A Blog is Worth a Thousand Words
by Gary Moos (Julie's husband and Colter's Dad)
I just got home from a six-day business trip to New Orleans, where we worked long hours to produce three live, educational videos for physicians. I won't play the sympathy-seeking victim. I won't lie and claim that my co-workers went out to party, while I stayed back at the hotel pining over Julie and Colter, hundreds of miles away.
Actually, I enjoyed the trip very much. I explored new terrain, discovering some of the most incredibly wonderful foods to ever grace this planet. In fact, according to the restaurant where we ate our traditional "last night dinner," it was the training ground for at least 20 internationally-reknowned chefs, including Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme. But between the last-minute surprises threatening to ruin our shows, and the 6 a.m. wake-up calls, I missed my family acutely.
After an uneventful return flight, I met Julie in St. Pete to pick up Colter at work and take him home. Upon my arrival we hugged and kissed, lots of hugging and kissing. And then Julie wanted to talk, to get me up to date on Colter's week, all the stuff that you just don't find time to talk about in depth on the phone. She started to report the events of the preceding week, when she stopped and said “well you can read about it on the blog."
I instantly knew that she was right. That reading her blog would be like talking with her. She would be honest and thorough, expressing humorous commentary as well as her deepest feelings, and she would answer most of my questions before I had time to ask. Reading her blog not only helped me catch up on Colter's (and Julie's) week but it made me feel closer to them, and like so many of her readers, it made me applaud.
Reading her blog gives me perspective, it helps me see that which is hidden to me when I'm too close to a particular subject. Unlike talking with her, in her blog she can state her case, or pour out her feelings, without being interrupted by the constant refrain of "Mom can I ________?" (Fill in the blank.)
Reading your comments helps me to continually reaffirm that I am blessed beyond words with a sensitive, smart, fun-loving boy, and a kind, thoughtful wife.
Thank you all for your continual support.
This post reminds me so much of my husband and how he is able to say the kindest things about me or to me when the words are so simple, never trying to be bigger than the truth. No matter how simple, the words are so sweet and the meaning behind them even sweeter. How wonderful that you have a husband who cares enough to post this!!!
Posted by: Kristi | May 21, 2004 at 12:28 PM
hehe my bf and I also do the "read my blog" if we're posted something that we haven't told the other yet. ;)
And that was very sweet of your hubby to post. You have one great family. :D
Posted by: heather | May 20, 2004 at 10:18 PM
Nice post Gary! It's always good for the wife to know she is missed and appreciated. Rich usually tells OTHER people that I am a good wife and mother. I always plead with him, "Why can't you tell ME??" He replies, "I just did."
I will take it any way I can get it I guess.
I love Julie's blog too. She does tell it like it is with a fantastic sense of humor.
Posted by: Robin | May 20, 2004 at 09:00 PM
stopped by to visit and wanted to say: wow . . . such a lovely family . . . such a lovely post by your hubby . . . thanks for the affirmation of goodness and love-in-motion :)
Posted by: Katherine | May 20, 2004 at 08:17 PM
Oh, My Maude. What a lovely post, what a wonderful, affirming thing you have done with this post. Just. Wow.
Posted by: Kelly | May 20, 2004 at 08:07 PM
All I can say WOW! Julie- you definitely got a good one (and vice-versa):)
Posted by: Helene | May 20, 2004 at 01:05 PM
Gary, thanks for that. You're right - blogs are a strange but wonderful way for family members to stay up to date on one another. My moms learned more about my childhood from reading my blog than she ever knew when I was growing up.
Posted by: The Zero Boss | May 20, 2004 at 11:30 AM
How sweet! :)
Posted by: Hope Wilbanks | May 20, 2004 at 10:51 AM
Great post, Gary.
I think the little moments of pure contentment are my re-affirmations. When we're sitting on the patio eating ice pops, or hanging out on Sunday mornings in our jammies, or having a water gun fight in the back yard. or going for a walk on the beach as the sun's going down. Sharing a meal, sharing a laugh, those things make me really count my blessings.
Posted by: terrilynn | May 20, 2004 at 10:45 AM
How NICE!<---YOU wrote that! Me-thinks you are all 3 blessed an "we" the readers filled with possibilities, from another place. {jealous me sometimes}
Posted by: Sallie | May 20, 2004 at 10:09 AM