New Guy on the Blog: First-time jitters

By Reece Murphy

Reece Murphy

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Hi folks, my name is Reece Murphy. I'm the new guy down at team Carolina Gateway. And I've already got a problem.
Here it is, Saturday morning, about 12 hours or so after deadline, and I've got to write a blog.
I've never written a blog.
When my editor Jane Alford approached me with the proposition earlier in the week, I was eager.
"Sure, I'd love to write a blog," I told her, brimming with confidence. After all, I  am writer, right?
"So, what do you want me to write about?"
She wasn't very helpful.
"I don't know, I've got to write one myself and I'm thinking the same thing."
It was then, despite the fact that I read several blogs a day, despite my years as a journalist, that I still wasn't exactly sure HOW to blog.
"Well, I was thinking about writing a 'new-guy' article," I told her.
"That sounds good."
"But ..."
"Just write," she said adopting the Zen-master tone I take is her way of inspiring her writers.
"Let the words flow from the soul. See the world with your third eye. Feel it. Smell it. Hear it. Taste it. Be the blog."
OK, I made that last stuff up, but it sounded inspiring, didn't it?
"You can write it like a column, or you can bullet point it in small sections, kind of like random thoughts," Jane said. "Whatever you want to do."
And so, here I am.
I need coffee.

How about this for a random thought: Why is it that coffee almost never tastes like it smells?
This is a serious question for me, being the unrepentant coffee addict that I am.
I had just such an experience only once in my life, years ago at a greasy-spoon off I-95 in Florida.
The bacon was rancid, my feather and cheese omelet was runny and the waitress was a bit too heavy on the "honeys" and "babys." But the coffee ... that glorious cup of coffee, was sublime.
I'll never forget it. I've been chasing that holy grail of coffee ever since.
If anyone knows where I can find a cup of coffee like that around here, or better yet, can tell me how to make it myself, please, I beg of you, let me know.

Now for the 'new-guy' stuff.
The last two months have been a season of change for me, so there's a lot of new-guy stuff in my life right now, not the least of which is that I'm a first-time newlywed - as in never been married before.
New wife. New 14-year-old stepson. New pets. New house. New hometown. New job.
Help! I need to find a fishing hole.
In fact, that's the kind of thing I want out of this blog: For you, my esteemed readers, to help me, your humble servant, find his way around Indian Land and surrounding areas.
The hidden gems. The great breakfast spots. The people, places and conversations that define the community. Helpful advice.
In short, I need your help. Drop me a line and I'll write about it in future blogs.
I know I'm going to love it here.

Contact Reece Murphy at rmurphy@thelancasternews.com or (803) 283-1151.