I’m not really all for introducing yourself. Really, what do you learn from someone when you are introduced to them? Their name, maybe their occupation or maybe even their phone number if they are to be a business associate. One of life’s little casualities is not really getting to know a person when you are introduced to them. That information rarely tells you their character, their morals, or even their beliefs. You are introduced to this complete stranger that you may be including in your life and you are going on faith alone. Honestly I believe when you are introduced to someone that they should have to give you some sort of background info so you know exactly who you are allowing into your life. The same goes for this blog. You are reading this post so in some way you are allowing me into your life. What type of person am I? Will you like me? Will you hate me? Will I break your heart? Will I make you happy or will I make you sad? What will me being in your life, even for a short period, do? I don’t know and neither do you. It is a leap of faith we will be taking together.

My name is Sofia and I have no idea what I am doing here. It is true unfortunately. I was asked to be here by my good friend Bobbie. She wanted me to talk to you guys, to share some of my stories. Why do you care about my stories? I asked her this and her response was “ Who cares if they don’t? You need to tell them because it is your spot in history. Make it known Sofia.” Sometimes she can be very profound, except when she is blowing smoke up your rear. So I guess I am here to tell you my stories or to talk to you about anything I feel like. I am not sure that is a good idea because sometimes the way I feel tends to offend many, many people.

Like take the SOPA business. Bobbie pulling her hair out right now and freaking because she has put a lot of work into lobbying for this bill. So I tell her “ I have been around long enough to tell you this. People will jump on the bandwagon because they are told it is the right thing. They get part of the story or they get the part someone wants them to know and jump to the conclusion. People latch onto the part that is the worst and don’t look at the positive. Then they jump on for the ride. It means nothing and just like all the protests I have seen in my life, it doesn’t change much. It just propels things forward and then later down the road something happens that makes them say “ Wow, maybe I should have thought that through more.” Privacy and Liberty mean a lot until you are the one being slapped in the face with them. Then the tune changes.” I wonder how many I just offended with that statement. Oh well everyone is entitled to how they feel and it calmed her down.  That was all that mattered to me.

How long have I been around? Not as long as you may think even though sometimes it feels like a hundred years but not quite. Enough to form opinions and not care whether people like them or not. I have been around long enough to tell you exactly what I think of you and not care of you don’t like it. Around long enough to know that life is too short to keep a grudge, to have loved, to have lost, to have wandered, to have stayed close to home, to know my mother was right about everything and to know that last piece of chocolate cake should be eaten. Long enough to know that if you want it all you can have it. You just need the drive to do it and stamp out that little voice that says you can’t. I know you can because I have done it.

I am writing this right now curled up in my room at the St.Regis Hotel in Florence, Italy. As I look around the room and admire the beauty I can’t help but smile. How did I end up here you may ask? Guess you will have stick around to find out. This is history. This is my story.