Monday, October 27, 2008

A Wild Ride!

Since Georgianne Nienaber's article on me appeared in The Huffington Post, I've had one wild ride. Elizabeth started the whole affair, when she sent me over to Jon's blog to view the Zydeco for Obama video titled "Oui, on peut!". I immediately stole it from Jon, giving him credit, of course, and posted it here. The video caught Georgianne's eye, and she emailed me, and the ride began. I've had more visits yesterday and today than I've ever had in the history of this blog

Thanks to all my blog friends and those whom I don't even know who have linked to the article. Thanks to all my friends and to all the first-time visitors who have come, those who have left a comment and those who have not. I've received a few emails in response to the piece which were quite moving, and which I answered quickly. The response here at the blog and in the emails make me believe that what I do here may make some small difference.

My usual practice is to answer each comment, because I think that if someone takes the time to comment, I should respond. In this instance, I have not always been able to do that because of the overwhelming response, but I assure you that I do read each comment.

Usually, I try to answer emails in a reasonable period of time, but due to increased numbers, I have fallen behind in that, too. If my response takes a while or if your email falls through the cracks and does not get an answer, I apologize in advance. If it's something important that I need to know, please try again.

Thank you all for the kind words. I am moved beyond what I can express by the response to the article. Thanks to Georgianne who writes so well and who captured my personality after such a short time together. I feel as though I've made a new friend.

28 comments:

  1. That you are getting a wider audience for your wit and wisdom makes me happy---as does the fact that I have so many of the books that are currently on your bookshelf!

    Love,
    Doxy

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  2. Doxy, thanks. Don't you love the way I keep the books in perfect order? It's good to know that we share tastes in books.

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  3. Mimi---it has been my experience that books that are kept in perfect order are rarely read...

    (That's why you find mine all higgledy-piggledy around the house...)

    I'm particularly pleased to see the Wendell Berry. I adore Wendell Berry---not least because he and I share a birthday.

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  4. Funky Blue Rooster, welcome. I love your name. It's funny, too.

    Doxy, the "Sabbaths" poems in Berry's book, Given give me goose bumps when I think about them.

    They come singly, the little streams,
    Out of their solitude. They bear
    In their rough fall a spate of gleams
    That glance and dance in the morning air.

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  5. I have two Berry favorites, Mimi:

    The Peace of Wild Things
    When despair for the world grows in me
    and I wake in the night at the least sound
    in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
    I go and lie down where the wood drake
    rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
    I come into the peace of wild things
    Who do not tax their lives with forethought
    of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
    And I feel above me the day-blind stars
    waiting with their light. For a time
    I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.


    and this one:

    The Real Work
    It may be that when we no longer know what to do
    We have come to our real work.
    And that when we no longer know which way to go
    We have come to our real journey.
    The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
    The impeded stream is the one that sings.

    ---Wendell Berry

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  6. The article was wonderful. Your blog has been an inspiration to us.

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  7. I was so pleased to see that you were spotlighted in that article. I just haven't had time to say so yet, so I will use this post as an opportunity to tell you.

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  8. Well, finding Grandmere Mimi is one of the best things that ever happened to me, for many reasons. I kinda thought we'd be friends as soon as she told me that she blogged about anything she wanted to. As I get more involved in South Louisiana, I think there is a very good chance that we can cook up some wacky schemes together. To have Mimi for a friend would be an honor.

    (PS..for all the notes I have received about our lack of the "accent" above "grandmere," my Mac Powerbook turns it into a "?," and Huff elected to get rid of it. Just want to clear that up once an for all;))

    "Attention must be paid!"

    Georgianne Nienaber

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  9. My sincere congratulations Mimi on a well deserved recognition for your efforts on Wounded Bird. You are a delightful, thoughtful, and provocative blogger and I am pleased you are becoming more well known. I am glad I am one of your readers!

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  10. Thanks, Doxy, for that. I don't know Wendell Berry and that second poem ws particularly good for me today.

    Mimi, if I sent you a picture would you promise NOT to post it?

    IT

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  11. What a brilliant article! I feel proud to be an "occasional comment" on this, now famous, blog!

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  12. Mimi, if I sent you a picture would you promise NOT to post it?

    IT, yes!!! My readers will be jealous, but I am a woman of my word.

    Doxy, lovely poems.

    Thanks, Two Auntees, Ruth, AFeather, AND "occasion comment" (aka Rural Rector).

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  13. I just got around to reading the article on you. Woo-Hoo! You are my hero. And I ditto the comments on your library. Sheila

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  14. Chere Mimi bien-aimee
    the real question is had Mr. Obama called you yet?
    Canadian though I be, my nomination for you as his special advisor on Louisanna and the revival of New Orleans was seconded by a rather incredible American- Ms. Lisa Fox.
    If he hasn't called yet, I'm sure its only a question of time chere Mimi.
    hugs
    David@Montreal

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  15. Grandmère, how exciting! I have to say I was mightily pleased when I read the article. You rock. :)

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  16. I'm still trying to digest this myself. I can't quite believe it, and the wonderful response came as a total surprise.

    David, no call yet, but I'm staying close to the phone.

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  17. Yes, but when will maddie give you the blue badge? Seems willfully rude not to!

    IT

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  18. IT, he will, or he won't. It doesn't matter. He made me cry today, in a good way. Music will do it. He posted New Orleans jazzman George Lewis' "When the Saints...", which was enough to take me close to tears, but then his words in the comments were what really made me tear up.

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  19. Ya got wrote about at HuPo? Good.

    Better thee than me.

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  20. Brava. Brava. Brava.

    And, to think that I got to kiss you before you were famous.

    Ah, I think I shall have pleasant dreams tonight, and dream of Mimi, perchance to sleep.

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  21. Johnieb, why not? You'd make good copy. I can see the title: "A Mississippi Gentleman in Connecticut Yankee Country".

    Elizabeth, thanks. I shall never forget that evening.

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  22. We loves us our Mimi, yes we do! ;)

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  23. "what I do here may make some small difference" GM - I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on this point. You make a HUGE difference!

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  24. David, I'm blushing!

    Holyfoolishness, what can I say? Thank you.

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  25. Congratulations Grandmere Mimi: You are an inspiration!

    Love, Mags

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