So while I've been gone…

Interests keep changing. Or rather, focus does. I obviously still enjoy taking photographs, because I kept my camera busy during my vacation. But even photography requires inspiration—and weather that won't ruin a camera.

And so I let Wordless Wednesdays slide. I stopped forcing myself and let my blog rest, too.

The nice thing about long days on the autobahns of Germany, is that it is very relaxing. Nothing to do but watch one field after another blur by, sometimes spotting a bird or a cow or a house. But sometimes even that loses its charm and I ducked into my Kindle, finishing three books during my trip.

But that—plus discussions about blog resuscitation with my good friend Alice—has given me inspiration.

I know now where I want to take this blog next, and I even have ideas for a visual make-over. I don't think blogs are dying. They are too useful to do that. Blogs may no longer lead the pack in social networking on the internet, but they definitely supplement it because they are still the best way to share lots of words with lots of people.

The devolution of the blog from eager writing to the occasional picture is not fair to the blog nor its readers. Nor to me. Because there's something about thinking and typing and getting thoughts out of my head and in front of my eyes that does me good, both intellectually and emotionally. Having invisible readers to consider also helps me focus and edit. Getting a comment from my readers is icing on the cake and always appreciated.

So the plan is this: Monthly writing, and the occasional photo post, and not just on Wednesdays. I've been reading about ho'oponopono, and it's worth sharing. So is other stuff going on, like life in Norway, which still has its moments ("no, Norwegian actually isn't a difficult language to learn…"—there's another blog post!).

I was practicing ho'oponopono on my trip. Man, when you start trying to clear up the spiritual cruft, the universe catches on quick and sends you more. Like housework. Start doing the dishes or laundry, and without fail someone else will come along with a pile of their stuff to add "since you were already doing that".

So my vacation was on the outside cobblestoned streets in medieval towns by German rivers with vineyards clinging to the slopes, and on the inside "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

Rüdesheim on the Rhine, Cochem on the Mosel. I don't know which was better. I want to go back to both. I want to take a river cruise and walk past grapevines again. Rivers and vineyards are oddly relaxing.