I have been thinking about writing a blog for some time now. I was telling a co-worker about it when he said, “Friday.”

I paused in mid-sentence and looked at him quizzically. “I’ll give you until Friday to complete your first blog”, he continued. “Today is Monday so you have a couple days to complete the assignment.”

Hmm, a sign if there ever was one. Time to start. Thanks for the nudge, Alex (maybe more like a cosmic push?)

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melinda. At this writing I am 65 years of age. Not that it matters, but it does tell you I’ve been around the block a couple times. After all, life experience might lend some credibility to my blog, right?  

So why a blog?

It all started with John, Chris, Paul, and Abby.  I wanted to be like them.  And then there was this other message to ‘be the light.’

Who? What?

First, there is John Boy Walton of ‘The Waltons’ TV show, you know, the earnest and honest young writer who penned all those marvelous stories about his family and everyday life during the depression.  He always wanted to be published and he constantly worked to perfect his writing with just the right words and imagery to bring his printed-page characters to life. He succeeded.

Second, is Chris Stevens, the character from the TV show ‘Northern Exposure’ whose contemplative musings and psychological ramblings held his radio audience captive with both hmmm or ah-ha moments along with some laughter and adventure.   

Next, there is the real-life Paul Harvey whose melodramatic stories and sonorous voice kept radio audiences glued to their seats until they heard the very last word of ‘the rest of the story’ for which he is remembered. Mike Rowe of ‘Dirty Jobs’ TV show fame commented that he missed a couple of airplane flights all because he was listening to Paul Harvey on the car radio while on his way to the airport. He couldn’t leave the car because, after all, Paul Harvey hadn’t finished telling the ‘rest of the story.’

And then there is ‘Dear Abby.’ Who doesn’t know of her straight forward, sage advice column that has been around for decades? Her name is synonymous with helping and understanding.

And the light part, well, to make a long story short, I really hope to help make the world a little better by sharing stories and writing about people and things that make a difference in life; shining some light.

So there you have it, the origin and intro to the MJCPA (Melinda, John, Chris, Paul, Abby) Writes blog, hereby known as melindagroholwriter.com. Like those I have described above, I have to follow my passions; the passion that calls me to write, the passion that calls me to be expressive, and the passion that calls me to be helpful. I have lots to share and you never know what you will find on my blog — yarn-spins, real stories, laughter, photos, art, philosophy, much miscellany, and maybe a bit of wisdom.

My friends, you are hereby invited to subscribe to my weekly blog, melindagroholwriter.com, and to stay tuned for the rest of the story!                                               

This is Melinda Grohol signing off and saying, Good day!