I received this beautiful award from my favorite blogger Big Little Wolf at her Daily Plate of Crazy! This humbles and delights me for so many reasons.
If you write it, they will come, is a saying I use when I think of blogging in general. I don’t know if it is true, but it seems that the most successful bloggers write something every single day. In particular, this truth applies to my own blog. My stats go way up when I write. When I don’t write, well, the stats reflect my absence by reporting an absence of visitors to my blog. It’s the reality of blogging, but as every blogger knows, the writing is the easy part. Assuming the writing is decent, all other things being equal, what makes or breaks a blog is visitors who comment. Well, that is, if you are actually writing for an audience instead of talking to yourself online.
I’m not really much of a blogger. I admit it. No, that’s not a self-effacing comment, it really is true. I don’t know a thing about SEO, I don’t pay attention to optimizing my posts, my titles or my subtitles. I don’t even write daily, and there are many, many people out there who write far better than I do. I can take it. It’s the truth. It doesn’t mean I’m a poor writer (though, I’m definitely sloppy at times), but I have no grand illusions about my ability. As for the blogging end of it, I neither have time and knowledge (yet) to do what it takes to drive traffic to my blog in big numbers. Because of all this, it is especially rewarding when someone comments on my blog about something that resonated with them. It is even more gratifying when I get a blog award from someone who enjoys what I write. It is completely humbling to receive an award from someone I admire so much.
So, Big Little Wolf, thank you so much for the award. It means a great deal to me to even be read by you let alone considered a Beautiful Blogger! I’m incredibly pleased and humbled. You are, to me, one of the most beautiful people I know. So, again, thank-you.
Now, as for who to pass this award on to? That’s going to take some time and thought. There are so many beautiful bloggers out there to choose from!
Oh, my! ‘Tis the 
It is tough being female, over 40 and single in our youth oriented culture, even if you look great. If you look good, or average or worse than average (however you would define that and most women are much harder on themselves than they ought to be) things get tougher, that is, if male companionship of a physical nature matters to them. It is tougher being female, over 40, single and wanting to experience a fantastic relationship someday before you die…or before you check in at the retirement home. There’s just so much of life to share with another person and having another adult around, if the relationship is healthy,it is energizing and motivating. Two people in a good relationship with each other can provide strength, encouragement, affection, intimacy. They can spot each other when one needs a break or is facing stresses. They can encourage each other to be better than either of them could be alone. They can challenge each other toward optimum growth in all areas of life. They can be there to stave off loneliness and support each other during the rough spots of life. They can build something together that is bigger than the both of them. Something that connects to the people and world around them and which makes a positive difference to all. This experience, while rare, is still a good thing. But how does it happen? For the woman suddenly single in her mid-40’s, the struggle with self-esteem issues that naturally accompany divorce can be exacerbated by the fact that if her 40’s are nearly over her opportunities for love seem to be diminishing and the rumor is, well, 50 is a big number. Besides, when a man of the same age can effectively court, woo, seduce or whatever a woman half his age and many of them do, how’s she to feel about what she’s got to bring to the table? Likely she’s got kids, responsibilities, a house payment, yard work, laundry and a job. Sadly in our culture the chipped nails due to weeding and the dry, cracked dishwasher hands just don’t shout “Hottie!” to most passersby. Younger women often come with half this amount of “baggage” and much tighter firmer (or, at least smaller) bottoms too boot. 
In our youth oriented culture, we worship the exterior. This leads us to assess each other on the external factors in our lives. We consider the quality of the cars we drive, the addresses of our homes, how neatly manicured the lawns are and whether or not the person has good job. Others even make assessments based on what kind of job the person has. While we are greatly privileged with many choices in this country and the ability to chose possessions that we like and which reflect our perceptions of ourselves, does this mean that in every case the vehicle reflects the person? Does this mean in every case that the job reflects the woman or man? Does this mean that I am somehow inadequate, because my yard is not perfectly edged and my walkway needs repair? Am I my job? Am I my wardrobe?
I mean, really. Let’s think about that logic. If physical beauty were the pre-requisite for an incredibly mind-blowing sexual experience then how come people don’t just jump into the sack on this basis alone. (Well, okay, maybe some do, but for the rest of us?) On the other hand, being attracted to someone is important too because there is that thing we like to refer to as “chemistry”. It doesn’t make sense. Just look around. We see couples every day in our daily pass through this life that are not extraordinarily good looking but who enjoy a good connection with a partner. 
Regarding my friend, 
The Wild Mind 