I Gave Birth In My 60's

Settle down, folks, and let me explain. My blog platform often sends me tips on improving my site traffic. Apparently, they want me to hit the double digit mark. One suggestion is to create catchier titles for my posts. I couldn't resist creating a title that met the "gotta-find-out-more" requirements of a click bait post.

It is evident to me that there are three primary techniques for snagging a reader. The first technique is the "Edvard Munch" method. Edvard is the artist who created the renowned painting entitled Scream. YouTube vloggers love this technique. They clutch their faces as if their world is coming to an end and write snappy titles like, "I was chased by a rabid prairie dog and survived." or "Van life has become dangerous in the Yukon Territory." As someone who is afraid of my own shadow, it is probably best if I avoid writing about fearful moments. I am prone to nightmares.

The second category is the "I Never Pay Attention" method. Thumbnail titles in this group usually include the words "No one ever told me..." A few examples are "No one ever told me my sourdough starter would look like this..." or "Secrets about getting rich that no one ever tells you about..." Really? You never knew a sourdough starter could look like wallpaper paste? Are you sure you didn't know that it is wise to save more money than you spend when it comes to financial planning? I am the queen of not paying attention but I would rather fight that battle on my own. Pretending that unawareness is breaking news seems a bit cheesy to me.

The final category is the "Shocking Dissonance" technique. Examples in this group are "I am 105 years old and still hike the Grand Canyon, Rim to Rim." or "I feed a family of six on two dollars a day." Clicking on these posts can lead to a discovery of the full truth. Great grandma could be sitting on a Peleton bike watching a video of the Grand Canyon. Ms. Frugal Mom might be serving broth, foraged mushrooms and a package of day-old buns on Tuesdays. The sky is the limit in this category.

Which brings me to the title of this post. It is definitely in the third category. Obviously, I am too old for such baby nonsense but I do feel a bit like I gave birth this year. My four sisters and I wrote a memoir about growing up on our family's farm. Memories tend to dim over time so it took a few brain cells to complete the project. The collaborative process also came with a learning curve. Fortunately, no sister was harmed in the process. It may never be a bestseller but a new mom is always proud of her baby.