Five Years Later…

~ oneletterup

The past is never where you think you left it.

Katherine Anne Porter
Desk View
February 26, 2023

One may think I have ghosted my own blog – more or less – during the past year. And for the better part of 6 + months I guess that’s been true. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts via email notifications, but that’s as far as I usually got. It’s been quite the year. I have not accomplished anything monumental or written the great American novel! Just enduring and getting through each day was the goal, but in the process the blogging spark disappeared.

I am sure many of you will understand the need to retreat and narrow one’s focus when overwhelmed by awfulness. Suffice it to say, my 2 year commitment to running a condo board is over and the nasty is finally in the rear view. I am inching my way back to whoever I was a year or so ago. No need to rehash details here as none of it deserves any oxygen or space on these pages. But…what a book I could write.

However, since I can’t resist marking an anniversary, here I am. It’s now been 5 years since I launched oneletterup.

And what else about the past year on a personal note?…There were some positives! Although covid is still here (funny how autocorrect no longer autocorrects the word covid), we were able to travel in October to Merida, Mexico for my son’s wedding part 2. A grand celebration put off (because, well, covid) from the very personal 2021 legal ceremony (in DC). We did celebrate Christmas with our daughter and her family in Washington, DC – there’s nothing like 2 little kids (my perfect grandchildren) to liven things up and take your mind off your troubles! Unfortunately our time with our son was limited to masks and porch visits (because, well, he caught covid). Extra frustrating since he lives only a few blocks away from our daughter.

Despite everything that crashed down on me this past year, I am so very grateful I have loving family and friends, a place to live, food to eat and – for the most part – my health. Whether it’s luck or planning or circumstance…I’ll never know for sure. Still thankful.

When I logged on here yesterday for the first time in a while, I noticed over 1000 comments…aka spam…waiting for approval. So obviously the “bloggers” marketing RVs/van conversion/collision shops and clever suggestions about various private body parts thought oneletterup was the place to be. One message offered this piece of advice: “Breathing in and out numerous times a day boosts your life immensely.” Mull that one over. Who knew?

Year #6 on WordPress is beginning. I’m looking forward to it. Baby steps. One topic of interest I may want to share here is my recent connection with newly discovered distant relatives on Ancestry! Any thoughts or advice would be most welcome.

Thanks, as always, for visiting!

Published by oneletterup

31 thoughts on “Five Years Later…”

  2. “I am sure many of you will understand the need to retreat and narrow one’s focus when overwhelmed by awfulness.” I understand this completely. “Overwhelmed by awfulness” describes it though it did not — for me — include a condo board. I’m glad you are back.

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      1. Take your time. For me the re-emergence is into the life of my town. I’m very tentative about that. Covid turned out to leave me with symptoms I’m still dealing with and I never never never want to get it again and, since so much of my very small town is ultra-right etc. I’m wary of the people in it. It’s PTSD, I guess.

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      2. Allowing myself the time is sometimes the real challenge. Being aware of the PTSD potential (and I really believe that’s a valid description) and steering clear of certain places and people is key to healing. And, in your case, avoiding Covid. It’s exhausting.

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  3. Welcome back! Your time on that condo board sounds like it was 100% unenjoyable, sorry. The email descriptions are funny. These spammers are lunatics. I hope this year will take you and yours in a better direction! ❤️

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      1. You’re welcome. All is well here in Vegas except that this winter has been colder than usual and I am ready for the 100+ degree summer weather to return. 🔥🌴

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  5. Some experiences can take so much out of one. I can’t imagine what you went through, but having once had a board supposedly there to help me do my job … well I still shake my head in disbelief, and it was more than 20 yrs ago! I hope getting back to your amazing gift of finding and showing beauty in your photos will help you stay on the path to recovery!

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    1. Thank you so much Ellen. I hope to dust off the camera soon. I’ll be shaking my head in disbelief for many years too. I never imagined people could act the way they did. What a (sad) lesson learned.

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  7. Welcome back, Andrea!! Congrats on being done with the things that didn’t bring you joy and that you’re back to finding the blogging groove again. I’m glad to read you had time with your family and that you’re doing well. I always wonder what happens to bloggers that take longer breaks and I’m very grateful when they return to share that the break was temporary and necessary – we’re all humans that need to pause and take a break to catch our breath and our focus on what matters most! 🤗😉😁

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    1. Thanks Shelley! I am taking it one day at a time. The question “does this bring me joy?” is one I pay more attention to now – coming before the “shoulds.” It’s a recovery and discovery phase I guess. So good to hear from you 😊

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  9. I too am on the board of our little condo group. In fact I am the HOA president – lofty title. The last person who thought I was also police chief passed away last summer. — Curiously I miss her. 🙂 Good luck with your next year.

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    Reply

    1. There should be a club of some sort…former condo board presidents and how we survived. Two years of that was enough for me…the police chief title did not happen though 🙂. Thanks for your comment and well wishes!

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