My first encounter with blogging was a few years ago when I read a book by Carole Radziwill, who was married to John F. Kennedy Jr’s cousin, Tony Radziwill. Tony and JFK Jr's mothers, Lee Bouvier Radziwill and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, were sisters. Tony Radziwill and JFK Jr were best friends, and Tony was the best man at JFK Jr's wedding to Carolyn Bessette. Tony Radziwill was born into European Royalty and was in fact a prince. He was descended from King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia, King George I of Great Britain, and King John III Sobieski of Poland. In 1989, at the age of 30, Tony Radziwill was diagnosed with cancer. He went into remission for a period of time, but in 1999 just a few days after his 40th birthday, and one week after the funeral of his cousin JFK Jr, Tony Radziwill lost his battle with cancer.
Tony Radziwill and John F. Kennedy Jr, and their wives, Carole and Carolyn, were extremely close friends. Within a short period of a few days, Carole Radziwill lost her husband and her best friends. Can you even imagine the overwhelming grief she must have felt? After years of struggling with the loss, she wrote her memoir, “What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love”. When I read it, it touched me deeply. I know something of friendship, love and loss, and I wanted to send a message to Carole Radziwill to let her know how much her book had affected me.One evening Carole Radziwill was invited to be a guest blogger on a publisher's blog, and I had no idea what a blog was. But I knew it was a way to correspond with someone in real time, so I logged on and was able to send a message to her that I had read her book, I had enjoyed it immensely, and that in some ways I could identify with her. She responded back to me, and that amazed me. From that point on, blogging piqued my curiosity. It was something new and very interesting, and something I wanted to try. I am an observer, and I thought blogging would be an enjoyable hobby -- a way to share some of my observations.
My style of blogging may be slightly different from some of the folks in the blogosphere. I don't particularly approach it as a type of social networking, but rather as a type of "slice of life" journalism. My preference is not to do blog posts about many things in my
See you Saturday. :-)
30 comments:
If you write it, I will drop by (I was going to paraphrase Field of Dreams, but it sounded dirty - oops!). I enjoy the things that you write about - & really I hope to move in your direction once my life settles down a bit (i.e. we're moved into our house & done unpacking!) Right now all I have time to write about is me - & frankly I'm getting a little bored with that LOL!
Hi Jo. This looks like a must read book. What a great way that you were introduced to blogging. By the way, I love your blog style :D
Have a Happy Weekend!
I've blogged since February with two sites, the photos for the proverbial you and the angels for me. Reached 100 posts on both recently, but not at the same time. It's a great experience, I like what people comment on my sites, but I really love reading the blogs I follow. I get insights into lives so different from mine, as well as exciting ideas from other artists. I look forward to yours, its engaging, positive energy is so refreshing!
We love your blog, Jo. Blogging can be time consuming, and not everyone has that time or inclination. But don't you think that's what makes it so fun - every blog is different.
This looks like an excellent book. And I never knew how you got into blogging. I know about the visiting. I can't ever seem to find all the time I'd like to spend visiting those beautiful blogs out there. And I feel honored when you visit mine. And it isn't even a Saturday . . .
I like your blog. And I see so many people do as well. I think it's the only one I've ever seen with over 600 followers!
I'm with the Chic Geek- love your style! It's so spontaneous and positive. Looks like a great book.
Blogging has opened a new world for me. It is just so enjoyable to read about other people's lives and opinions around the world. Your blog is one of my favorites because you have a unique point of view and you are a keen observer of life. Now that book caught my attention, I would love to read it since i have always been a fan of everything "Camelot"-related.
I can't remember how I found your blog, but I like the slice of life journalism you apply! Good reading so far :-)
Jo,
You were born to blog.
Hi Jo, At one time I was fascinated by the Kennedys and the Radziwil connection was so interesting. The Kennedys to me, was something like the roylty of America. I admit, over the last couple of years I have lost contact/interest and your blog today has sparked it again. I will try to find this book as soon as possible and read it. Thanks for a great blog.
Hi Jo, Wonderful post, and I can completely relate to how you blog! For me it is a way to record memories and daily impressions, to make them real by putting them into words, and maybe preserve them for later, for my kids, etc. What I especially love about your blog is the voice you use which is direct, and true; I always feel like you are sitting across from me actually speaking the post...well done...
How lucky for us that this got you blogging, Jo. I enjoy your writing so much. Somehow, the Kennedy saga has always struck me as a Shakespearean tragedy set in the 20th century. This looks like yet another chapter to it.
*shrug* Jo you're on the list...I run my list every day. I may not always comment but I always read. It seems for such a boring little life you certainly have encountered other people of more fame...but I think would in life be much more boring than you to spend a few minutes a day with.
Jo you're the first blog I read with my morning coffee and it is so enjoyable that everyone has a different style and approach to blogging. Your style is just right, and it's like having you share a cup of cafe con leche with me every day!
Great post and insights. I also don't have time to visit everyone everyday but I've decided that's OK too.
I have a story something like yours, I started blogging with Missouri Books http://missouribooks.blogspot.com/ and just talking about the books I read. Not long after I started the blog an author of a book I blogged about commented on the blog, I'm going "Oh my gosh, people are actually reading this!" So I was hooked.
I enjoy reading your blog a lot and look forward to all your posts. There are many good bloggers out there but what I like about yours is it's simplicity and sincerity...keep writing, it's a joy to read your blog:)
Thanks for sharing this. Your blog is just wonderful and i read all your posts, though not comment. I FEELS GREAT KNOWING SOMETHING HAPPENING THOUSANDS OF MILES AND GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LIFE THROUGH YOUR BLOG. i MUST SAY, THERE NOTHING MORE FANTASTIC THAN BLOGGING. cHEERS:)
Your style of blogging made your blog a blog of note and I think it's one of the best read in the blogosphere I know. I'm following your blog because somehow I'm learning from it and I thank you for that.
That book sounds incredible. I do not think that blogs are social networking, but I enjoy reading blogs because of all of the different perspectives that are out there. I read food blogs, fiction blogs, life blogs, book blogs, photo blogs, etc...
And I read yours and do not find it to be boring at all.
Jo, you look at people and situations - at eye level. You want everyone to find something to read and enjoy in your blog -and you work hard on it. That's the secret of your success with your blog.I like people like you, and I like to read blogs like yours.
Ah, the Royals. They are fascinating. Looks like an interesting book. Trust that all is well in your corner of the world this weekend! D
We all have our own style of blogging, as in everything in life.
It's very much like when I first started scrapbooking with my two friends. One friend took quite the minimalistic approach, one photo per page, very little journaling, no fru-fru. The other lovingly referred to as the "Glitter Queen". Boy did she like the loud and glitzy pages. As for me, well, I took a more to a standard approach to scrapbooking.
Your blog, to me, is very informative, classic and newsworthy. I love reading your blog and the comments your friends make.
Keep on keepin' on, JO!
Thank you for the book suggestion Jo. Now that my quarter at school is coming to an end, I need a good book! I really enjoy your blog. I read it everyday, and is the style of blog I enjoy reading. I like getting exposure to different snippits and artwork that I otherwise might not look for. I also like reading the comments. I hope you will be blogging for a long time!
JO....love your blog, even if I do not comment that often, I still read your postings! Thanks for the book suggestion as well! Have a great Saturday! By the way, did you ever get the sketch done of the photo of my little one?
I'll definitely pick up that book for my beach reading-thanks, Jo! I find your blog and your style of writing both interesting and inspiring. Yours is one of the first blogs I ever read, and the first I chose to follow.
Hi Jo, Although I only discovered your blog fairly recently, I've been enjoying it immensely, and there is nothing boring about it ! I adhere to the feeling that sometimes we discover certain things in life when we are ready to discover them... I came to blogging a little late perhaps in the phenomenon, but it seems to still be going strong, and now that I've found it, wouldn't trade it for anything. And blogs like yours are the chocolate icing on the blogcake...
I find that I learn alot from your blogs. I truely enjoy it!
Oh, Jo, I always look forward to your blog! I love your style....it gives us all a little taste of you!
I am yet to find out something boring about your blog ! I ll let you know when it becomes one , Till then its our privilage to use the word boring to describe us :)
Don't feel bad Jo, I'm finally catching up today! “What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love” sounds like a excellent read and I will track it down.
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