Be forewarned, this isn’t going to be a “typical” blog posting, but more of an introspective one as we near the end of the year.
You know that old stereotypical (and horrified) statement you often hear in women…“oh my god, I’m becoming my mother”? Well I have a slightly different twist on it.
As I started to explore the world of social media – tweeting, blogging, being on Facebook (particularly the blogging) I thought to myself “oh my god, I’m becoming my father” – Robert (Bob) Sauvé. He has been dead for almost 5 years now, but he used to be a very active “letter to the editor” writer and commenter on various columns in the newspaper (in particular Barbara Kay’s column in the National Post). I have to admit, I never really understood his strong desire to express his opinion, and hopefully “be heard”. I’m sure that at times I cringed knowing he was doing this – and that readers may connect us – but there he was…a trend-setter ahead of his time in the world of self-expression.
When my dad died, Barbara Kay wrote a wonderful article in his honour, saying he was the best reader a columnist could have. Through his interest in her column, and the comments he sent her, he developed a relationship with her that was valued, to the point that she honoured him with this tribute. Fast-forward to today and you’ve got the makings of the kind of relationship that many seek to cultivate in the world of social media.
It’s too bad my dad died when he did – just as the world of self expression online was exploding. He’d have been in his glory today. (Although Twitter wouldn’t have been this thing, as 140 characters would have been way too short for him! And I don’t think he’d have had the time of day for Facebook, as he wouldn’t have seen that as intellectually stimulating enough!) My guess is that he would have become a blogger. As a self-proclaimed curmudgeon, a blog would have given him an ideal platform for sharing his views and engaging in “conversation” (and much-loved debate) with anyone who would be interested. And I’m sure he’d have been a regular commentator on many other blogs.
Something also tells me he would have gotten a chuckle about me becoming a blogger, although he would probably think that my subject matter was not meaty enough as it didn’t relate to politics, ethics and other “intellectual” matters of the world. But I’d probably get the nod for “becoming a blogger”. When I write my blog I often think of him and how he would have been in his glory had he been alive today – blogging away to his heart’s content. I guess I’ve become my father in some ways. And with that I say “dad, this blog’s for you”!