Gentle Reader, This One's for You

A visiting friend brought this up, recently, about blogging and the fact that I refer to anyone reading my blog as "Gentle Reader" and write with them in mind, even though it's my blog and I should be able to say whatever I want without worry of offending anyone. So true. However, most of the time I blog because I want to record stuff and get it out of my mind and off my chest. My own "pensieve," if you know what I mean...I periodically go back and read this and I am reminded of what was going on or my thoughts about various things. In that respect, I am my own Gentle Reader.

On the other hand, one day I hope to get all of this collected and bound so that my girls have it to read for themselves. Thus, truly in the back of my mind, I'm writing for them in the hopes that they can see past all the yelling and dictatorial state of parenting I'm currently manifesting, and overlook my mistakes to know that I really do/did love them and am/was simply trying to do my best at this stage of my/our lives.

And finally, I think of my friends--known and unknown--and those curious about life here at The Zoo and who are kind enough to check in every once in a while. You are my current Gentle Reader, and believe it or not, thinking about things to write about and knowing that there is a vast sea of people out there who have an ounce of concern for me, well, it helps get me through the rough stages of my life. It helps me calm my Angry Crazies and find my way back to my happy/happier place. And I hope it helps calm any Crazies that you are experiencing, too.

So, with that in mind, I wanted to give a special shout out to those of you have recently made contact with me--especially after a couple of years of being apart (Hello!!!! Seriously! HELLO!!!! Consider yourself Hugged. Thank you for hunting me down and contacting me. Please know that I want to send you an email, but that doesn't seem to be happening and it's not because I don't want to...I'm just not there yet with my personal organization and time management skills just yet with Miss Q. Sigh and Arghe! But please know I'm so excited to hear from you!!!!! )

Another special shout out goes to those of you that I owe Thank You's and subsequent notes, because you have made a special effort to shower my family with extraordinary kindness and love, with play dates, meals and visits, during my ankle fiasco and Miss Q's arrival. So, until then, "THANK YOU!!!" Please consider yourself Hugged, too, and know that I'm trying to write out my thank you notes while waiting in the car loop to pick up Miss A from school, so you are bound to get one sooner or later, though I cannot guarantee the quality of my handwriting (and also please know that I probably need your address). The gratitude is sincere, though.

And finally, last but not least, a shout out to those of you who have showered me, personally, with love and friendship for so long now, from near and far. You know who you are...and if you are wondering if you fall into this category, Gentle Reader, you probably do (even if you've never "de-lurked"). Because you know that I recently had my own Job test (did I really put in an application for that particular exam??? I don't remember doing that) that I didn't necessarily pass with flying colors, but at least made it through to the other side. Confessedly, it was a little slice of the hot place going on here at The Zoo for a bit (ha!!! Who am I kidding. It's still nutty around here, but NOT like it was); but you were there to cheer me on and make sure the Angry Crazies didn't over take me. Gentle Reader, consider yourself hugged, too (and maybe even given a kiss on the cheek, because that's just the kind of person I am while blogging. Please take comfort in knowing that unless you are Super J, you probably WON'T be getting a kiss on the cheek, because that's the kind of person I am "in real life").

So, thank you, Gentle Reader...whoever you are. Thanks for reading. Feel free to come and visit The Zoo whenever you like because I'm glad you're here.

Have a great day (and remember, get some sleep because it really does make me feel better knowing SOMEONE is getting some rest out there).