602nd Friday Blog Roundup

I found Drake’s words on the Alton Sterling shooting incredibly touching: “No one begins their life as a hashtag. Yet the trend of being reduced to one continues.”  I want to cling to his hope because it feels like society is drowning right now.

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Truman is about the same.  He’s eating, but he’s losing weight.  He is very frail.  His hind legs are still paralyzed, so he’s sort of slithering around on his tummy, pulling himself with his front paws when he moves, which is not very often or very far.  He can’t really poop unless I massage his belly.  And, at the same time, he is still so Truman-y.  He wheeks the moment I come downstairs in the morning, and positions himself to watch my morning yoga.

I was positive last month that he would never bounce back from the head tilt illness; that we would lose him from that.  And he managed to pull through.  The vet told me to give it until Sunday night.  That if it’s an infection, we’ll see improvement by then.  So I’m hoping this is just another infection and we’ll see a change in the next few days.  Because I cannot contemplate the otherwise.

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Stop procrastinating.  Go make your backups.  Don’t have regrets.

Seriously.  Stop what you’re doing for a moment.  It will take you fifteen minutes, tops.  But you will have peace of mind for days and days.  It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments in order to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

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And now the blogs…

But first, second helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week.  In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• “Microblog Mondays: Something to Look Forward to” (My Path to Mommyhood)
• “A Life” (Stirrup Queens) — thank you, Cristy and Jess!
• “3 Things I Learned from the Adoption Process” (Lavender Luz)

Okay, now my choices this week.

My Path to Mommyhood has a post about the commentary people make at certain points in the family building process.  The “it’s too soon!” and “are you still trying that” comments.  Those types of words are salt in the wound of people who are already profoundly feeling the passing of time.  She explains, “When it came time to redo our homestudy, we found ourselves facing several comments, such as, ‘So you’re going to sign on for another year with this agency, huh?’ or ‘What’s causing the delay? Is there something they can tell you about why you’re not getting matched? Shouldn’t you be matched by now?’ or ‘How long are you going to do this?’”  It would be so simple for people to switch their words to ones of encouragement (as she points out in the post) vs. harping on the length of time.  It’s an important read.

The Road Less Travelled has a post marking 15 years of living childfree after infertility.  It’s a wonderful post unpacking her personal journey, but also looking at the greater world of resources out there for those walking the path.  It brings to light an important point about whether or not to add your voice to the blogging mix: The answer is “yes.”  If not to record your own journey for yourself, then to be there for everyone else who is in a place where they so desperately need to hear a “me, too.”

Anabegins cracked me up with the title of her post but kept me reading because it’s just a really good vent.  I love her opening: “Nothing like holidays to cause major FOMO when you weren’t actually invited to any parties, and the fireworks are just too late and too crowded and too loud and were desperately counting down the end of the excess family togetherness but also dreading another looming work day full of annoyances and insurmountable hurdles.”  Go over and give her a hug, and maybe add your own rant.  It feels good to get it out.

Lastly, Hope Floats Among the Cherry Blossoms has a post about a roll of wrapping paper that served as a trigger for her ex-husband’s infidelity.  She so beautifully reflects on where she has been: “My past felt so big and heavy.  I didn’t know what to do with it.”  It’s a post about the moments that continue to affect us long after they’re over.

The roundup to the Roundup: Drake’s words.  Truman update.  Your weekly backup nudge.  And lots of great posts to read.  So what did you find this week?  Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between July 1st and July 8th) and not the blog’s main url. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week?  Read the original open thread post here.