An editor at WordPress just e-mailed to notify me that my post “Life, Death and a Dinner Table” was selected for Freshly Pressed. Pardon me while I repress the urge to jump out of my seat and scream, throw up and throw a parade all at the same time. I am honored. It’s a geeky writer’s dream come true. (And an item I can now cross off my bucket list and replace with something new.)
Even more, it touches my heart that a post that is so near and dear to my heart was selected for this recognition. My grandmother (whose funeral is mentioned in the post) was a writer as well. In many ways, I believe it is just in my DNA. I know she would be so proud. So thank you, whoever is responsible for this.
As for those of you who have wandered here from Freshly Pressed page…Welcome! Hello! Please feel free to wander around, peek in the medicine cabinet and make yourself at home. But before you do that, we should get to know each other.
And there’s only one way to do that.
Hi. I’m Amy. Who are you?
ps: Now for something a little happier (and a whole lot sassier)!
Congratulations! Being Freshly Pressed is my dream! (That, and an afternoon spooning session with Daniel Tosh and a half-dozen puppies. You know, the usual.)
Well done! And very deserved.
Thank you for the sweet comment – and for being along for the ride from day 1. Daniel Tosh and a half-dozen puppies. I LEARNED something about you today!
Congrats! I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog— you write beautifully and your words ring so true. Food is some sort of magical glue that allows families to come together and just be.
Megan,
Thank you. That means so much!
I agree. Food does have a magical pull of its own. Even when we don’t feel like taking the time to slow down and gather around the table together, the tradition and ritual of doing so is such a touchstone to the important things in our lives. Now if only I could figure out a way to romanticize doing the dishes…
Congrats, Amy! Enjoy the glory!
Hi, Amy. I’m Kit.
I write a blog about my life and the things I find interesting (books and design, mostly) that is read by a small audience of people I know in real life. I’d like to believe that some day I too may be able to write something that rings so true with other people that it becomes Freshly Pressed.
I’m glad I found your post and what I’ve seen of the rest of blog looks great too. I’ll certainly be stopping around from time to time. =)
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Hi, I’m Fiona!
I loved your freshly pressed post, and will enjoy poking around your blog
I’m from Ireland, I aim to be a writer! Currently ‘studying’ for a degree in English with some Philosophy in Belfast. Love to blog and read…and love letters and bringing back snail mail. Can’t live without chocolate (though Im off it for lent, wail!) and Josh Ritter, the singer/songwriter’s music.
Congrats again x
Fiona,
So happy you stopped by. Hello to Ireland!
I love to hear that people are committed to bringing back snail mail (and love letters!) I hate to imagine a day when letters in the post (or the smell of old library books…mmm) is just an urban legend, or a relic from a time gone by. Few things compare with the simple joy one receives opening the mailbox to find a REAL piece of mail amongst a stack of bills and junk. It sends a heart aflutter.
Kudos to you on your writing adventure. I recently wrote a post about my journey to become a writer on my work blog: You can read it here. Best wishes to you in your journey. Be courageous. Write from your heart. Trust your voice.
And I hope you’ll come back to visit.
Thank you so much
Congrats on Freshly Pressed – it is a dream of mine, and after I read your post, you deserve it. It actually brought tears to my eyes. I’m born/raised in the Midwest and I know exactly what you mean of small towns. Writing is becoming a lost art, and it’s rather sad. Younger generations, mine included, only know of email/texting/twitter – and nothing of old-fashioned hand written letters. When I remember (I get busy/side tracked often) to, I write hand-written long letters to my sister who lives in England. We believe in snail mail only – though sometimes if something needs to be responded immediately, we resort to Facebook, the rare times. Hand written brings a more personal touch to your message and you’re able to convey your emotions better, plus you can always doodle along the margins!
My sister and I love to send little drawings back and forth, she also sends along chocolate too.
I hope you have a fantastic Friday & weekend – I’m happy for you.. And you’ve gained a follower.
Redhead81,
Thank you for the beautiful note.
I could not agree more. Writing HAS become a lost art. Our lives are busy and people expect to have everything wrapped up in a very concise 140 charater text or tweet. I love that you and your sister have committed to reviving the long lost art of letter writing. It is such a magical moment when you are rifling through the stacks of bills and junk – to discover a REAL letter.
Plus, it’s hard to beat a margin doodle.
I am honored to have you as a follower. Anyone who appreciates the power of REAL mail has won my heart.
Hi Amy: I enjoyed your post about Frederick. I’m from a village of 300 (when I lived there it was 500) in upstate New York. It was an absolutely wonderful place to grow and it saddens me that I can’t live there now. Maybe someday! Ruby
Ruby,
Upstate New York is a magical, magical place. I have a friend there who owns a tea shoppe in Andes (http://taytea.com/) and whenever I see her posts or photos, it fills me with a longing for a simple, beautiful life. It also boggles my mind that miles from the chaos and cacophony of the city, there exists a quiet, wholesome world tucked in the hills. What a special place to grow up.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Amy: I know where Andes is – it is about 40 minutes from where I grew up. She has a lovely website, thanks for the link – I’ll be placing an order! Happy reading, Ruby
Amy,
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed! It was mostly nice for me because I got to discover you! Your writing style captured my attention immediately. I’m a writer at heart but have a long way to go to satisfy myself with my own writing. You are a lovely inspiration. Don’t be too alarmed if you see my icon popping up around you – I’ll be following you where I can. Thanks for sharing your gift with the world!
Thank you for the lovely compliment. I am honored and humbled. It is a delight to connect with fellow writers, and I look forward to learning from you as well.
Glad to have you along for the ride!
Congratulations . . . I just loved your post “Life, Death and a Dinner Table”! What a lovely remembrance of the family gathering for your grandmother. You mentioned that writing is in your DNA, but I think it may be more than that. One of my favorite quotes is by Goethe – “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love” . . . Your love for your grandmother may have had a hand in fashioning you into a writer as well!
Best wishes,
Sarah
Sarah,
Thank you for the lovely comment. I think it’s wonderful how we collect “things” from people in our life. Or maybe it’s better said, we are inspired to be courageous and nurture different parts of ourselves thanks to the people in our lives.
Amy–
I stumbled across your blog via FreshlyPressed (like many others, apparently). After a quick perusal through your blog, I decided to follow it…not something that I do very often. Now, please don’t judge me; I can be pretty nerdy. When I checked out your “About” page, I noticed that you are a copywriter. When I was in high school, I did a report on copywriters…at that point in time, it seemed to be the only career where writing would make sense. It is awesome to see that copywriting is a career where people are legitimately being awesome! Flash forward about four years and I’m just as nerdy, only more complicated. Anyways, I look forward to seeing the words you share in the future!
Emmie
Emmie,
Thanks for the great comment. I think I have always known I wanted to be a “writer,” but I also knew I wanted to do something that paid the bills.
Fate and hard work put me on the right path and I am now doing something I REALLY LOVE each day. That is such a gift.
I recently wrote about my “journey” as a writer on my work blog. You can check the post out here. http://www.brainsonfire.com/blog/index.php/2012/02/07/airport-conversations-and-the-secret-sauce-of-success/
Happy day to you!
congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. beautiful post. in my other life I am a marketer…but here i just write about my everyday musings. i have always appreciated the amazing ability of copywriters to capture moments. you did a brilliant job in your post but elsewhere as well…i’m going to keep reading.
Thank you! Looking forward to checking out your blog for some everyday musings (which happy to be my favorite musings.)
Hi Amy! I’m a photographer from Lake Tahoe/Reno. http://capturing1light.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/200-miles-200-photographs/
Your blog and writings are beautiful and interesting. From a design perspective I love the way your theme and use of instagram photos work so well together. It’s got a retro 1970′s feel that’s groovy.
Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
congrats on being FP’d
cheers.
SueAnn
SueAnn,
Thank you for the compliment. Instagram is a favorite app (and seems to give my photo skills a little extra boost.)
Looking forward to exploring your blog and photos, as well. Happy weekend!
Hi, Amy, congratulations on being on Freshly-Pressed. It’s a great thing, isn’t it? But probably its best perk is being able to come across wonderful blogs that you would not otherwise find as easily.
I’m Tita Buds (rhymes with goods, moods) and I found your blog while perusing the ‘Life’ tags in WP. I am glad I did because you ARE a wordsmith. Your post about Frederick and the women in your family was a pleasure to read — enough reason for me to follow your blog.
That, plus the fact that you love dogs, too and, ahem, Anthony Bourdain.
Tita,
Hehe. It sounds like we have a lot in common. (Though I must admit, my soft spot for dogs is probably slightly softer than that for Mr. Bourdain, handsome as he may be.) Thank you so much for the lovely comment. It is an honor to have you as a reader, and I look forward to getting to know you.
Happy weekend!
Congratulations on being on Freshly Pressed. I know how exciting it is…I have been there. You have a lovely writing style and I very much enjoyed several of your posts. I grew up in a small town in Texas and could relate to your family and the dinner table.
Karen,
Thank you! Where did you grow up in Texas? I grew up in Abilene.
Looking forward to exploring your blog.
Amy, I grew up on a ranch in Richmond, Texas, which is about 20 miles southeast of Houston.
Hi Amy,
Congratulations on being on Freshly Pressed. I’m a banker turned photographer from Pakistan. After five years of corporate slavery I finally decided to take my passion more seriously and am loving every bit of it. I have a photoblog and been trying to maintain a personal journal with wordpress too but at times I feel so lost as to what I should blog about. Was looking around for inspiration and on came your blog on freshly pressed. Thank you for a great post and inspiring me to take my personal blog more seriously
Annie,
Thank you! Banker turned photographer? I love dichotomous life stories. I am so happy you have found happiness. For creative people, we MUST allow ourselves to share our gifts with the world. One way or another. If are lucky enough to make that our life’s work and calling – even better.
Thank you for the lovely comment and for stopping by.
Happy day to you!
As someone who is also a vegetarian and also a bit of a nerd, I guess I felt like I should say hello.
I’m Claire, recent Chemistry graduate, originally from Scotland but have worked & lived in Philadelphia and now Switzerland. Very interested in travelling and still trying to sort out what I want to be when I grow up…
I look forward to coming back to your blog and reading more. Keep up the good work!
Hello fellow vegetarian!
I am 30 and still sorting out what I want to do when I grow up. It’s a big question. I’m starting to wonder if it is more of a rhetorical life question that’s leads us onward to the next great adventure each time we try to answer it.
In my mind, the answer is I want to live fully and be happy when I grow up. Whatever that may entail? Bring it!
Glad to have you here.
Thank you to “Freshly Pressed” for helping me to find your lovely blog! As an Italian Mama and a relatively new “empty nester”, I find myself longing for family meals very often. In our family we often say that “food is love”. Your post made me smile and shed a tear, both at once. What a lovely tribute to a grandmother, to be the reason for a gathering of the clan.
I look forward to reading more of your work!
My mother is an empty nester, too. I know it cannot be easy. As the “child,” however, there is a great comfort in knowing when we all come home (and gather back around the table) time and distance make no difference.
Italians are amazing. Your people have embraced an appreciation for quality of life by celebrating family and food in ways unparalleled by anyplace else in the world. They savor moments, meals, emotions. It’s so inspiring to be around it. I hope I will make it back to Italy someday.
Happiest Sunday to you.
Hi and congrats to you.
I just discovered you today and thoroughly enjoyed your post ,but I’d like to offer my sympathies of losing your grandmother. A moment of loss and gains.
While reading, I traveled through many little blurp towns in my mind. I grew up in a small town and other small towns seemed to flourish like “hens and chickens”.
I remembered a restaurant when you were talking about your meal after the funeral, and immediately was taken back to other restaurants like it growing up. You touched memories and heartfelt moments. I loved it.
I’ve been writing my own personal blog http://thebarbarashow.blogspot.com for a long time as well as others, I’m addicted. My wordpress is niftdesigns for my school project. I also have a semi retired blog of memories of my dad. http://bustersdaughter.wordpress.com
I’ll be back.
Thank you for the condolences. I’m glad the post was able to take you on a trip back through time. Small towns truly are a gem.
Looking forward to exploring your blog!
That’s so good, i guess you’ve been at this blogging mi-lake a while! i came to your page from the freshly pressed recommendation and read you post.
I only started my blog yesterday and I’m wanting people to read what I’ve put, would it be too much trouble to ask you to take a peak? if you do please start at my very first post 1939 as my blog is my life story, its not complete yet but i would love for feedback on how my blogging skills are and also for my posts to be shared! :0) well done again for your recognition and on a great post