An Open Invitation to My VOX Neighbourhood

Patricia V. Davis

Dear Neighbours:

Posting on VOX  has been such a  rewarding experience for me. I started this, my first blog, on the recommendation of my wonderful literary agent, who told me that blogging would be a great way to “build my visibility.”  But what started as a business action became an effort of love.  I’ve met so many remarkable individuals, through whom I’ve learned fascinating facts about the world.  It was an unexpected delight to find myself thinking about the people I write to and for every week, mulling over the every day events of their lives and learning about their part of the planet. Often, over dinner, when my husband and I first get a chance to chat after working in our perspective offices across the hall from one another each day, I tell him all about my new friends. The man in New Mexico who was first to say, “Welcome to VOX,”  the devoted father who calls himself after one of Michelangelo’s favourite expressions,  the brilliant young writer/construction worker, the wise, pretty woman in Canada who just got a new flat and posted it for all of us to see. Then there’s the  young mother in Orange County with the beautiful little daughter, the Australians who are celebrating the new start in their government, a lovely Brazilian who,though struggling with health issues, takes the time to reach out to others, a remarkable young woman who studies law, the funny, warm educator whose relatives steal her leftovers, the man from Cornwall who loves Greece as much as I do, the "Yankee" in the UK who met her husband the same intriguing way I met mine, the single parents who struggle on like heroes and write about their love for their children, artists, musicians, photographers, writers and…so many others.

It’s restored my faith in humanity to have firsthand proof that, way out far from my small spot on earth, there are so many people whom I’ve never met face-to-face, living constructive and noteworthy lives. Thanks to them and their writings on VOX, I now realise, with blessed relief, that the media’s dire predictions regarding our imminent destruction are likely exaggerated and generated to sell more newspapers.  I believe that the internet, though being used for all sorts of unsavoury purposes, will also accomplish something else, perhaps inadvertently. Perhaps it will save mankind. After all, how can any of us, from anywhere, desire to pick up guns and fight our friends, friends whom we’ve never met, but communicate with daily, no matter where in the world they might live?

Well, this week, I came up with yet another purpose for this blog. I’m extending an invitation to my new neighbours and friends to add, if you wish, your creative voices to my latest writing project. I’ve had an inspiration for a new work, based on some of the people I’ve met on VOX and a few experiences I’d had recently, for a novel this time. It’s less labour- intensive than my memoir has been  and its sequel is being and perhaps it'll be nothing more significant than a fun read. But to quote Nora Ephron, “fun is a much-underused word.”  So, I put this out to those who’d like to share their experiences with me, some of which I may adapt and utilise for this new project:

1) Have you ever experienced a very intense, unresolved love situation? A love that you wish you could revisit, just to tell the other person what you're still thinking, feeling? For example, do you have any grown children, a parent, or a sibling, perhaps, with whom you wish you had a closer or better  relationship? What about a former spouse or lover? A former friend? 

2) Have you ever felt the presence of, or do you believe in, ghosts, spirits? Do you have an experience you’d like to relate regarding these?

3) Have you or someone close to you, ever had a war experience? Particularly one that has to do with being on a ship or being a prisoner of war?

4) Have you ever met a person online, through a blog, chatroom or website, with whom you’ve become very close? (A non-romantic relationship, that is.)

Believe it or not, all of these situations will be part of my next story. I hope you’ll all participate and I look forward to hearing your responses!

Thank you in advance,
Patricia