When I became Managing Editor for our local community online newspaper, I walked the entire 10 square kms of area our paper covered. I took photos to capture what I loved about my community, and the family connections going back to my grandmother buying their first home in Crown Point while my grandfather was serving overseas during World War II. There is a lot of family history just within these boundaries alone, not to mention Hamilton in general, including having lived in the area for most of my adult life now.
I never did anything with those photos. Well, I did create a banner that included some of them and I did publish an introductory article, but whether I got overwhelmed in the new role – taking on too much as always – or as is often the case, I simply didn’t know where to start so I never did.
Even as I think about this now, I don’t know where to start. What was my thought process then? What order was I going to do the parts? What did I want to say about my family’s history within the community, and what I cherished about it? What made it feel like home or heaven or all of the above? What are its perks, and what needs improved upon?
Then there is the question of whether I really need to go back and finish this. Is this just about finishing things that I start, or what is the real reason I have felt this need to go back and write the remaining parts?
I think it’s about the election that knocked me on my arse and inspired this blog. About finding community and peace and understanding. The story’s original theme was about remembering where you are from, in the search of who you are and what you want to be.
Either way, I’ll spend some time over the next couple of weeks thinking of this, looking for any materials I have related to this project, and determine what is next – if anything.