To blog or not to blog? That is the question.

This blog began with the above question in a Facebook status update. Surprisingly quickly a number of my friends urged me to blog. As a professional writer, I have been leery of blogging as I felt my energies and precious little free time should be spent on things that might actually make me some much-needed money. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it might be perfect. I don't have time to research and write about anything but me, my family and cerebral palsy so freelancing seems like more trouble than it's worth. And even if I could get a column like the one I had before, there would be deadlines that my chaotic life might not allow for and word-count requirements that my stress level might not accommodate either. And who knows, maybe Google AdSense might actually get me some spending money.

So, to blog or not to blog?

Blog.

In fact, during one of my recent twilight sleep episodes (this is where one twin wakes me up very early in the morning and I hang out in the space between sleeping and waking for a few hours) I remembered that I had once memorized the "To be, or not to be" speech from Hamlet. No particular reason, I'm just pompous and weird like that.

I thought in my semi-conscious stupor I might be able to remember it, but alas, poor Yorick (whom Hamlet may or may not have known well, Shakespeare never actually said). Today, I looked it up and the words came rushing back, though with more meaning than I ever remember them having now that 10 years has passed. So — not that I'm feeling suicidal or anything — I think the speech might be a good way to kick off this endeavor. It's one of those things that everyone knows about but few actually take the time to look at. (I'll try to do it from memory and see how far I get before I fetch the book. Un-italicized words are the ones I forgot.):

To be, or not to be? That is the question.

Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer

the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

and by opposing end them. To die — to sleep —

no more; and by a sleep to say we end the

heartache of a thousand natural shocks

that flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation

devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep.

To sleep — perchance to dream; ay there's the rub! (How could I forget my favorite line?!)

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,

when we have shuffled off this mortal coil

must give us pause.