In April of this year, my daughter, LisB, introduced me to TPM and from there, to the chat room where many of the bloggers hang out.  For this one time staunch conservative Republican, this was quite a political shock.  I was interested in TPM for the simple reason that Lis had told me she shared some of her poetry and other literary endeavors there.  Of course, I found that the blog site was mostly political and quite liberal, to my eyes.  I really didn't feel I belonged there but I read some of the posts, comments and replies.  I kept reading and reading.  First, I found some humor, and that pleased me.  I began to think that they were rather interesting and I followed along with a few of them, digesting all of the flow of opinions, arguments and pronouncements.  It was certainly an eye opener and far different from what I was reading and hearing from the Republican side.

I have shared about my political past and many know that I was born and raised with a very conservative viewpoint which I completely adhered to with out thought or conscience.  It was unheard of in my family to think anything liberal was right or just and big government was something one did not even consider.  Ronald Reagan was like a god to my father and even Nixon, with all of his foibles and dishonesty, was considered a good president except for that "one little lie".  I think my father went into a period of shock and dismay when the hearings ended and Nixon actually resigned - something my father was totally against.

At any rate, I have to be totally honest and say, I did not follow politics much in my past.  I dutifully voted every year, straight Republican ticket.  Never pulled a Democrat's lever and never intended to.  I think there were times I kind of envied liberal friends of mine - they always seemed so passionate about their politics and beliefs.  I never felt that way about anything regarding the government and politicians.  I either thought they were good guys or bad guys and it never occurred to me to look at the other side to see if maybe there were some "good" guys there.  If someone liberal looked okay to me, I would soon find some reason or another to dislike them.  If a conservative did something I didn't like, I would find an excuse for their behavior.  What a hypocrite I was and what a non-caring citizen of the United States.  I always complained about events and downfalls in the economy but blamed it on the Democrat in the White House or those in the House and Senate.  I never, ever tried to find the real cause or even look into the problem with an idea of discovering a solution, writing to my congress person or senator.  Those were the things for others more involved to take care of.  My character traits as far as politics went were non-involvement, lack of caring, preoccupation with more self serving things, and laziness.  Nothing to be very proud of but I really didn't give it much thought.

Then those damnable blogs came into my life.  I began to see what had drawn my once conservative daughter to Obama and to the Democratic Party.  Lis then invited me to the chat room where so many of her TPM friends sort of hung out.  I ventured in and became hooked or addicted. I found the most friendly, humorous, music loving, opinionated and great people I have met "in" my PC.  I will not mention names for fear of forgetting someone or giving up someone's identity.  However, it is a group of gals and guys from all over the States and even from some countries across oceans. I am one of the eldest.  We can get weather reports from all over, differences in time zones, and political thoughts from many areas.  Sure, there are diverse opinions and heart felt causes discussed.  Sometimes it even gets heated for there are strong voices to be heard.  There are times I stay out of it since I have not learned enough to venture a thought.  I have become braver though and I have started to ask questions.  I also have started to look up things on the internet and I seek truth, a better way and I believe I have become more caring and interested in my fellow man's fate.  It isn't all about me as much - I want solutions that will affect my country, just not my own little world.  It isn't all about Maggie anymore.  What a liberating and novel idea!!!!!!  You can laugh - I am laughing too............what an ostrich I have been with my head buried in the sand.

So thank you to my fellow bloggers and chatters.  I owe you so much for your patience, understanding, support of the blogs I have written and genuine friendship.  There is even talk of a Chicago get together sometime next year.  WOW!   It amazes me that people want to read my poems, musings and personal stories.  I have always written just for me and sharing those personal thoughts was hard at first.  I have found it liberating and fulfilling though and I am grateful for that.  Now as a dear friend here would say, "THE END".   Hahahahahahaha.