IWSG post & A TO Z REFLECTIONS_Goodbye

“Remember me and smile, 
for it is better to forget
 than to remember me and cry.”
 - Dr. Seuss





THE THRILL IS GONE

 At Least For The A To Z Challenge 

1.) THE LOSS OF THE LINKY SET-UP
In past years, I used to browse down the linky list 
and pick a name with which I was unfamiliar and visit a potential new friend.
All the Social Media hoop-jumping proved burdensome what with my blood courier schedule.

2.) CLINGING TO HOW IT WAS BUT IS NO LONGER
All the new cyber-friends I made in 2016's Challenge opted to stay out this year.
Many of my old cyber-friends left, too.
I wanted things to be as warm as I remembered with past Challenges. 
But clinging to memory does not make things better only cheapens the remembered good times.
It self-blinds and prevents you from experiencing the world in a real way.

3.) LIFE IS A HARSH MISTRESS
Like Hart Johnson, I simply did not have the available time to visit my fellow challengers. 
 It was not fair to them. And so I received fewer visits.

4.) IT HAS STOPPED BEING FUN
All the changes, all the absent friends (both old and new) took the zing out of the Challenge for me this year.
Perhaps I am supposed to be somewhere else next year. 
 Even more importantly, perhaps someone else is needed in my spot next year. 

"When I am alone,  I sit and dream
And when I dream,  the words are missing."  - Sarah Brightman
DID YOU PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR?
IF SO, DID YOU ENJOY IT  AS MUCH AS LAST YEAR?
WILL YOU PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR?