Remember Me. (No, I didn't die.)

It's me, Amelia.  I know I haven’t posted anything in a long time. Life has been so busy that I have had less and less opportunity to actually write—plus I also spend/waste a good deal of time wondering why it seems that no one reads my posts—or comments if they do read. (My other posts are on a different blog, also titled Amelia@home. Technological issues forced me to start all over.)  Terribly self-centered of me, I know, but I spent a lot of years learning and just writing to satisfy my soul, not caring if anyone read it, ever. Not even, particularly, wanting anyone to read it. Now I find that I am no longer bashful about my writing. I am a good writer with fascinating stories to tell. But it seems, that just like the circumstances that caused my recent hiatus, people do not have time for fascinating anymore and that makes me kind of sad. What is the point of life if we can’t be fascinated by something?

In a world where we can talk to anyone (basically) at any time, we don’t talk about anything more important than our relationship status or, sometimes, political or religious positions. We share memes, foul language, anger and dirty comments, but not our hearts.  Why is that? What are we afraid of?

I have read some truly amazing books in my life and most of them were fiction. Only a few of them were great love stories.  A few were religious histories; and none were any more political than biographies of truly great or truly terrible people. I have been to museums filled with miracles in the form of art.

Thousands of years from now, will the world remember us for our Tweets or Instagram photos? Will any one care how many Facebook “friends” we have?  It’s easy to look back on the great people of the world and see what they left behind for us. What they wrote, what they built, what they created, what they sacrificed, or what they stood for—that is what gets remembered.

Sometimes we even forgive, (dare I say forget) some really serious short-comings and failures if the art is good; if the story moves us.  I try to satisfy my need for feedback by telling myself that perhaps someday, people will read my books and think—what a great story—Wonder why I didn’t read it back then?  I also remind myself that I am leaving behind some truly wonderful young women for this world, my children, and that’s good.

All the same, if I am totally honest, I have to admit it would be so nice to have a little validation. I wouldn’t mind being the next JK Rowling, plucked from obscurity by the mere idea of an amazing series of books. 

 I’d like to have a really well-respected publishing house discover one of my books and believe, like me, that the work is good and the story is fascinating.  I’m waiting for the call that says, “We love it!  We want to publish it!”   (Truth be told, I’ll probably wet my pants at that point, but since I’ll be on the phone it probably won’t matter.)

I see celebrities all over the place who get published because of their names and I must confess, that really irritates me sometimes. Madonna? Seriously?

So, what will I leave behind? How will people remember me?  For now, I will content myself with writing for my own satisfaction.  I will continue to polish and support and nurture the wonderful children I have so that they can leave behind a lasting legacy too.  I will continue teaching young people to read with discretion, to write with intelligence, and to be good people. I will try to fill some of  the emptiness in this world in some worthwhile fashion as best I can and maybe, just maybe, that will include some really great books. 

I want to encourage all of you out there to try and think about what you are leaving behind for the world to come.  Life isn’t just about making yourself happy and getting what you want. It’s about how you will be remembered.  What will your legacy be? Does your knowledge get shared? Do you try to touch other people and leave behind good memories? Are you giving the very best of yourself?  If you can look over your shoulder and say, “So far, so good,” then, by all means, be proud of yourself and forge ahead. 

If not…