I know none of you have been counting but I’ve been at this blog thing for 3 1/2 years.

Yawn.

In December I was talking to a good friend about voice vs. noise. She had written a post in response to the Newtown shootings. She then found herself in the midst of it, the sadness, the anger, the pain. She connected with those parents and it wrung the life and joy out of her for a good long time. My reaction to it all was to shut my trap.

You guys know that I prefer to joke and poke fun and amuse. In December I could have easily written a post full of angst and pain. (I can do that with ease every month, I’m blessed like that.) But I felt that my words would just be wasteful. They would be nonsensical jabber in the midst of real emotions, real suffering. I didn’t fill the world with more nonsense.

As we react to and process the latest tragedy I again want to curl into my shell and find my quiet space. I want to hide in the mundane, embrace the routine.

My dear friends, I do so very much want to keep a channel open to you, to share, to love, to support. I am here. To listen, to send virtual hugs and boxes of tissues.

So while I may not post here much, I’m around. You know how to find me.

Seriously folks, I’ve hesitated hitting publish. This is not a cry for attention. Me and my mad family are well. All praise the mighty Prozac, Starbucks and Hersheys. And the end of tax season. And baseball.And little boy hugs.And big girl smiles.