Hello. My name is Charna Blumberg and this is my new blog. Who am I and why am I writing a blog? Why not? Everyone else is writing one. But, seriously, I sometimes have things to say that take longer than a Facebook post. Several friends have encouraged me to expand on what I have written there, so I thought I'd give it a try. I will tell you a little about myself and then I will discuss my ideas for this blog.
Just the facts... I was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a small city right outside of Boston. I was an only child and was raised by my mother. My extended family included my maternal aunt and uncle and eight cousins. I attended the local public schools with most of the same kids from first grade through high school graduation. My friends and I walked to school, played at each other's houses and outside and knew everyone in our neighborhood. Parents and grandparents sat on the front stoops or watched from the window. We listened to any of the adults who were around and they all took responsibility to take care of us. It may not have been an upbringing rich in material things, but it was rich in a sense of family, community and security.
I moved on to college at Boston University and then graduate school brought me to The University of Texas. I must admit that it was quite a culture shock! Not only is everything bigger in Texas (really it is!) but I was moving in entirely new groups of people. I came to love it. The most important thing about my sojourn in Austin is that I met the man that I would marry, the incomparable Dan. We have been married for 29 years and have two children, Andrew and Elena. After moving from Austin to Dan's hometown of Arlington we built a busy life. Dan started a law practice, I taught Business Management at The University of Texas at Arlington, we joined a synagogue and raised our children.
Time moved on. Dan has a thriving practice and a law partner. Andrew is a lawyer in New York City. Elena is pursuing her interests in writing and teaching young children. And what about me? I volunteer teaching English as a Second Language, teach Hebrew at our temple's religious school and generally make a nuisance of myself.
What is interesting about me? Some would say nothing. (Actually, I doubt that. As I have been told, I may be many things but boring is not one of them.) This is how I describe myself on my Facebook profile: "I am intellectual, introspective and like to analyze things. I enjoy social situations, but at some point get tired of small talk. I really enjoy debating politics and things that matter." I consider myself a Renaissance woman. My interests are diverse. I like (in no particular order) English History, law, politics, most sports (especially baseball and football), science, theater, travel, reading (mostly non-fiction), cooking and interfaith dialogue in general and my Jewish faith in particular.. In many of these areas I am self-taught. I absorb knowledge like a sponge and enjoy sharing it.
Which brings me to the purpose of this blog. Just as most of you, I have thoughts and ideas on a wide variety of subjects. Sometimes I like to get them off my chest and writing is cathartic. This blog will be like America itself, a melting pot. A little bit of this, a little bit of that as the mood strikes. Why have I chosen to call this blog "You Wouldn't Believe Me If I Told You?" Several years ago, our family were discussing what we would call a book about our lives if we should write one. This is the title I came up with. My life is full of unique experiences and my head is full of unusual ideas. I promise that nothing I write will be fiction. But, I'm warning you, you may shake your head and say, "really?!" Enjoy the ride.
