I’ve done a fair few media bits and pieces, especially over the last twelve months. This was different though. Different, in a lovely kind of way. It wasn’t so much an interview with ‘the woman who talks about suicide’ or the ‘mum blogger whose husband died’. It was an interview with the Lori, who writes a blog called the Random Ramblings of a SAHM.
Just another blogger, telling her story, talking about random bits and pieces. And a bit of that story is that my husband passed away.
I got a comment a few weeks ago, here on my blog, that said “Lori, I have only just started following your blog and I had NO IDEA about your past”. That was pretty freaking awesome. Meg read my blog and didn’t know straight away.
Doesn’t seem like much, I know. But it means a great big deal. Some days I feel as if I’m drowning in myself, in what happened to me, in what I carry with me. Some days it feels like that’s all this blog is about too, as if the place where I write down my soul has been as totally swallowed as the rest of me.
That comment, and that interview… they’ve changed the viewpoint a little. Not changed where I stand… just the way I see things.
Sometimes I write about grief. sometimes I write about death and suicide and the ugly side of people and life and humanity. But I write about other stuff here too.
I’m just another blogger. Mum, personal, whatever. Just another blogger.
It’s a good place to be.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Lori- I came to your blog on a link from CrankyMonkeys. She hinted that you had lost your husband. But, first, I read your two parts on The Water. I knew right then that I will have to read every single post. The way you relayed The Water is what has me hooked. It's incredible.
Hi Lori,
I really enjoyed watching you on the Today Show.
You have two gorgeous children and yes you're garden looks like a very beautiful peaceful place to escape to!
All the best xx
It was such a great piece – you looked and sounded great and the kids were TOO CUTE! You are a superb blogger no matter your niche
I just loved seeing you and your kids on that show. Very well done!
Love, Wendy
What a great interview – how exciting! Congratulations!
You are so much more than any one of your parts, and so is your blog:) I'm so glad you did this show, it sounds a fabulous experience for your identity
I loved this post. I am so far into the grief and fear right now, but you give me hope that one day my writing will be of much more than that.
You're not "just another blogger" to me – you are an amazingly talented, incredibly strong woman who just happens to blog
in my humble opinion anyway. I know what you mean and I'm happy that there's some space between the past and where you're at right now – but don't go selling yourself short, okay?
That is SO cool, u hv 30,000 followers?! Incredible! I know u don't do it for the money anyway (love the jj soundtrack!) but that must be great to earn from it,its so hard being there for the kids and working.I hv an ironing business to sort that even though I hate ironing :-/. You're a v talented woman Lori, love the blog and pleased for you its bringing in an income as well. Xxx
And the day I have waited for has arrived WOO! HOO! – geez I seem to be "WOO! HOO!"ing a lot today lol
What you have been through, what you go through doesn't change the "who" that you are. Underneath it all Lori is still there, and you're finally seeing that
Totally awesome dude!
"Doesn't seem like much"…… you don't mean that! It's a huge deal. And it's surely a great comfort for you to raelise that you can choose when (and whether) you are defined by your life experiences. They can be productive and handy and incredibly vital sometimes. But others, if you can't escape that definition, it can make you lose your own identification of your Self.
So I think this is brilliant. And the very opposite of not seeming like much
xox Much love to you.
The piece was great and you were great in it. I particularly noted that the details of your loss were not given, it was only stated in the context of how the online community and the act of blogging helped you. I thought it was very very well done.
The kids are so adorable by the way. They looked like they were having a BLAST!
And the day I have waited for has arrived WOO! HOO! – geez I seem to be "WOO! HOO!"ing a lot today lol
What you have been through, what you go through doesn't change the "who" that you are. Underneath it all Lori is still there, and you're finally seeing that
Totally awesome dude!
I agree with miss pink and I love your writing – no matter what it is about. Remember it is your story – warts and all!
just watched it – fabulous!
Awesome!
This is why I don't understand "niche's" and the apparent need to have one.
I'm a mother, I write a blog, does that make me a mummy blogger? Even if I don't write about them?
And if my kids both died and I instead wrote about what it is like to not be their mother, would I still be a mummy blogger?
What about if I write about food for a whole month and only food? Does that make me a food blogger? Even if I stop after that month and then write about something completely different?
Isn't it enough to be "just a blogger"?
I like to think so. I like to think just blogging life, and thoughts and bits and pieces as you choose is enough, is what makes you interesting, and seem like a normal person, a friend.
You're doing a good job at this blogging thing Lori. It doesn't matter if you write about lost diaphrams, train obsessed children, broken vibrators, or living a horror story, you're doing a fucking good job.
This is why I don't understand "niche's" and the apparent need to have one.
I'm a mother, I write a blog, does that make me a mummy blogger? Even if I don't write about them?
And if my kids both died and I instead wrote about what it is like to not be their mother, would I still be a mummy blogger?
What about if I write about food for a whole month and only food? Does that make me a food blogger? Even if I stop after that month and then write about something completely different?
Isn't it enough to be "just a blogger"?
I like to think so. I like to think just blogging life, and thoughts and bits and pieces as you choose is enough, is what makes you interesting, and seem like a normal person, a friend.
You're doing a good job at this blogging thing Lori. It doesn't matter if you write about lost diaphrams, train obsessed children, broken vibrators, or living a horror story, you're doing a fucking good job.
I've been reading your blog for less than a year, and I am beginning to see a bit more balance in the posts you write. The number of 'other post' stuff seems to be increasing. Perhaps that is progress.
Loved seeing you on tv !!
You are a beautiful young bud still slowly opening up and feeling the joy of the sunny days on your face x
yey – how nice to be 'just another' – but with a TV interview you're a 'just another with benefits!' LOL
That was excellent.
You forgot: One hell of a writer!