When I found out that I had made the [TIG] page for my recent post on How (Not) To Install a Ceiling Fan, I was really happy – I really enjoyed writing that post, but I also put some hard work into it to get it to turn out the way I wanted. It was one of the few pieces I've written lately that I actively wanted to share with my family, so I did just that. I sent the link to the post to some of my family who live out of town, and printed out a copy to show to the local family when we got together over the weekend. I thought the responses to my sharing my piece with them were quirky enough on their own to warrant their own post:
My Father-in-Law (via email): Looks like you missed your calling. (I still can't decide if he meant this sarcastically re: installing the fan, or genuinely re: writing.)
My Mother (via email): Clever.
My Wife: That's great, Honey. (She's my biggest supporter, as you can tell.)
My Sister-in-Law: That's really funny, Ross. And it's funny because it's true.
My Mother-in-Law: That is too funny. You should submit that somewhere! (Enter explanation of blogs and the fact that I have one.)
My other Sister-in-Law: This is hilarious! Where did you find this? Wait, you wrote it? No, seriously? Wow, it's really good. You're very creative, you could write some stories or something.
My Mother (over the phone): I did like your story about installing the ceiling fan. I was so surprised to see how many people left you notes. Do people actually read what you write? How do they know that you are writing things? Wow. (I think she was more impressed that someone out there sometimes actually reads what I'm writing, rather than any quality in the content of the piece itself.)
So there you have it. My family genuinely supports me, but apparently I'm leading a secret double-life online at Vox that they're relatively unaware of and/or have little interest in participating in. Which is OK by me, as I never really intended this blog as a means of communicating with my family – I'll just be happy if/when they do read something, and I'll remember that they're around when I do need them, which is the most important thing and one of the parts about them that I value the most.
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November 12th, 2007 on 9:19 AM
Ha! My family's the same way about my blog…my own brother doesn't even read it, for crying out loud (since he cancelled his Vox account in a fit of pique). My mother admitted to popping in every once in awhile, but she claims that if it seems too personal or racy, she doesn't read it, which sounds like baloney to me.
November 12th, 2007 on 9:37 AM
Haha, sounds about right. I can't pay my family to come read my blog, which was originally created to stay in touch with them. Oh wells. Love your SIL's reaction.
November 12th, 2007 on 9:53 AM
That's wonderful how much they support you. You're blessed.Hey: Maybe you should publish it somewhere…ROFL – Love that one
November 12th, 2007 on 10:12 AM
I read THIS post, toooooo!
November 12th, 2007 on 11:01 AM
Hah — I started vox-ing thinking that it'd be a way for my friends and family to communicate (share stories and snarky fun online) — of course, almost none of them did (there's some weird vibe that blogging gives to some people).
Though I have run across an increasing number of people that have said — oh, i saw that on your blog…. and it was the first that i'd heard of them reading it!
November 12th, 2007 on 2:50 PM
I chuckled multiple times as I read the comments from your family- so endearing!! I also chuckled because I have heard the same kind of responses in the past when I have shared my blog or a post with family.
Fun post ! :-)
November 12th, 2007 on 5:03 PM
that's funny…i wouldn't ever want my parents to read my blog. they're only allowed to read the one that i set up for mia's updates. hehe… my vox is NOT for family. hehe.
November 12th, 2007 on 6:36 PM
on topic: I started Voxing because I was sick of rewritting the same story for a bunch of different emails… and never remembering who I'd told what. Of course, none of my email friends migrated. But, true to plan, I quit sending stories via email – so they just don't know what's going on with me anymore.on topic of original post: I was thinking of the ceiling fan post over the weekend. I was going to replace my ceiling fan with a ceiling light but decided "too much work". Instead I went for replacing the POS hallway ceiling light with a newer one. Wayyyy too much effort and stuff falling into my eyes later, the last major piece about to go in, I see the following note: "Make sure wiring is rated for 90 degrees. Most wiring done before 1955 is only rated for 60 degrees. Contact a qualified electrican."My home was wired in the 30s. I had to take everything apart and put the POS light back up.