When I first started participating in the online world twelve years ago, I was unimpressed by the trivia of it all — the posts about what someone had for lunch, what their dogs or cats did, all the day-to-day things that make up the social aspect of networking.
Since I was trying to establish myself as an author, I tried to take a more grande-dame-ish approach. I wanted to be respected, to be seen a someone with dignity and grace, someone who had something to say and had the power to say it.
To that end, I tried to keep my clever, craft-oriented side to myself.
The whole great lady idea went out the window after Jeff died. It’s hard to try to maintain the appearance of being a grande dame when one is screaming their pain into the blogosphere. Still, I did try to maintain a bit of dignity and grace through it all. Now that my grief has been subsumed into my new life as homeowner and no longer brings me close to the great mysteries of life, what I’m left with is . . . whatever is the opposite of grande dame. Unsophisticated, maybe. Inelegant, perhaps. No high-blown thoughts, for sure.
There’s certainly no reason to keep my cleverness under wraps, especially since it’s about all I’m left with to blog about.
The truth is, I’ve always enjoyed being clever when it comes to small things. I’d prefer, of course, to be brilliant, but cleverness will do. It’s also nice to have a reason to be clever. Considering all the activities I am involved with, such as supplying treats for programs or creating something interesting for potlucks, I have ample opportunities to be clever. Like this little giveaway I thought of:
A Christmas Eve teabag on one side, a Christmas morning teabag on the other.
See? Clever.
But not at all grande dame-ish.
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Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One. “Grief: The Inside Story is perfect and that is not hyperbole! It is exactly what folk who are grieving need to read.” –Leesa Healy, RN, GDAS GDAT, Emotional/Mental Health Therapist & Educator.
Bertram's Blog 
December 6, 2019 at 10:52 am
You’re not clever — you’re marvelous!!!!
December 6, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Thank you. What a nice thing to say.
December 6, 2019 at 6:45 pm
You must connect with a man named Martin Wyatt. You’d enjoy his columns. He’s funny, too. And sensitive. And writes well. And all that . . . .
December 6, 2019 at 9:57 pm
Can you give me the link to his blog? I can’t find him.
December 7, 2019 at 4:09 am
Yes, I will. But I have to find it first. BTW, are you following my blog? I’m not funny, but I’m writing a fantasy (as of now) and putting excerpts out. I mainly write Appalachian Fiction and currently have a book out called “This Will Never Stop” which, unfortunately, isn’t about non-stop laughter but the pathologies that run in a family of women in a small WV town. Martin, on the other hand, is a hoot. Let me rummage around. New to this stuff.
December 7, 2019 at 9:26 am
Yes, I’ve been checking your blog. I’ve never really known anything about West Virginia or the Appalachian region and people. I’d hoped to visit there on my next road trip, but buying a house used up all my travel money.
December 7, 2019 at 11:29 am
Pat and all those who are interested in good humors (during his first kiss he accidentally bit a girl’s nose; her mother was quite distressed) PLEASE follow amieeyoreindisguise.com or fortheloveofgrandchildren.com I am quite happy to say I’m hooked on him and Mrs. Pat Bertram. They’re both great writers and each brighten my day. Wit, intelligence, humor, understatements. Pat, you must get in touch with Martin. He’s across the pond.
December 7, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Thank you!
December 7, 2019 at 11:29 am
Oh, goodness, his name is Martin Wyatt.
December 7, 2019 at 11:56 am
Mmmm. Christmas tea. Maybe it’s time to make some while I await the arrival of middle son for lunch.