About the name of my blog

Hmmmm . . . the people who know me might be wondering why I have named my blog "Fungirl-bookwoman."

I think the first part of the name is something I'm trying to live into. When my nephew Caleb was about 4 or 5, I took him to Chuck E. Cheese Pizza place while he was visiting. He went around telling everyone that Aunt Robin was the "Fungirl." That both surprised and pleased me, and folks in the family still talk about that.

Now my nephew is 20 or so, and somewhere in those years I seemed to have gotten pretty serious about life and my work and family. I guess it's just part of my nature.

A couple of years ago I went on a trip to St. Augustine with two of my buddies whom I'll call Lovey and Wanderer. We went kayaking one beautiful morning in the bay, where we actually saw dolphins jumping out of the water 20 or 30 feet from our kayaks. I remember having the thought, "I forgot how much fun having fun was!"

I think since that time I've tried to make more time for fun--with family, friends, or by myself. Life is short. It goes by so fast. I really want to enjoy it.

It has been kind of funny that almost every weekend this year (of 2008), I've had some social engagement of some kind: several birthday parties, a Cocktails & Cupcakes party, a trip to Chattanooga. It's been really fun and like a breath of fresh air to me.

So, fungirl--now's my chance to really make that name stick!

(More about the second part of my name later--as if that needs any explanation at all.)

One week and counting . . .

One week from today I will be boarding a plane with a destination of Cape Town, South Africa! I have wanted to go to South Africa for a number of years, and now I have the opportunity with my company to do so. I will be traveling with my colleague Sharon and will be joining three others while there.

Today I am cleaning my house. Yes, it's kind of rare that I do that these days, with any sense of completeness, that is. I guess it's kind of a preparation thing. It mentally helps me to take my leave of my family if I've left the floors clean and their laundry done. It's always difficult for me to think about leaving my family because I know I'll miss them and I know they'll miss me. I always feel good when that plane touches down at BNA on the last leg home.

But for now, I'm savoring the sense of adventure I feel about going. I've never been to that part of the world before. I've never taken a trip that far before and on a plane for so long. There are all sorts of appointments and visits and conversations and new people waiting for me on the other side of that trip.

I feel a sense of anticipation and a challenge to really be aware and listening while there: Listening to God, to people I meet and people I'm with, and to myself and observations. I want to be ready.

So, back to that housecleaning and laundry for now . . .

Words are important

I was listening to npr on the way home (one of my favorite activities). There was a story on about Hilary vs Barack and how Hilary's speil is "Do you want Speeches or Solutions?" She was trying to contrast her strengths (action) with Barack's strengths (rhetoric).

The person who was offering commentary was saying that the great speakers of our time actually became the great presidents of our time (Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan), and that the ability to inspire is very important indeed.

I felt a moment of pride in my profession: journalism, editing, publishing--words. Words are important, and I've always known that.

So here I go, launching into the sea of words in the blogosphere. Why not?

Words are important.