The Bean Abides

/ Ally Bean
A Poem on the Occasion of the Beginning of my 12th Year in the Blogosphere

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• • •

I started small because I didn’t know,

What to expect from this blogging show.

My friends in real life ignored my blog dream,

It made me so mad that I wanted to scream.

But continuing on I wrote each day,

Knowing that others would head this way.

• • •

My mantra simple, my goals were clear:

Give the readers a story to cheer.

“I will not whine, nor over-share,

I will show up and rarely swear.

I am authentic, I refuse to mock, 

I enjoy learning, and taking stock.”

• • •

Perspicacious am I, willing to share,

Light of heart, but still I care.

Nuanced and nutty, in equal part,

I have been quirky, right from the start.

Stick-to-itiveness, I think you’ll agree,

Is the word that best describes me.

• • •

Free-spirited, niche-less, with content well-written,

Yet editors varied with me are not smitten.

No Freshly Pressed badge, will you see here,

It seems what I write, they just do not hear.

But now gentle readers, in you I confide,

No matter what happens, the Bean will abide.

• • •

A special thanks to la peregrina at Santiago Dreaming who’s been here with me from the beginning AND to Margaret at Stargazer who’s been around here for almost as long.  You both paid attention to me when no one else did– and helped me, a reserved introvert, gain the confidence to keep on writing.  Love you both.

[H/T to D. Parker at yadadarcyyada whose wonderful post “Why I Will Never Be Freshly Pressed” put me in a mind to write this poem.]

40 thoughts on “The Bean Abides”

  1. Wow! 12 years already? “You’ve come a long way baby!” I always look forward to your posts. And thank goodness you’ve stuck to your real self. This is a great poem, and the blog design is the best!

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      • Between you and me, FP is highly overrated. There are many excellent writers and well deserving blog posts that are skipped, ignored, shunned because they don’t suit the management. Longevity is really admirable – I wish WP had a special topic category for long term (10 +yrs) blogs and one for brand new less than 1 year blogs. Would be a boost for both groups – and interesting for readers, too. A tribute and reintroduction for one, and a here’s a push to get you started for the new guys.
        In any case, always a smile from your posts!

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  4. Congrats on a dozen years in Blogland, wow, that is cool! 🙂
    Cheers and to many more years!

    Loved the poem, I feel the same way, except I haven’t been blogging nearly as long. 🙂

    Thank you for the mention, my heart skipped a beat when I read that you thought my post was wonderful and that it had made you think of writing this. I am honoured and so thrilled.

    Congrats again, what an astonishing milestone! 🙂
    All the best and I hope this day and every day treats you kindly. 🙂

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    • D. Parker, thanks for stopping by. I really thought that you nailed the whole FP situation with your post… and so did hundreds of other people as well. Smart girl.

      I’m amazed that I’m still here doing my blogging thing. I was inconsistent about posting and maintaining my blogs in the early years, but once I got this blog going I got into my groove. Such as it is.

      Happy to meet you. Thanks again for cheering me on.

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      • Thank you kindly. 🙂
        I’m glad you stuck by it, and well, we definitely all have our own groove, that’s what makes it interesting. 🙂
        We bloggers have to share the #bloglove when we can. 😉
        Thanks again and hope this day is being good to you. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Huzzzah!! A wonderful little ditty. Congratulations on your 12th year of blogging. You have inspired me every day along that way (and over all of our years together). Mad Love – ZD.

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  6. Twelve years in the blogosphere? That’s incredible! Twelve years ago, blogs weren’t even on my radar. Congrats!

    Loved the poem. And thanks for teaching me a new word: perspicacious. 🙂

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  7. Congratulations on 12 wonderful years of being you. I enjoy your nicheless, genuine storytelling and hope to keep reading your thoughts for many years.

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    • Thanks Zazzy. I don’t know for sure, but I bet that you’ve been around the blogosphere longer than I have. Yes? I’ve had a few different blogs, but even so my blogging style has remained the same. Niche-less and nutty, seems to be the general consensus. A person could do worse than that, eh?

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  8. 12 years, really? I wonder how long I’ve been at it! (probably at least that long since Ashley was in high school when I started writing) I remember reading several different versions of your blog; I’m wracking my brain trying to think of their titles. 😉 Thanks for the shout out; I read what pleases me and I find your blog interesting, quirky and somehow soothing. I always feel better after reading your words. Loved the poem by the way!

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    • Margaret, you were here long before I was. [Sue G. sent me your way.] How sweet of you to say that my blogging style is soothing. [We never mention the names of the previous blogs because of all the crap that happened to one of them– and goes on to this day.] The poem was totally spontaneous and, I think that we can agree, the epitome of quirky. 😉

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  10. Twelve years of consistent writing is a terrific achievement. I hope it’s brought you a sense of enjoyment as well as accomplishment. I’m coming up on ten this summer, and I almost can’t believe it.

    Woody Allen (I think) said that 85% of life was just showing up. Great things happen when you’re around to see them or make them or be a part of them. I’m glad that you keep Showing Up.

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    • nance, I’ve been around the blogosphere, with a blog of one name or another, most of the time. But in the beginning I wasn’t as consistent as I am now, so my posting, like everyone else’s back then, was intermittent.

      And there were months when I disappeared entirely [lousy isp, broken computer, major health probs], so to say that I was here literally all the time would be a stretch. On the other hand, I was committed to being involved so maybe I was here in spirit, even while everything else in my life was falling apart.

      All I know for sure is that it’s been a hell of a long time! 😉

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  12. Congrats on 12 years! That’s amazing. I’m in year 5 and never been freshly pressed. It’s good to know I am in such awesome company. 😉

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    • Kourtney, you’re so sweet! I suspect that being Freshly Pressed wouldn’t change how I go about blogging at this point. But as for you, it might just sell a few more of your books! Now wouldn’t that be cool? 🙂

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  13. Congratulations on your blogaversary! I’ve enjoyed knowing you on one blog or another for many of these last years. 🙂

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    • J, thank you. I’ve enjoyed knowing you too. I think that after la p & Margaret, you’ve been around here the longest. [You missed my first blog, which they found.] Funny how some people remain, while other people disappear never to be seen again. Blogging, just like real life, eh?

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  14. I loved your poem. It really spoke to me. I am new to all this but find it very welcoming. 12 years is a long time to be committed. That speaks volumes to your love of writing and ability to share. Congratulations! Enjoy the applause, even if not from the FP gallery. I believe they are equally valuable when they come from bloggers who have known you and read you for so long. Have a great day, Cheryl

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    • Cheryl, thank you for stopping by. Sticking around the blogosphere for this long was not my plan when I started, but somehow blogging and commenting got under my skin… and I’m still here. Best of luck with your blog. Will stop by to read it when– well, when it’s not a busy weekend! Take care.

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