Why blog?

I've asked myself many times why, and if, I should blog. What an egocentric pursuit, I tell myself. Flee to the Cleve started as a creative outlet when I left opera - and a way to document an exciting, spontaneous move to Cleveland. There was a lull while I was planning our wedding, but it remained a place to record moments in our little family's life that would otherwise be forgotten.

That's really what I keep thinking - that I want to remember when I'm 50 how John used to draw stick figures on our chalkboard with little loves notes. And the time we made jelly and tied it with pretty ribbon because we couldn't afford an abundance of Christmas gifts. And the time he was so proud of his artichokes and took that adorable photo. Most of all, I want our children to be able to know us, even in ways that might be uncomfortable to discuss. I want them to be able to read about the way I felt the morning I married their father, and I want them to be able to see, if they wish, how ecstatic we were when we got engaged. I'd like for them to be able to read about the way I felt the first time I held them, and how nervous I was to be a new mother. Hopefully, we'll be able to talk about those kinds of things, but you never know. And Flee to the Cleve will be right here waiting.

What I began to realize while I thought about blogging was that I want to cultivate community. I want to create a place for people, especially women, to find like-mindedness and support. In today's world, neighborhood picnics and baseball games have been extinguished, and the internet has become the place to find camaraderie. The scope of the web enables us to find friends in places we'd never expect. I've had plenty of those moments, online - the ones where you feel like what you're reading has been in the back of your mind, elusively sitting on the tip of your tongue, but there it is - your feelings expressed in words. Someone out there understands you. I'd like to hear, and share, thoughts and stories from other women, other newlyweds, other creative professionals, other art lovers.

What's funny is that my original career choice, singing, was about telling the story of human experience. That's all it really is. Communication. And sure, I've left that world, but here I am, still trying to communicate something, and still trying to tell a story.

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Happy Monday, everyone. I can't wait for the holiday!

Photo taken in our living room this weekend on Instagram.