Hubbers Who Have Been My Support System: Installment Six
I am overdue in my weekly tribute to people who faithfully follow me week in and week out on this site. I find myself approaching several milestones, much quicker than I would have guessed when I started out almost three months ago. I can say with all certainty that none of these milestones would have been reached if it were not for those who have supported me along this journey.
When I began I had self-doubts, not so much about my writing abilities but about whether my style of writing would be well-received. My writing is not what one might call designed for the masses. I do not write info articles (with a couple notable exceptions) nor do I write “how to” articles that are so popular among the internet crowds. I simply write about personal experiences and I add a dash of heart and a pinch of soul and it all comes out in very personal articles.
The danger of doing this, of course, is that one person’s personal experiences may not interest the millions who daily look for their four minutes of stimulation. Search engines are not flooded with “personal experience” searches so when I chose to write in this style I had already limited the number of readers right out of the starting gate. By taking that approach I had to hope that what I was writing about was interesting enough to entice a small number of people to read, and then read again, and keep reading so that I wasn’t writing in a vacuum of my own making.
That is why these tributes to my followers are so important for me to write. It is my way of saying thank you so much for seeing something in my work that has kept you coming back time and time again and by doing so you have filled me with joy and gratitude.
Let us now celebrate some very special people in my life.
MIDWEST WITH A BITING SENSE OF HUMOR
Beware of this lady’s bite because it is so much worse than her bark. I was going to share one of Karen’s more sedate works but that would be an injustice to her. Try on and I think you will get a very clear picture of this lady and her sense of justice and her enormous talent.
As for me, I was hooked on her talent early on, but more importantly I was impressed with her willingness to follow along with me on my journey. I’m not sure how similar she and I are but I do know we share a sense of right and wrong and we support each other through hell and high water and that’s not a bad foundation upon which to form a friendship.
FROM FLORIDA WITH LOVE
When you hear someone described as a nice person what do you think of? I think of this next lady, a truly nice person from the State of Florida. We have formed a bond over the past month or so and her words of praise lift me daily. Read http://bravewarrior.hubpages.com/hub/kismet-when-you-least-expect-it for a wonderful look into the mind and heart of a good person.
This tribute comes with a warning, though: If you have no desire to share in her joy of life and positive attitude then I would suggest you do not read her.
CANADA AND CAMPFIRES
From the frozen North comes my next friend. I have not known him long but what I know is worth exploring. He and I are kindred spirits who love the outdoors and nature and all things related to Mother Earth. Stop by http://rollyachabot.hubpages.com/hub/The-Quiet-shared and I swear it will feel like you are sharing a drink around a fire talking to an old friend.
His is a unique talent, one that draws you into his work and makes it feel like your favorite pair of slippers. I was honored when he first read one of my articles and I will be honored in the future when he stops by. His are must reads for anyone who appreciates good literature.
NOT TUMS BUT TAMS
There is a certain type of person I am drawn to, those who have paid their dues in life, who have not had it easy by any stretch of the imagination, and yet exude hope and a positive attitude. Welcome to my next hubber friend, Tams R by screen name. The work I am highlighting here is not a happy story but it is a real story filled with all that is human. http://tamsr.hubpages.com/hub/Story-of-a-Stillborn. This is more than a story; it is an insight into a survivor who sees life as beautiful and accepts that along with that beauty there will be dark days.
If you ever want to feel uplifted then I suggest you befriend her. She can make you feel like the greatest writer on the planet through her comments. I know this because she has done that for me.
POETRY AN POSITIVE ENERGY
This next friend of mine has been a professional writer for thirty years and yet exudes humility at every turn. She blends different styles in her many works but I have chosen the one that I favor most; please read Marcy's work to gain a better appreciation of an artist at the top of her game.
Now for the rest of the story! Despite her many years as a pro Marcy manages to give such praise to newbies like me that we come away feeling like we really do have oodles of talent. In other words, and I’m sure Marcy would say this as well, she believes in giving back and helping newcomers in the way she was helped when she first started out in the business. If you only have limited time to devote to HubPages then I strongly suggest adding Marcy to your list of must-reads.
BEAUTY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
From Dubai comes an angel! AnGela came upon my radar screen one day about a month ago and it took me very little time to realize just how genuine she was. There is no pretense in this young lady. Her heart and soul are exposed in every piece that she writes. Want an example? Try this one and find out if you don’t agree. http://angelamartinez67.hubpages.com/hub/Oh-Dear-Eyes.
I touched something in her with one of my articles and she is now a good friend. Isn’t that remarkable when you think about it, that we can become friends with others who live so far away? AnGela is the epitome of a kind-hearted soul and I am proud to walk this journey with her.
TEXAS TALENT
She is known as Debbie to her friends and I’m guessing she has a ton of friends, on the internet and across the State of Texas. This lady to me is all about love. Now understand, my natural inclination is to stay away from poetry, and yet every time Debbie posts a new poem I am there to read it. Go figure!
This happens to be my favorite but I could easily have picked twenty others; such is her talent. You could be having a horrible day and I promise you if you read one of her poems a smile will fill your heart.
WE HAVE TO STOP FOR NOW
Never fear, I’ll return in a week with some more of my favorite supporters. Luckily I have quite a few to pick from so there will be several more of these articles. I know for a fact that a boomer nurse will show up in the next installment as will a lovely lady from Nepal.
I don’t know if I can convey how lucky I feel to have finally followed my dream to become a writer. The connections I have formed with incredibly talented and caring people have meant the world to me and as I have said before, it it were not for the early support I would have given up on this site.
I do this series first and foremost because I want to say thank you but also because I want to encourage others out there to reach out to the newcomers who need a helping hand as they are starting out. This world needs more writers and poets. This world needs more beauty. This world needs more of the human interactions that I have found in my first three months.
Thank you to all who have read my works. I promise you that I will continue to do what I do, namely write from the heart and give you every ounce of effort I have in each of my writings.
2012 Bill Holland (aka billybuc)
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Hubbers-Who-Have-Been-My-Support-System-Installment-4
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Hubbers-Who-Have-Been-My-Support-System-Installment-5
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Hubbers-Who-Have-Been-My-Support-System-Installment-3
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Writers-Who-Have-Been-My-Support-System-Part-2
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Hubbers-Who-Have-Been-My-Support-System