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289th Friday Blog Roundup

I am quickly approaching the 300th Friday Blog Roundup and I am mulling over what I can do to mark the occasion.  As long as I write one weekly for the next 11 weeks, the 300th Roundup should fall on August 6th, the weekend of BlogHer.  I’d prefer to do something online rather than at BlogHer so all can participate.  But what?

A retrospective of all 1200+ featured posts?  The Roundup in video form (with others including videos showing where they write their blog)?  The 300th Roundup sung to the tune of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (I had to pick a long song since the Roundup tends to run a little long…).

Ideas?

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Today also marks the start of May’s IComLeavWe, another community project.  The list will officially close tonight around 11 p.m. EST (please forgive me if I’m slow with adding people today–I will have you up on the list if you’ve registered on time and started commenting today).

I say this almost every month at the end of the project: “IComLeavWe is about honing your own skill in writing comments, in reaching out, in attempting  to understand a blog very different from your own.”  Hopefully, there is the added bonus of receiving comments and adding new readers.  But at its heart, IComLeavWe is about being an altruistic member of a community.

That thought makes me smile.

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The Weekly What If: What if you could stop aging at one point and continue for the remaining years of your life at that age (in other words, if you chose to stop aging at 20, you would remain 20, living those college years, but you would do so for another 60 years before dying as a 20 year old).  Everyone around you would remain their same age as well (in other words, you could keep your family and friends in the same time frame).  What year would you choose and why?

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And now, the blogs…

Him + Me has a post about the world that opens up when you give up hope.  It’s about allowing yourself to feel upset, but looking at the month with a different perspective.  I thought it was a really interesting way of approaching each cycle.

The Shifty Shadow has a moving post to her daughter on what should have been her fourth birthday.  She apologizes to her daughter for having other losses remembered on her birthday too and writes, “That your death becomes more than your death, it becomes a symbol for all the little deaths, and eventually, the death of hope.”  You will not be able to read this post without crying for a girl who should be here right now.

The Infertility Doula has a post up about a new TLC show called “Pregnant at 70.”  She admits, “Before watching the show, I had a pretty good idea about what I might want to say, but now, I’m really torn.”  An interesting discussion is starting in the comment section–go jump in with your thoughts.

Allison’s Wonderland has a post about how her family is reacting to news of her upcoming IUI.  It’s a really funny, sweet post and she admits, “after a good bout of heebie-jeebies, I can say that I am sincerely touched. This wanting a child thing extends beyond me.”

Kir’s Corner has a post that will send chills down both arms as you read the story.  It’s a beautiful story of how sometimes the right person comes to you at the right time.

Lastly, Do Without Doing has a post about learning to enjoy the journey rather than looking behind or ahead.  Returning to the theme of giving up hope explored on Him + Me, this post is literally about not trying to force life.  In moving with the flow.  In soaking up the moment.  It is a lovely reminder of not missing out on what is happening right now because we’ll forget so much of it years from now.

The roundup to the Roundup: the 300th Roundup is soon approaching.  IComLeavWe kicks off today.  Answer the Weekly What If.  And lots of great posts to read.

19 comments

1 Heather { 05.21.10 at 8:27 am }

I don’t think I’ve reached an age where I would say ” I want to stay here forever.” I kind of like the idea of growing “up”—and older.

Of course, I may not feel that way next week, but…. 🙂

2 susy { 05.21.10 at 8:54 am }

Hm.. I don’t know if I’ve reached the age I’d like to live forever, but if for some reason age just happen to freeze right now, I’d be totally ok with it. Or even for my next birthday to make it an even 30. As much as I may vent on the blog, things are pretty good right now. And it makes me happy.

As for the 300th Roundup – who can turn away a rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody”? Or you can try out “Free Bird” which is also long and rocks. But honestly, a Vlog wld be so cool to put together! Just b/c it coincides with BlogHer and not all of us go there to ‘meet’ so maybe a video type or pictures can help put faces or workspaces to the blogs??

Off to read the blogs you shared today!

3 Marisa { 05.21.10 at 9:05 am }

I have to agree – the Roundup sung to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ would be fascinating!!!

Not sure how to answer the age question… I’m enjoying my 30s more than my 20s so who’s to say that my 40s or 50s or 60s won’t be even better….. Hmmmmmm…..

Happy ICLW!

4 Kristin { 05.21.10 at 9:16 am }

Hmmmm, I can’t imagine not aging. Could I trade that for getting my body to remain at one weight? If so, I want the body I had at the end of the summer of ’91

5 Kir { 05.21.10 at 9:22 am }

OMG, I made the roundup…first time in years…wait until you see my Perfect Moment Monday..I already wrote it yesterday(LOL) but you’ll see why this means sooooo much to me. 🙂

if I could be any age, I would choose to be this one..here at 40, John at 43 and the boys at 2…(Um, maybe rethink this…GIGGLES) but yes, I like being here, my friends here, my life here. As much as I liked my 20’s and 30’s I wasn’t complete, not yet, I wasn’t Me…yet. I feel like I am now. I agree with Kristin too, the weight thing would be great….my weight at 21 and my life at 40. LOL

300???? wow, Mel. You’re soooo amazing. I love and am so proud to know you…for 4 yrs…My internet hero. 🙂

6 Marla { 05.21.10 at 9:59 am }

I’ve been participating in ICLW off and on for quite some time now, and I just realized that I’ve never left you, the founder and organizer, a comment. How rude of me! Thanks for putting this all together, plus thanks for everything you do for us infertiles. You’re the best! Seriously!

7 Kris { 05.21.10 at 12:58 pm }

What an interesting thing to ponder. At every phase in my life so far, there have been times I’ve really enjoyed and also periods of immense challenge. Without those highs and lows, I wouldn’t grow (emotionally and/or psychologically) and I want to be a lifelong learner! In order to do that, I think we have to continue with the life experience, which means plowing ahead with life. The only reason I can think I’d ever want to freeze-frame my world would be to keep those that we love with us forever. Watching your parents get older is the pits…

BTW…Love the ICLW! It’s my first and I’m having a blast. Thanks for all your work!

ICLW#158

8 Half of a Duo, Raising a Duo { 05.21.10 at 1:46 pm }

What if? Someone’s blog featured above mentioned the Pregnant at 70 TLC program. I watched it, riveted.

What if I were 18 again and had a working and functional body?

That’s what I want to be. 18 secure in my fertility so I would have never had to depend on someone else, or their pain, to carry my twin boys so I could become a mother.

Not because I was young and with no age lines and a perfecto body. But because it was the last time I was able to carry to term a child of my own, using my own eggs.

I am blessed beyond blessed with my boys but at the expense of someone else’s pain during pregnancy, delivery and also, because she is the biological mother of my children. It haunts me. I adore my Duo, but at the expense of someone else’s pain, really bothers me and has always bothered me about alternative family building whether it be adoption, or traditional surrogacy, like my sons are borne via.

9 Allison { 05.21.10 at 1:53 pm }

Based on what I’ve lived so far, I’d stop it here. At age 30. Though it’s been a tough year in some respects, it’s also been the year I’ve felt closest to my husband; the most love from my family; the happiest I’ve ever been at work. I’m still missing the “being a mom” part of me, but with everything else…. I guess if I had to stop aging, it would be here. But I’m happy that I can’t stop aging, because for the first time EVER, I’m truly looking forward to the future as a way to add to this joy, instead of waiting for “the future” to get here so I can get out of a craptastic time.

And **BLUSH** thanks for the shout-out! Uber-flattered!!

10 niki { 05.21.10 at 2:30 pm }

That is a great question. I think I pick the age I am at now, 27. I am adult enough to be responsible yet young enough to still be silly and party. Plus my youngest sister is now 21 so she can come out too.
Thank you so much for bringing everyone together. You are amazing.

Happy ICLW (#64)

11 HollyT { 05.21.10 at 3:43 pm }

This is my first month doing ICLW. I’m really excited to broaden my blogging horizons. I participated in the What IF project and I found a lot of new and very cool blogs that I now regularly read. Thank you for that opportunity and for this.

Now to the question. I dread my birthday every year for the simple fact that each year I think that’s the best age ever. With the exception of the age of 15 (my worst year ever), every year I want to stay the same age. At 16, I wanted to remain 16; at 19, I wanted to stay 19; at 21, I wanted to stay 21; and so on and so on. You get the picture.

So I guess I choose every age, which in the end is good, and kind of symbolic. It means we’re meant to continuously evolve and get wiser.

Of course, if the question was if you could keep the same body from any age, my answer would definitely change.

12 j { 05.21.10 at 4:06 pm }

I loved my early 20’s. If only I could have the knowledge I have now then though, it would be perfect. =)

13 Jen { 05.21.10 at 5:33 pm }

What a great question! I don’t think I would like to stay at any age. Of course at the time I always think that it can’t get any better than this and then it does. I would feel like I was missing out on way too much stuff if I stayed one age.

Thanks for all you do…I am new to blogging and love that you coordinate everyone!

14 Rach { 05.21.10 at 8:50 pm }

Hmm there is no age that I’ve passed that I would want to remain at forever and as I can’t see into the future, I don’t know if there is an age that I’m going to reach where I’d want to stay at forever…..good question tho!

Happy ICLW!!
#40

15 V { 05.21.10 at 9:19 pm }

I would stay at age 37. I had Lu and my grandmother was still alive. I like the person I have become, and I am truly thankful for the wonderful gift of my little girl.

16 Tio { 05.21.10 at 10:48 pm }

I wouldn’t want to miss out on any stages of my life. If I could choose to freeze my ageing I think I’d wait until I was retired. That way I would still have experienced all the stages of life, my children (hopefully) would be grown, and I could continue to live whatever life my husband and I wanted to without the fear of becoming physically or cognitively too frail to enjoy it.

17 Evie { 05.22.10 at 2:19 pm }

Thanks for all that you do and for creating all these amazing connections!

If I could freeze my age I think I would be forever 28, but I would want to know what I know now, so that may be cheating. 🙂

18 Sara Jean { 05.22.10 at 2:52 pm }

I don’t think I would…I am too excited to see if I can be one of those 40 year old women who get the college guys to turn their heads!

19 Julie { 05.22.10 at 4:19 pm }

What a great question. When I was a kid, I thought that 24 was the perfect age. By 24, I just knew I was going to be married, have a baby, and a job that I loved. I think I’d like to be 24, so I would always feel successful by having things done by 24!

Thanks for organizing ICLW. It’s fun!
(#83)

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