Everyone’s Invited

I’ve a New Home on the Web

Gail Boenning
Startups & Venture Capital

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Author’s Photo: Goldenrod Crab Spider

First, “I dive at him, next I wrap him up. Now I knock him out and drink his blood.” ~Charlotte A. Cavatica

In one of my all-time, favorite books — Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, Charlotte and the runty pig Wilbur have a discussion about the ethics of Charlotte’s trapping and killing of bugs. As their conversation begins, Wilbur believes the act is a bit cruel, but openly listens and allows Charlotte to make her case.

I’m not delivered a bucket of slops each morning. I’m a free agent who must independently make my own way. And — without spiders like me, there’d be a gazillion bugs in the world. Wouldn’t that be unpleasant?

Wilbur finds he really cannot argue against Charlotte’s logical reasoning.

Wilbur might be SOME PIG, but truth be told, Charlotte has always been my favorite character in the story. I fancy following in her eight legged foot steps — an observer of life’s connections, who ponders the questions of who, when, where, why, and how?

How can I be like Charlotte?

Can it be through weaving words into stories that dive at readers, and wrap them up? I’ll willingly refrain from the business of knocking out and drinking blood. I’d like to keep readers alive and consuming what I have to offer.

Sound the trumpets! I’ve an announcement.

After securing gailboenning.com almost a year ago, I hemmed and hawed and wrung my hands. Throughout the duration I continued to write, continued to learn, and continued to grow. Because of support from you, you and you along the way, I’ve decided it’s time to stop playing small and expand to a website of my own, which links directly to my blog here. Although I continue to feel like I’m Moving Forward, Walking Backwards, I realize — that’s the way explorers do things.

There is not one single thing about my writing journey that has been scripted. I tripped onto Medium while looking for something else, but like a sticky web, this place grabbed hold of me and refused to let go.

Charlotte, Wilbur, and a lifetime of stories and characters whisper in my ears, We’ve trained you — you can do this. Weave your words and draw them in. You’re not an imposter — you’re simply unconventional. Unconventional translates into unique strengths.

The business of telling stories certainly hinges on words, but beyond that, it’s about connecting you and me through experiences great and small. Stories help us to see our similarities and understand our differences. I can’t think of any greater cause for my efforts — connection, great and small.

So, without further adieu, I’ll ask you to visit my spot on the web. If your inbox can bear another random newsletter, please sign up for my email list. If you do, I’ll be coaxed to actually start writing them — incentive to keep me moving forward.

I thank each and every reader for helping me build my confidence — confidence to carry on the winding road ahead.

My storyteller’s website was a collaborative effort with Michael Ramsburg. Michael was among my first connections on Medium. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of my writing efforts and without him, I’d still be wringing my hands. Not only does he deserve credit for being a Class A encourager, he is also the creative and coding mind behind the site. He’s held my hand every step of the way over the past year, patiently waiting for me to find belief in myself.

He’s captured my personality with the site, supporting the use of my favorite photos, words and ideas. He assures me the site’s meant to be a work in progress as I continue moving forward, while walking backwards.

Thank you Michael!

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