Thinking Bloggers Awards

Beverly Jackson recently honored me by including my name in her Thinking Bloggers Awards. She should be listed in mine, because she’s inspired me so much in the time I’ve known her, through her writing, painting, and poetry, as well as her perspectives on other poets and life. It’s Southern California’s loss that Bev recently moved to North Carolina, where she’s exploring her new home region and sharing her experiences via her blog.

I’ve chosen my five Thinking Bloggers with great difficulty, because I read many more than five blogs that deserve mention on a regular basis. All whose blogs I read are people who make me think on a regular basis. Many also share another special quality: In one of my favorite movies, Under The Tuscan Sun (a highly-fictionalized adaptation of the Frances Mayes memoir by talented screenwriter Audrey Wells, who also brought us Shall We Dance and The Kid), free-spirited Katherine (played by Lindsay Duncan) keeps reminding her American friend Frances (Diane Lane) of the advice she got from Federico Fellini, to never lose her childish enthusiasm. Good advice, in my opinion. Childish enthusiasm is a quality I greatly admire in people, maybe because mine is sometimes in short supply, so I need regular booster shots. It’s a trait that tends to be present in most of the people whose blogs I return to.

Now for Barbara’s Thinking Blogger Awards:

Eric Mayer at Byzantine Blog is co-author, with his wife Mary Reed, of the Byzantine era historical mysteries featuring John the Eunuch. I follow Eric’s blog for his witty observations and childhood reminiscences, and for the combined seriousness and humor, in just the right places, with which he views life and his part in it. Both his essays and his fiction are well worth reading.

Irene Fulton at Reenie’s Reach epitomizes to me the preservation of childish enthusiasm, especially in her artwork and writing, but in real life as well. She has apparently passed this effervescent trait on to her children, along with her good looks. Reenie used to live in my neighborhood, where I met her and Bev through the same local writer’s critique group. She now enthuses all the way from Tennessee. (Why is everyone migrating to the South? Do y’all know somethin’ I don’t?)

Carol at Cassie-B for finding tidbits of information about the things that surround us or confront us each day that we don’t often stop and think about, and for adding her own uplifting insights. I especially like her monthly calendars that list all the bizarre and unique holidays in the coming month. I think it’s about time there was a National Rocky Road Day, don’t you? She also posts terrific recipes.

Diane at Violetismycolor for her whimsical artwork and for sharing her family life and travels in ways that anyone can relate to and appreciate. In following her and her family around the globe and home again, I feel as if I’ve been allowed to tag along for the best parts.

Kerrdelune (Cate) at Beyond the Fields We Know for her astounding, sometimes heart-stopping nature photographs of her part of eastern Ontario, Canada, and for her poetry, vision, and wisdom.

Big applause for these bloggers!

Awardees are invited to post your own Thinking Bloggers Awards on your blogs. I won’t hold you to it, but wouldn’t that be fun?