One year later: Just Cruising Along…

Today’s picture has no immediate relevance to today’s post, at least not at first glance. Curtis remembered enough about the ride to suggest that I use the picture. I’m driving Curtis’ car back from the 2005 Rickwood Classic. The short version of this story is that there were several things that I wanted to say I’d accomplished before I turned 30. One of those things was to be able to say I’d driven a convertible. The opportunity presented itself to do it, so I did. (I also chose this image on purpose since the other image had me looking very nervous about driving the car).

The same thing happened with this blog. I wanted to get back into writing, but didn’t really have an outlet. Conversations with a few people, most notably the one with Curtis in the M3C the Wednesday before I posted to this one year ago, led to the Ramblings’ start on Blogger. One year, a change to WordPress, three themes and 184 posts later, it’s still a lot of fun. That’s the important part of it all, just having fun. The sharing of an opinion or a thought and seeing what people will say in response is exciting; it allows for some real conversation to start about things going on around here in the Magic City and out there outside of Jones Valley.

So, one year later I’m still singing in the rain. I’m still enjoying the challenges of getting reacquainted with big city living. And I’m happy that I’m still doing what I’m doing. When I first got here, I attended the big unveiling of the City Center Master Plan at the Alabama Theatre. While sitting there listening to plans for the future development of downtown, I spoke with one of the citizen’s who voiced concern about the focus on downtown when neighborhoods were being neglected. I naively introduced myself and explained my position with MSB to her. We ended the conversation with her saying that she was happy that I was in Birmingham, but that I would be like all of the other ones who had come before me; I’d stay for no more than a couple of years and then I’d leave of frustration like all of the others. Those words have stuck with me for nearly two years now. I will not lie and say that I have not been tempted to pack it up and move somewhere else. I’ve reminded myself in the last year that I’m not the lone ranger and that it does take time. My actual job is to remind others of those facts as well. I’ve realized that this blog has become an extension of reminding me that it is a long process but that it will happen. I also am always reminded that if I leave without a really good reason that I’ve let that negative “we can’t do it” attitude prevail. I didn’t move here for that. Besides, I’m looking forward to walking up to the citizen, who happens to be a state representative, and telling her that I’m still here and that it will probably be a while before I leave town.

Due to some of the recent conversation on other blogs around town, I’ve also realized just how many people have been reading this. Thanks. I hope that you’ll continue to comment and read this stuff for a while. I didn’t plan on it going in this direction or seeing it become this well supported. I truly appreciate it.

So don’t forget to check out yesterday’s post since I put it up so late in the day. And check out these posts (1, 2, 3, 4, & 5) for a taste of the Ramblings over the past year.

Thanks again.

Enjoy the weekend.

Cheers.

N.B. I have still not made all of the changes that I wanted to, but I’ve added a couple of things. No, you are not imagining things; there is a link to an online store near the end of the sidebar. Nothing too fancy, I just figured some of you may be interested one day in admitting that you actually read this thing J I just wanted to see how it went. I don’t plan on changing the header or format ever again unless I’m forced to. The location links for the Neon series will be activated within the next seven days (I’ve just been slammed at work and bring a lot of it home with me nowadays).