautifully written. In this busy world where people are bombarded with tonnes of articles every day , where writing ungenuine / artificial comments is very tempting, you have literally demonstrated the art of giving @ hubpages community. =) I unfortunately or fortunately lost the ability to write poetry long time ago but I still appreciate art when I see it.
agaglia - I assure you, it can't always be done as one would like to. And the effort may wear thin - if it does, I won't push it. But it's among my priorities now & hopefully - it will continue to be, because it is worthwhile, I believe. Occasionally though, one does need to attend to a lot of other things. Sometimes - well - fairly often - I awaken when it's nearly morning with my laptop on my lap after getting in my required sleep. It is one of the perks of being a widow - one of the few. I can decide when and where I sleep. ;-)
I also have MANY other real life things I have to attend to, though, so I fully understand the pressures & didn't intend to add another pressure by emphasizing the value of really following other hubbers. I can add that I'd rather REALY follow a few than to try to follow too many and do it superficially. One of my own adages is "if it can't be fun, why do it?" This should never be a chore!
Thank you for your comments. I really want to emphasize that it wasn't meant to be a drag!! :-)
noorin - Yes - that's exactly IT. The only real value in any of this, for me, is in being genuine, though I suppose it may have a kind of fun-value to those who enjoy playing with people's willingness to believe. Certainly when we come online and open our trust, we know it's up for grabs. But in a world full of taking I guess it seems worthwhile to still be willing to give. Besides I figured out a long time ago that "they" can't hurt one unless one accepts it as hurt. I wouldn't say it is being invulnerable, but it is having a perspective which buffers hurt. Actually - I feel more for the ones who may try to dish it out, because it is their own pain which they're attempting to extract.
Anyway - I still write poetry - but not as much as I once did, either, by the way. There was a "peak" time when it was vital to me to write it and that was the reason I wrote it, to hang on to me, so I actually couldn't stop myself from it. I didn't share it. Now I'm sharing a lot of what I wrote then. Now, though I write poetry when it rises in me, I find I write more prose. I've become more direct and open, more unafraid to speak out, although I also realize that the poetry cuts through to the kernel of whatever it is needing expression & encapsulates it, even more than full explanation can or tries to do.
Perhaps you'll feel like jotting down some poetry when the time is right. But I never ever push it. (Well let's just say - if I did, it would be so horrid I'd burn it on the spot!! LOL.) That's a bit ironic, because when I was at my writing peak, someone frequently burned my good stuff in an effort to extinquish it - or me. Of course, I figured out how to back it up - and it was all handwritten - still is, till now as I put it online.
Thank you for your keen insight here!
Same here Nellieanna, I wrote most of my hubs a while ago and now I am sharing some of what I have written. I was very hesitant to publishing the following articles in particular as they reveal a lot of my personal feelings and emotions -2 things that I don't usually share with others-.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-is-Tempting-in-Forbidd
http://hubpages.com/hub/Memoirs-of-a-Technical-Gir
It is still ironic how I easily send those links to strangers but think a million time before showing it to a friend or relative.
I also agree with you about poetry, its not something that I would force myself to do... just like writing, I only write when I feel like it hence, the few yet random hubs.
I am shocked beyond explanation to know about the burning part ...=( Im sure they didn't know that it took a lot more than burning an artistic piece to extinguish an artist. As an artist, most of your assets usually lie within you, and only few are external. I hope u didn't loose much though. But I am glad u backed it up =) , another copy always helps.
You are very welcome, any time =)
Thank you, noorin. Yes - it's amazing about sharing inmost thoughts and feelings more easily with relative strangers. It's true - an 'artist' - (in my case, just an artist of life, perhaps) - is not extinquished by another's efforts to do so. What has been captured and written down may never reappear in the identical words, but the ability to create what comes as it comes is unchanged.
In the case I refer to, the intent wasn't to destroy an artist but a person. Deep malignancy of the other's spirit, I'm afraid. I was writing to keep myself from losing me and that was successful. Some of what was burned was just lost, but I quickly began to keep backup whenever possible. Some was from my youth, though, so once it was gone, it was gone. I've remembered a little of it, but I had never committed any of my stuff to memory particularly because I was always writing more which was more currently what I had to say.
But part of what I learned was to hold lightly and let go. So that is a lesson worth having and if it cost a few mementos, that's just part of the price of it. I'd have to write my memoirs to explain it all.
Thanks for your keen observations and sharing!!
Nellieanna
I am genuinely sorry to know that you have been in such an experience. Though I don't know a lot about it, I am positive that your memoir would be a worth read. I totally know how hard it is to recall something that you wrote. Sometimes I forget to hit Save and end up loosing a few sentences, it drives me crazy let alone loosing it all.
Sometimes when I read my journals, I amaze myself either positively or negatively. It's amazing how our writings capture our emotions, level of intellectuality and even level of maturity more than pictures or anything else would do.
All the best to you.
Noorin
That is so true, Noorin! We often capture more of ourselves in our writings than in any other way. And it takes a special kind of perception to "hear" us in them, because there is so much subjectivity both in the writing and the reading of the words, plus words themselves are so symbolic of what they mean in "real" things. The word "dog" is only the symbol of that animal and thre are many kinds and shapes of dog. So someone hearing the word is going to be associating that word with his dog or one he's loved or would like to have. The one saying or writing dog has a picture of another dog in mind totally.
Problem with writing memoirs is - I'm still making them! LOL.
Nellieanna: as a fledgling hubber, your hub mirrored my own recent experiences. I have come to realize the myriad of informational and artistic talent that exists inside these cybernetic walls and am finally beginning to mine some of the gold to be found here, yours included. Thanks for 'giving back' and for your early support of my hubs. You definitely encouraged me to continue posting. All the best to you.
Steele Fields - Yes, the talent on here is amazing, both in quantity and quality - and variety! I was helped (still am) so I'm more than happy when I can pass it along! In your case, I'm sure you have so much "gold in them-there hills" of your own, you're a treasure here!
Thanks for the nice comments!
Nell- it's long trip down here toward the bottom. We need an elevator! Great write!
hahaha! Micky - true, very true! This was my hub which came in second on a Hub Nuggets contest, so it's been popular. ;-)
Thank you so much for making the long trip to the bottom - and also for the very kind comment!
As often happens for me here, I begin reading a harmless unassuming hub which leads me to another and another and a cascade of comments and...an hour later I am bleary eyes but satisfied and very glad for the journey.
Thank you Nellieanna for your creations, your memories and for the fellow hubbers you have attracted to you that contribute to the enjoyment I experience here.
CP
Thank YOU, Christopher! I much appreciate your wading through the "cascade" - on which no one would fail to notice how often my own lengthy replies to the many gracious comments help to lengthen even further. This tendency of mine comes, I think, from a lifetime of handwritten correspondence in which one replied fully back and forth. And back then, the errors could only be "whited out". Many times I found myself recopying PAGES of handwritten stuff in which some major point had been omitted or some dreadful grammatical sin had been committed. It's such a joy to be able to backup and delete, cut, copy, paste and use spell-check! LOL
And I can't take credit for the amazing level of quality of my gracious contributors here on many of my hubs. But I'm aware what a gold mine network they really are, and so wonderful for a newer member getting acquainted in this vast ocean of talented folks! That was pretty much how I discovered many of them - as a newbie - following the trails of the few hubbers I knew before (Merlin invited me here & gave me a hand up) and those others I met soon after who were kind enough to offer me a hand (De Greek was my first follower, fan and helper!) How could I have failed to find great folks with starts like that!
You've expressed the very best of everything I have found here - wonderful writing, great encouragement, new friends - thank you for expressing everything I've felt.
Hello, Dave! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And apologies for the tardy response. I've not been getting the regular e-mail notifications of comments to my hubs and had just been thinking I wasn't getting any till something keyed me to look & I found several. So I'm now busy tracking down any I had missed. I value every comment so much. It's like communicating with other great people who happen to be great writers as well! Awesome!
This is such a positve and moving write on the treasure trove one can find here, and how they too can add treasures in commenting and offering things worthy of comments, you have succeeded at both with htis hub, and I applaud you~~~~MFB III
Thank you MFB! I deeply appreciate your approbation - you are such an admirable hubber and always a pleasure to visit!
Nelli,
I love getting comments on my hub pages and seeing what others think of what I write good or bad everyone has a opinion. I also like when people come back and answer me back after I have answered then. They remind me of little debates of certain topics. Very nice HUB. Merry Christmas
You bet, Wendy. We all enjoy the feedback on our hubs, and the back-and-forth follow-up makes it quite special. Occasionally, as you mention, if a certain topic is "highly charged" with various perspectives, these can turn into little debates, but if they do, it seems that most Hubbers are mature enough to handle it gracefully without rancor.
Actually, the majority of topics are informative, creative, humorous, and/or nostalgic and engender abundant approval and enjoyment among readers, so that any back-and-forth discussion which develops is more like friendly conversation.
Knowing how nice it is to get comments, we realize that the more we share our own comments on other hubbers' pages, the more mutual interest is stirred. It's one of the nicest things about HubPages! The Hubbers are pleasant folks!
I want to welcome you, too - and am looking forward to reading your hubs. I took a peek and they look really interesting. Thank you so much for dropping by mine! I love your cute avatar and wish you a Merry Christmas too!
Comments are like little surprise gifts. It's so nice to have people not just reading your stuff, but telling you they liked it, or adding to the humor... often the comments on my hubs are funnier than the hubs!
Hubpages is like a writer's dream vacation. You are so right when you say there are so many amazing writers on here. I have only been on here a couple of months, and have learned so much. It's like an endless (and free!) school.
I can see that you are one of the writers that, I believe, will be part of my education! I'm so glad I found you (Through DeGreek, by the way)
Sueroy - how right you are. Comments are like surprise gifts and yours is no exception. My mother used to say that about letters, way back before computers and when people corresponded with "real" letters. She also said they were like a visit from a friend.
Since I hadn't met you before, I went immediately to meet you on your hubsite before writing my appreciation for your commnets here. Having De Greek to recommend me to you (and therefore you to me!) was a strong start! (He was my very first fan and probably why I really started posing on here I hadn't intended to!)
And then meeting you on your page is already a bonus more than I even expected. I don't know when i've so instantly LIKED someone! So - I'm most honored that you think you might learn anything from me! Your style and talent are so outstanding! It really IS like a mutual education going on all the time here on Hubpages, isn't it?
Nellieanna- wow! Comments on comments can be gifts too! You are an extremely likable person. It blows me away that you felt the same. Thank you so much!!!
It is really delightful! Thank you, new friend!! :-)
I like your hub , but you make all in BOLD try to re-edit it again, I'm just want to advice you!
ImChemist - so happy to meet you. I notice that you are new to HubPages. I'm pleased that you like the hub. I could re-edit it and will consider your recommendation advisedly. However there are a few things I'd like to mention. One, is that - (unlike in other venues in which bold might be interpreted as being loud or unfriendly) - here in HP, bold is one of very few font choices offered as an alternative, and is often used as one by many Hubbers with good reception by readers.
The only other variations we are offered are italics and underlining, both of which also have the function of showing titles and quotations, and do not enhance readability as bold does. Bold doesn't happen to be my primary choice, but at times it is a welcome change of pace.
Also, I wrote this early in my HubPage experience. where there is another personal matter which prompted my use of bold in my earlier experience here, and that is my eyesight. I had not yet composed elsewhere and simply imported the finished hub to the actual hub composition capsules. Composing elsewhere where I can enlarge the font to make it more visible for me as I'm writing, so I can SEE errors and typos more easily. Then I can copy and paste and enjoy the unadorned font.
Lastly, this is the only hub I've written in my 10 months here which has won me official recognition!! (haha) - This makes me somewhat hesitant to alter it! So let me think about your suggestion. If you'd like to further explain your reasoning for it, I'd be most interested. Now I need to read your first hub and get to know you. Welcome aboard!!!
Beautifully written and inspirational. Keep on Hubbin'!
rcrawford - -I'm most pleased that you followed the suggestion to check out this one. I am truly eager for your beautiful hubs to gain momentum in followers and feedback. You have too much talent to go virtually unnoticed!! Thank you for the visit!
Thanks for the tips! BTW, who did the painting at the top of the story? Cheers, Marian
Marian, I'm glad you asked. When I published this, one of my first hubs, I was too "green" to include the artist, who was Jean-Honoré Fragonard, a French artist, 1732 - 1806. Thank you for the visit!
I love the painting. I've seen other Fragonard paintings. A very gifted artist.
Yes, he is! I love this one too.
What a lovely hub! This is one of the reasons I love HubPages - it's funny because at first, I wasn't so sure about the community, but now I love the people here and look forward to reading their hubs and exchanging comments with them. It surprised me so much at first when I had the same few people commenting on all my new hubs, I couldn't believe that anyone would pay that much attention, and now I cherish their comments and appreciate them returning.
Ah, SweetMarie - That sounds so much like my early impressions of HubPages. I thought it would be entirely different than I found it to be: - as you say, friendly and attentive. I was as surprised as you report your felt! I am still humbled by it, after a year aboard and much amazing interaction with the folks. I even met one Hub friend as he was passing through my city. We sat over coffee for about 3 hours in a local eatery, talking non-stop!
I'm so pleased to meet you. I zotted over to your site for a moment so I'd know to whom I'm talking here. I am enchanted by the scope of your hubs and eager to read them. I just finished & published one of my own and it is after midnight, so I'm just catching up on comments before I turn in.
Thank you for the visit and lovely comments. Hope to see you again and again!
Nellieanna, this is great advice. I do consistently go back and check up on Hubs that I have commented on. Also, I would love to follow everyone. Due to time constraints though that is not possible. So I am judicious in "following" Hubbers. I don't want to become one of those who follow and are never heard from again.
Have a wonderful day!
Quite so. No way to follow all the Hubbers one would like to, or even to keep up with everything written by everyone one does follow. At times, I've almost done it, but it's like learning math. If one misses one lesson, the next is very hard to get back into. haha. Interruptions in following happen and then one finds oneself "behind". i've had to give myself permission to fall short of my intention. But I don't just reply to comments or make comments in a "quickie" way, to be done with it, unless a brief message is really my honest comment for a specific situation. I think of these as conversations in which I choose to partake. So sometimes it means fewer rather than more with less substance. I don't follow people just because they follow me, unless there has been an actual contact and I don't follow people unless I've learned enough about them to want to leave a fan comment. But it shouldn't be rigid or obligatory. I prefer spontaneity.
I greatly appreciate that you've taken time to read several of my hubs! I'm honored.
Hello Nellieanna,
I enjoyed reading your soft flowing words in this hub.
In detailing the transformation that has occurred in publishing in recent years, this hub marks well the turning point to the online world of personal publishing.
As you may be aware, in the early days of novel publishing it was normal to share chapters of ones up coming novels with friends or an invited audience.
I think hubpages is the modern version of this concept. What do you think?
Thank you for a very thought provoking and illuminating read.
Hubbers are great aren't they.
Michael - I am truly delighted that you found and read this very-early-in-my-hub-life hub and approve! It was nominated for a hubnugget award, too, and set off a lovely following for me.
I've read your profile and feel a connection. For one thing, several of my best friends here on HP are from SA, which seems to foster wonderful folks. Others of my best friends here are from the UK, as well, and/or are teachers; also delightful people. And by the way, my graduate semester at the Univ. of Texas in Austin ,after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics with a minor in Art and Fashion Design from Southern Methodist Univ. here in Dallas was to both start on a master's degree and to qualify for my life-time Texas teaching certification. I didn't teach, though, other than the practice teaching part of that semester, because I soon married and when we settled in another state, for which I didn't have the teaching certification, I didn't pursue it. I was a fully-stay-at-home wife and mother for 18 years there. Then I learned to DRIVE a car! Had to, in fact - at age 40! :-)
My career after that went in other directions, from Bridal Consultant to Engineering Department Supervisor in a building company to becoming a full-time Mary Kay Cosmetics consultant and Sales Director. Then I met and married my true soulmate and enjoyed nearly 30 years of bliss till his death 3 years ago. Now I'm a happy little writer doing her own things at her own pace and enjoying every moment of every glorious day.
I've an enormous personal webpage which I built from scratch starting in 1998 and am the owner of a Southwest Texas ranch which was a key part of my heritage and which I now manage from a distance (500 miles in fact). When my George was alive, we had much fun managing it together and even built our own cabin on it. It is so remote, though, it is not a place for a lone woman to live - or even to visit alone. It's not far from the Mexico border.
Mostly, I'm planning to live to be 100, which is well within my telesales. :-)
Your profile is such a delight and full of interesting facts, I thought I'd fill you in! Hope I've not bored you excessively! One thing about writers - we do love to WRITE!
Nellie,
Your hub was exhausting with spirit and merit for fellow hubbers. If I could match your skill of writing, I'd have it made. What I like about hubpages is I feel like I'm discussing many issues with neighbors.
Ronnie
Ronnie, thank you! I've visited your hubsite and joined your followers. I am so favorably impressed with your ideas and writing skill, I hope you just do your own things and know that IS having it made!
Yes, it does seem like discussing ideas and issues with neighbors, doesn't it? The advantage here is that we came to do just that and often these days, we have fewer opportunities to discuss things at leisure with our actual neighbors. It's a real privilege - even when it is sometimes a bit exhausting! It's well worth it.
Nellie,
You'll always be my neighbor no matter where you and I live; change it to friend!
Ronnie
Ah, thank you, Ronnie, my cyber neighbor and actual friend! :-)
I love your name, Nellieanna, and the picture on this Hub. Hopefully, someday I can write as wonderful a Hub as you. My son encouraged me to check into HubPages and now that I am spending so much time checking them out, my husband feels very neglected! Keep inspiring the rest of us.
Joaniebaby - I'm tickled to meet you - and to have the chance to welcome you aboard into Hubpages. Your son gave you a great tip when he encouraged you to check it out! My beloved stepson joined a couple of weeks ago and is thoroughly enjoying it.
But I must plead 'innocent' to inspiring husband neglect!! My precious late husband probably felt some neglect at times after I discovered the internet in 1996, though my joining Hubpages was after his passing. However, we each had many interests and loved pursuing them and then coming together at the end of the day to share the best hours and our day's projects. So it can work.
As for writing, well - never compare yourself to anyone else. YOU are unique and what YOU produce couldn't be done by anyone else! That is so valuable! Take joy and pride in it. It evolves and blossoms by doing.
I just checked your hubsite and see that we have other interests in common. I've been a seamstress/designer all my life; - mostly clothing. But my mother did it all - including all the lovely handcrafts you do. She even tatted in her time!
I could easily envy your lovely handwork projects! My handwork has been mostly related to the clothing I make, but I started a quilt and got it far enough along to be photogenic. I made a webpage about it, which is at:
http://nellieanna.com/13myquilt.html
There's no way to be bored if one has interests and enthusiasm, is there?
Thank you for checking out my stuff & for lovely comments! My name is old-fashioned - like I am. :-)
Nellianna - you found me, and now I'm reading you. This hub comes at a perfect time for me. I have only been busy on HubPages for two months. I do "check out" those who follow me, and I do a lot of Hub Hopping. But now is the time to stop and smell the roses, to invest my time in really getting to know and enjoy the writing of the Hubbers I follow. And this investment "takes" no time at all; it gives life and joy and wisdom and energy to write more!
SidKemp! How delightful! Good to see you visiting this place. It's one of my earliest hubs and the only one to receive a bit of spotlighting. But, as you expressed in one of your own hubs, being here (certainly for me) is not for the glory, but for the opportunity to write and share; - and to bask in and enjoy the entire experience Hubpages offers. With the wide variety of writers and interests here, it offers much! As you say - it's a good investment. However, it can take more time than anticipated, but as with other investments, especially of oneself, - costs are incidental to rewards.
And again, you're right: - the association does fuel and inspire yet more writing! As good as your writing IS, that's something to look forward to, writing and reading!
Very welcome aboard! Thank you for the visit!
BkCreative Level 6 Commenter 2 years ago
This is so nicely done. I enjoyed going through it.
And I so totally agree. Where else would I meet so many people and learn so much and share so much and with people all over the US and all over the world. And while we are so often far removed from one another - especially as writers, how else would we be able to be part of such a writing community or writing club.
It certainly works for me. I am so happy, not to be home writing and totally isolated, and...I am earning passive income - a real bonus.
Thanks for a nice hub and nice reminder that following other hubbers offers many benefits. I'm a follower of De Greek and will visit your other friend. And of course I am your follower. Certainly rated up and beautiful!