“I’d never join a club that would allow a person like me to become a member.” – Woody Allen

By: Jana Greene

Hello, and welcome to my new blog, “So She Laughed Anyway.”

I here decree that this blog right here is being written for the sheer enjoyment. No agenda. No platform. Just a purging forth of thoughts from my very crowded, moderately chaotic head. It ain’t gonna be for everyone, but everyone is welcome to join me down the rabbit hole.

As you may know, I also write at TheBeggarsBakery.net. For six years, I have lovingly reared that blog. The main focus of my first blog is addiction recovery, as I am an alcoholic in recovery and recently celebrated 18 years of not drinking. The Beggar’s Bakery is still active, and it’s where I go to wax poetic and pen angsty posts. It’s my “epiphany” blog. There is much to be had there for spiritual encouragement, as it chronicles many facets of my faith and recovery. Like most endeavors, mistakes were made, but wondrous things came to pass as well.

The thing is … I’m not sure I would call the life stage I’m currently “enjoying” wondrous. Perhaps “survivable” is a better word. I’m in a different place than I was five years ago; a more self-aware, inclusive, and slightly jaded place. I’ve got several major chronic illnesses that manifest in painful and debilitating ways.

Over the past few years, I have also deconstructed my fundamentalist faith, and opened my mind to a Gospel I’d never known. The process has been challenging, maddening, eye-opening, and AMAZING. Deconstructing and deciding what you know to be true can be traumatic as well. Trauma is a thing I’ve known well since childhood.

What could be funny about alcoholism and shitty health? What’s knee-slapping about Trauma and its two ugly stepdaughters, Depression and Anxiety?

A LOT, as it turns out.

Maybe you are like me. I just turned 50, and I’m ready to settle into my ways and become a curmudgeon-ess. But you see, life keeps hurling new objects at me and most of them are hitting me upside the head. Get used to one thing, and BOOM! Time to get used to yet another “new normal.”

And maybe things in your life didn’t exactly turn out as you’d planned, even if you dotted all your “i”s and crossed all your “t”s. Maybe you took perfect care of your body, but in mid-life, the ‘ol earth suit is letting you down anyway. Maybe your kids are grown now and you find yourself sitting on the edge of your bed each morning asking yourself who the Hell you actually ARE. Maybe getting dressed for the day is a monumental accomplishment because you’re too sad to even wear clothes. Or maybe you drink wine by the box to keep from running away from your family (what, no? Perhaps that was just me then.)

So I’m staking my claim here on this little, tiny bit of real estate on the web. I’m thinking it will be a journal, more or less. Observations with snarkiness and observations of not-so-snarkiness. Some entries will cover heavy material, but I’m going to keep it as light as I can.

This blog, I think, will be far more “stream of consciousness” than taking myself too seriously.

And maybe – just maybe – this blog will help others know they are not alone, and initiate laughter into the Club that is made up of our coping mechanisms.

Welcome, the hurting and the hapless.

Welcome those who feel misunderstood.

Welcome to those who have had to learn that laughter truly is the best medicine.

Welcome the chronically ill and the chronically fed-up.

Welcome to ALL.

Please give this blog a follow. As always, I’m so grateful for your readership.