Finding My Niche in the Scrapbooking World by Thena Smith
Originally posted at thenasmith.blogspot.com - click here for a direct link
As a card carrying member of the AARP and a
baby boomer (give or take a few months) I am now trying to find my
place in the scrapworld. Only a very few of the magazines seem to
have a place for me. Those of us who are retired and empty nesters are
actually in a position to buy more things ...more disposable income
than we ever had before, but we are wiser in our buying and more
selective than we were before. We have been there and done that with
fills, fads and fanciful things are are interested in things that
reflect our values and remind us of home, hearth and family.
As I
look through magazines with "I Hope You Dance, Dream, Hope, Cherish and
Inspire. I have already danced, dreamed and had hopes realized and
dashed.
No one would be interested in my pages on " I Hope You Do the Mash Potato, Twist or Riverdance, My "Pieces of Me" page wouldn't go over too well with swollen ankles, wrinkled knees and double/triple chins... and my best swimsuit photos include a parasol and gingham checks... My missing tooth page would not be well received either.
Where once I would not post and submit a photo of my chubby little self, now as an empty nester with no grandkids, I find those photos, along with photos of hubby and scenic views of the area, make up the most of my photos. Will someone please find a place for people like me to share? Perhaps a senior section in your reader's gallery?
My cute kid photos were taken in the 60's, 70's and 80's with those tiny little cameras which produced the square photos with the nice white borders. I don't even want to mention all the backgrounds with Harvest Green and Autumn Gold or whatever it was. My kitchen photos included bright (you say guady) wallpaper and back then my slacks had a bell bottom (and I didn't).I am past the stage of doodling on my pages and I want albums that I will be able to lift and take with me to the old folks home.
I have so many memories and have learned so much. I have
shared these things on my journaling pages and submitted them in hopes
that someone would
consider them publish worthy, Fortunately, I can share some of these bits of 'wisdom' in my poetry.
I
enjoy the magazines and would love to be included more in them...but
for who I am now, not who I once was 40 years ago. I wish I didn't have
to borrow photos of other people's kids to get pages published. I know
other folks my age do the same thing.
Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to share our memories and record them for generations to come. But the modern world has offered us a way to share them in the printed media of scrapbook magazines and of course, it is more fun to gather and read them if we feel we might be able to have our page showcased in one.
So, I'm trying to find a niche where I can fit in, a place where I can share who I am and what I've learned and do it in the way that I will still be able to enjoy ten years from now.
Do you feel like you are in the same boat as Thena? Please share your comments!
