Just beginning

Hello, friends and family and whoever else is reading this blog.

The fact that I even considered writing a blog amazes me. The fact of the matter is, I am shy.  Or more accurately, I don't like to draw attention to myself. It makes me feel uncomfortable.  This is something I need to overcome, as I want to write. There are many stories I want to tell. About myself, my family and my life experiences as well as stories I've been writing in my head for years.  So, here's to breaking out of my self-imposes limits and sharing a bit of myself with the world. 

I want to thank my daughter Arianna for designing my blog. She took away my last excuse by offering to make this blogspot site for me.  As for my blogspot name--most of the good ones are already taken.  Who knew there were so many Helene's out there.  I had always felt like I was in pretty exclusive territory with my name. Other than some Queen Helene hair products and seeing some french Helene's names in the news (who don't really count because they pronounce their name like it Ellen) I had never met another woman in real life with my same name.  Until this past October.  One of the other mothers from my son's school is named Helene (she hates being called Helen too).  With the paucity of Helene's out there, I naturally assumed I could have my blogspot be something simple, like 'helene' or 'helenekb'--both taken already.  I tried a few more pretentious ones--'helene's profound thoughts'--it was available but really, who would want to read that?  So, with just a moment's reflection I settled on 'justhelene.'  

The beauty of this one is the double entendre, totally accidental, I might add.  Just Helene or Just Helene. Am I just? I sure hope so, it being one of the godly virtues I aspire to.  It is not the only one. I also aspire to kindness, compassion, faith, knowledge, wisdom sprinkled with generous helping of good humor. But I am also just me, just a person like all of you.  Nothing special, or rather, special like all of you, just in my own way. 

As for blog title--'Beyond the Clouds'--I readily admit that it is a bit pretentious. But, for reasons very personal to me, it is sort of my philosophy on life.  What that philosophy is and what the story behind it I will leave for another day.