Cattail's shining moment
I wish everyone could have five minutes of fame.
Not Lindsey Lohan type fame. Not Louisa May Alcott fame. Not Tiger Woods fame. Even though some versions of fame might be more enjoyable than others.
Not huge blow-out adulation and praise and glorification.
But five minutes of recognition from the larger world. A recognition which nods and says, “Well done!”
I haven’t had many moments of fame in this life. When one’s neighbors are squirrels and deer and bear–what kind of recognition does one need? The squirrels don’t care. The deer snort and stomp their feet. The bear have their own fame which involves giving them a wide berth.
The truth of the matter is this. If we’re confident and secure in our gifts and abilities, we really don’t long for fame. We know we’re creating and being and doing what matters. The lure of the spotlight doesn’t intrigue us–because we’re so busy being ourselves. If the spotlight comes, good. If it never comes, what does it matter? We’ve shared from our heart and that’s what counts.
Santa's five minutes of fame
Yesterday I had five minutes of fame in the blogging world. It was such an unexpected pleasure! The blog I want to live on an island. was picked up by a Facebook page called Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (You can click on the link, but you may have to have a Facebook account to view it. If you are a Facebook member and like the U.P., be sure to “like” them.)
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Facebook page has 75,741 fans. (Wow! Look at how many people love the U.P.!!) Of those 75,741 fans, about 500-800 came over to read the island blog yesterday. Don’t know how many for sure, because many of the regulars were already visiting.
Bet you regulars didn’t even realize how much traffic was on the blog yesterday! Bet you didn’t even know you were potentially sitting in a virtual traffic jam with turn signals and brakes and honking horns here on Lake Superior Spirit. Not too many of the folks commented here, although a few did. A few subscribed to the site. But back on Facebook 122 folks pressed “like” and twenty-six commented. They all shared their own island fantasies and thoughts.
I was happy for these five minutes of fame. (Have had them a handful of times before being featured on Freshly Pressed, the front page of WordPress.) These moments make me grinning-happy, but they don’t get me heart-thumping wild-hyperactive like the first time it happened. You start to realize it’s only five minutes of fame. You realize that the next day will come and you’ll be back with your regular reading buddies and not much changes. Sure, you might get to meet a few new folks. A few more folks may subscribe and interact, but it’s no big deal. Nothing to write home to Mom and Dad about. (OK, yesterday I called Mom and Dad and told them.)
President Lincoln
The best part of this five minutes of fame yesterday is that it took my mind off computer woes. You know. The computer woes I previously mentioned in Rant. You are Forewarned. It’s been a challenging week. I won’t bore you with the myriad of tales of our computer woes. Suffice it to say: Josh at up.net says he’s fixed it. We didn’t lose any precious data, thank all the Universe. We’re picking it up today on our way to Hancock for a girl’s basketball game. Which Barry has to cover for his newspaper job. Oh, and dinner out in Houghton. (of course!) Which we would not get to experience if we lived on an island…
So quickly it flies away...
Back to our five minutes of fame. Whether it is a newspaper article, the sale of a photograph or piece of writing, a TV segment, words of praise from your boss, or a speech in front of others–I wish that everyone gets to experience five minutes of fame in their lifetime. Of recognition. Of appreciation for their contribution to life.
Keep sharing from your heart–contributing from your spirit–and I am sure that will happen. If it hasn’t happened already!
Lake Superior Spirit 
Congrats! and your page is snowing… pretty cool.
Thanks, Dawn. It was fun. YES! At WordPress you can make your page “snow” from December 1st until early January. Is your page snowing? It would be easier to see on a dark background. It’s hard to see on a white one unless you have dark pics. You go to Appearance and the click “extras”. This is fun, too!
Kathy,
Nice writing… comes from the heart. I’m a newbie to your blog. I think I’ll stick around for awhile neighbor. I’m in Wisconsin… will start snowing tonight. Love the pic. Five minutes is a short time, but congrats.
Why thank you so much, neighbor, for stopping by! I’ll pour you a cup of coffee, or would you like tea? Writing from the heart is the only way to go!
Hi!
You can make it 10 minutes of fame–i put links to your blog on my group’s Facebook page about twice a month! We’re working to protect the big lake, and our Facebook page tries to reflect the diverse perspectives and views around the basin. i always love to hear what’s happening “next door” (I’m in Ashland) and your photographs are amazing! Our group’s Facebook page is new–we only have about 100 friends–but i hope people are clicking over to you!
Warm wishes,
Lissa
Hi Lissa, it’s good to meet you. I would love to joing your Facebook page. Protecting the lake is a big deal and we all need to contribute! Thank you for the links–wow, had no idea–and do let me know how to join. I could try to send people your way, too.
That’s really something! I had no idea Facebook could send that kind of traffic. I couldn’t help but wonder, since you said between 500-800 came over, does that mean you have an average readership of 300 or so for a new post? Impressive.
I love the cattail – it looks like a big hummingbird!
Good morning, Karen! No, no–not 300 or so for a new blog. More like 200-225. It varies between 150-400, go figure. It started out around 125 at the beginning of the year (and that was with the support of people who came over from last year’s 365 day outdoor blog. It’s been building slowly since then.) The pics from today’s blog all came from last year’s December blog. I have not been doing any new photography these last few days. Too much happening…must re-focus (ha ha, literally) soon.
I’m happy for you, but like you said, if it comes it comes, and if it doesn’t, it doesnt really matter anyways.
I get my 5 minutes of fame each and every time one of my children thanks me for a meal cooked, for the clean clothes they wear or for trying to explain why the world is such a harsh place anymore.
Raven
Truer words were never spoken. You have expressed the crux of it, the Truth. I get my five minutes of fame every time my daughter or son calls to say “hello and I love you” from NYC and San Diego. And in a thousand other ways! I suspect, however, that you must have received at least five minutes of fame from your magnificent photographs. You MUST have sold at least one! You have absolutely stunning photos–you were one of my inspirations last year.
“If we’re confident and secure in our gifts and abilities…we’ve shared from our hearts and that’s what matters.” Love these lines!
Sometimes, on those days when I wonder why I’m a teacher, I have to remind myself of a garden analogy I’ve long used for comfort. I just picture myself as a gardner (not a stretch! 🙂 ) planting little seeds – seeds of love, joy, encouragement, knowledge. I water them and give them all the nudging towards a good life that I can, but I have to send them on without me. The hard part is having the hope and faith that the little I’ve done will some day blossom into rare and wondermous gifts!
Cindy Lou–now that is true fame. The kind of fame that is so often not appreciated and honored and recognized. You have planted thousands of seeds in your life. Every time you teach, you smile, you share, you nudge. I agree about the hard part. The hard part is so often that hope and faith. Yet–you know in your heart–that you have nurtured so many young plants to help them grow a little straighter, a little taller, toward the Sun above. That is a true measure of a fame so little acknowledged.
AND, you heard from the author of the book you quoted in your Simply Here blog! I think you got 15 mins. of fame this week, Sweetie. Love the photos; love you.
You are SO RIGHT, Susan D! Except you have the minutes wrong. I had six minutes of fame–not 15 minutes! What were you thinking? When an author responds to your blog, you only get one minute of fame. lol! Love & thank you!
You My Kathy are a lifetime of Fame and I praise you for starting with lots of 5 minutes!
I am thrilled for you!
I am in the stir of major creative fun with Fe-Mail…selling our work all weekend.
Send me some 5 minutes!
Lovelovelove to you, Your Fan, S
Suzi, i am sending you 20 minutes of fame via Fe-Mail! I hope you are receiving it. Move your hands a little the left…it’s coming…it’s coming… I hope you sell all your work this weekend because you deserve it BIG TIME! Love, and hope you make it back to the UP one of these months.
I have been fortunate to have some of those minutes of fame. It is exhilarating and fun. Your blog will see more in the future, Kathy. Enjoy the ride and feel good about it.
Scott, you DID have those nminutes of fame! Wasn’t it fun? And didn’t you share so much with the world about your photographic knowledge? I love the ride. OK, I love the ups more than the downs. But Life keeps teaching to enjoy the downs, too.
kathy,
You are always famous to me! Funny I started reading your blog yesterday yet something got in my way and I never got back to it.
Yes you are correct, if we are coming from the place of the heart fame is unimportant, it is not the fame that matters it is the idea that you work, voice, creativity is being seen and or heard, or not.
Jeff–like you, I want to always come from that place in the heart where fame is unimportant. Or where ALL of us are famous to each other…because we like each other so much!
Kathy – These are your words that jumped off the screen at me: ”
The lure of the spotlight doesn’t intrigue us–because we’re so busy being ourselves. If the spotlight comes, good. If it never comes, what does it matter? We’ve shared from our heart and that’s what counts.”
I love the first photograph of the cattail’s shining moment — beautiful!
Laurie, that is what my highest self believes. Some of the other selves argue. lol! I like the way that cattail looks. It looks alive, doesn’t it? It’s now famous!
So how come it’s snowing on your page??? I know that you’re famous now, but I want to make it snow too!
I just love your first picture of the cattail…..it looks like a little bird perched on top of a cattail with a snow cap on it’s head. So Cute!!!
Ms. Susie Q… I am sorry to report this. 😦
You have to have a WordPress blog to get snow to fly on your page. (It has nothing to do with fame…it flies on the most obscure blogs and the most famous. it’s kind of like the sun. It shines on us all, no matter who we are.)
I always loved this cattail picture from last December. It looks alive, doesn’t it?
Dang!! You mean I have to start blogging just to get snow???? Oh well….I guess I can live without it for now! LOL Yes…..I do love that picture! 🙂
Guess you had better start blogging, Susie Q~~ Ready, set, blog!
So far I think I’ve had about 3 1/2 minutes of fame so I am anxiously awaiting the 1 1/2 I have left.
Kathy, think about the audience you have, it’s international. People look forward to the note in their mailbox telling them that you have written something new. You bring us respite, diversity, laughter and often great pause. You’re original and authentic (uh-oh there is that word again). Your words from Drue Island have introduced me to many new things far beyond the shores of Lake Superior. You have a global perspective with a hometown feel. I think you touch many more souls than you’ll ever know.
Now go get those tax bills taken care of! 😉
John your 1 1/2 minutes will be finding you soon! I can guarantee it. 🙂
OK, you made my day. Truly. Original AND authentic! I am afraid you will find me awfully quiet and boring when you meet me in person some day. Ask Cindy Lou or Susan D. No, don’t ask Susan D because she and I can’t quit laughing when we’re together. I feel like writing down your words and putting them nearby and reading them throughout the day when needed. As for those tax bills…the repaired computer tower is now in the car. We’ll set it up this weekend and I had better get working on those bills because they are starting to pile up!!
I just got a card from L’Anse Township. Merry Christmas (and Happy Valentine’s Day), it has the school adjustment! OUCH!!!
See, you should have moved to Arvon Township, John. Our school millage is SO much less. 🙂
Kathy, I just want to say that I’m one of those many souls that John talks about….. and that I’m glad your computer is feeling so much better and will soon be ready to come back to work.
OH,I finally see the snow that everyone has been mentioning. How nice! I was beginning to think there was something wrong with my snow-vision.
Hope you and Barry have a lovely dinner tonight and a most wonderful weekend!
Colleen, actually I feel like printing both your comment and John’s comment and reading them every hour. Like a prescription medicine. “Read these comments six times a day for a week for optimal health.” LOL! I am glad you were able to see the snow. Barry and I had a lovely dinner and then I left him at the bball game so he could take pics and i could go on-line at the coffee shop. Hope you have a most wonderful weekend too!
Just another quick note….talking about recognition/fame and touching people’s lives. When I first found you and started reading your blog (and at the same time, after-the-fact, your 365 day blog) I kept getting the strongest sensation/image of your words flowing out into the world…..it was so clear and vivid. Quite startling, actually 🙂
That is a wonderful image, Colleen. Thank you.
Love the photo of the raven or crow as it flies from the tree–very moody and dramatic. Your photographs are always a delight to me!
Thanks, Lissa. I love that picture of the bird. I used this photo to say goodbye on the outdoor blog last year. I liked the way it looked moody and dramatic, too. Thanks again!
The worst part of laboring in obscurity is that my dogs are far more famous than I am. “Look!” people say, pointing and waving. “That’s Miss Sadie and the Cowboy!” Sheesh.
Gerry, I SWEAR I would recognize YOU before Miss Sadie and the Cowboy! I swear it! I remember them as charming dogs…but you are famous in my mind.
Glad your computer is fixed!! Luv ya! Dad
Dad, the computer is fixed, but (sniff!) the printer isn’t working yet. 😦 Love you too…
Kathy, I know your famous because I get to put my comment right after your dad’s comment. Your Dad’s Comment!:) How lovely!
I sometimes think that we miss or devalue the 5 minutes of fame that comes our way. I’m thinking recognition seems to come when we let it and when we notice. Maybe it starts from a heart place like you said Kathy but sometimes I see and hear people working so hard to ensure there is no joy or acknowledgement in their life. Someone says how nice they look and they reply “yeah, sure! I have had the flu for a week and this old thing? I should have gave to the thrift store years ago but I can’t afford another one….” and they keep going. Sometimes I can’t help myself. I reach out and gently touch them on the arm and whisper “just say thank you.” Great post as always. Terrill
Terrill, isn’t it sweet when Mom or Dad comments? 🙂
You have brought up some really good points. I think that this could be a blog in itself–how we sometimes devalue, push away, miss our moments of recogntion. For me, there’s a part of myself that says, “Don’t you dare call attention to yourself! Who do you think you are?” A part that wants me to remain invisible, unrecognized. I suspect we all have this part, don’t you? Thank you for these thoughtful points.
Congratulations! It was a great blog post and I am so glad for you that it was recognized as such. 🙂
Why thank you, Ms. Robin! It was a fun moment. My gosh, five minutes pass so quickly and then we’re back in the kitchen or doing laundry or getting ready for Christmas.
Congratulations, Kathy! Awesome! It WAS a great post!
Hello, Ms. Marianne! I appreciate your kind words. And am always grateful for you, too. 🙂
Whew – i’m glad I didn’t stop by yesterday when I would have gotten into a traffic jam for sure! I love that Cattail photo, Kathy. At first I thought it was a penguin – maybe a baby penguin hatching out of an egg. What do you think?
My goodness, Barb, you decided to wait for a much slower day indeed! I think it must be a baby penguin hatching out of an egg. You must be right. 🙂
Congratulations kathy! 🙂 you definitely deserve the fame for all your nobel thoughts, unique writing, beautiful pictures, creativity expressed that keep the readers glued to your blog. I mean it! And the best thing is that you “appreciate” that five minute fame, its a blessing! 🙂
Wow, you are so kind, Sonali! I appreciate YOU so much! And I mean that, truly.