Hi, this is Patrick. Although that’s my first name, I chose “Odell” for my blog username several years ago. The name Odell is of English origin.
This blog is personal, as I know you can tell. A small business was run in parallel with my father’s golden years while he worked with me and my friends.
It is creepy, but the business is a cemetery he cares for. As one might say, having our own burial ground is preferable to having it managed by our municipality. Even at age 75, my father remains active in this business venture.
I had a few ideas for starting this blog over a decade ago, and I brainstormed with a few different approaches. My social life is very online (despite that), but long-form blogging adds to it. It is like a few onlookers have passed by each time I return.
With WordPress’s free training courses, I quickly got back into blogging and brushing up on poetry and photography.
I took a lot of Literature in high school, more than I needed, and I did a 101 in the English language in college, which provided the result of having identified that I could turn a phrase from time to time. It was a pleasure to study with my college professor, and she was an excellent instructor. I learned some valuable points from her during the short time I had access to her in the classroom.
The last time I saw Gerard, an old family friend, he told me I wasn’t a poet. However, I don’t really understand why I attracted that negativity from him.
I don’t strongly identify with being a poet. Perhaps I seem indifferent to him, not passionate, but I’m not indifferent.
I like rock lyrics. The National is a good band for rock lyrics if you want an example. The band has always been talented, and they make good music.
I wonder whereabouts they call home. For their current album, they dived into themes I hadn’t heard them explore before. The singer’s stage performance contains elements of performance art.
Another old band, The Hives, released a video about gravedigging and the undead last week. It is quirky and strange.
I did a lot of English literature in high school. Several years ago, I heard of Nashville writer Jeff Goins, who wrote a few books, including a bestseller called The Art of Work. This is a simple but moving book about how some people turn a passion for original work into success.
Ultimately, after success helping people turn pro with blogging, Mr. Goins withdrew from social media and retired. Nothing I saw indicated anything was wrong; I think he decided he had seen enough social media.
It’s kind of a funny word, eh, blog, four letters like “word” but a bit closer in pronunciation to the word “balloon.”
I participated in as much of Goins’ blog training as I could get for minimal costs. I know that if you don’t put money where your mouth is, it won’t be lucrative in the end.
For me, blogging isn’t going to work. Instead, it is a vanity project often recommended if you are doing entrepreneurial work. Having a blog with your business can make you more enviable and less likely to fail.
Social media is often a soft skills kind of thing. I usually observe Buddhist philosophy, never lie, cheat, or steal.
One time, some years ago, when I was exercising the guidance of more experienced people, I asked a few people in my life to recommend books for me to read. One of my mother’s cousins recommended Tom Wolfe’s book The Bonfire of the Vanities. I’d never watched the movie.
The book turned out to be extraordinary–it was the greatest book I’ve read in a long time. It’s a shame that I don’t read more novels. I like rock lyrics because they discharge the essence of poetry into something tangible and entertaining.
I posted slowly but with as much direction as I felt might be useful on a blog that has had the same design for a long time. I also had a theme, a word for a design that was consistent.
I’ve shown it to my girlfriend on a phone when the person sees it for the first time. I never thought many people I know would read it.
I have imagined search engines occasionally bringing it to the attention of someone in another part of the world. I know no shortage of shadowy people who desire positive energy and may see me radiating that at times.
I have occasionally referred to my dad’s cemetery in a way that indicates I’m a junior operator, which my dad understands. He initially encouraged me to help do a website for the cemetery outside of WordPress, and also a business page for the cemetery on Facebook:
I stopped short of actually building my blog and the page site for the cemetery as one because I didn’t want to invest time and money into a site that specifically highlighted my blog… because while I want to keep it clear what I’m doing if someone interested peruses it, I don’t want anyone to think it isn’t just a personal blog.
Facebook The Facebook page
What I’d like to assert here is that my dad and I, and our family and friends, have not changed our values. What I mean is that we have the same values now that we’ve always had.
Our core values are primarily to keep this cemetery well-maintained and honest, to assist with funeral arrangements, and to maintain our commitment to the cemetery. This is intended for people who have loved ones in the cemetery.
It’s pragmatism, I think. It is impossible for me not to be sympathetic but I don’t know what happens when someone passes away. We had one supporter, now deceased, Mrs. Marilyn Bowslaugh, who taught me, via Facebook, tips about how I should be representing us on Facebook, about religion and politics, primarily.
If I was wrong, she would let me know with the comment of a question mark, “?,” which was infrequent, but certainly effective, at letting me know when I was wrong.
Mission Statement, by Peter Coholan
1 Grave Ownership – All graves, both at-need and preneed, will be owned, ensuring burials will continue owned graves. Additional sales will take place in the existing space available. Priority will be given to families that currently own cemetery grave rights.
- Maintenance – The maintenance of the Maple Lawn Cemetery and Church grounds will continue to the standards established by the Board of Trustees. These standards Include but are not limited to the following activities: weekly cutting of the grass during the growing season, maintenance of the trees and shrubs, and snow removal as required in the winter.
- Comply with the Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Services Act regulations.
- Continue to maintain the church building with the funds available and explore activities conducted in the church that will complement and enhance the operation of the church and the cemetery.
- Keep the records of the cemetery safely and professionally.
- Comply with the Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Services Act regulations.
The Myth of the Independent Blogger and How I Learned to Love It 