Then Blog You Must!

Yesterday Mayor Bill Gentes and his wife Christine stopped in for a surprise visit here in Elburn. For those of you who don't know, Bill is "The Blogging Mayor of Round Lake." Bill claims that searching for, finding and reading my web log was the inspiration that got him started with blogging. And, let me tell you, Mayor Gentes can really blog. I don't think he has missed a day in almost 8 months.

And, by now, I have read so much of his material that I felt like I was meeting someone for the first time that I already knew. This is one of the compelling aspects of blogging. If you choose to read our blogs, you really do get to know us. Blogging is an "open window" into what each of us as mayors are thinking. Agree with us, don't agree with us, you certainly begin to understand what makes us tick.

In December, Mayor Gentes will be representing local government bloggers as a panelist on the "blogging phenomenon" at the National League of Cities convention in North Carolina. That's really quite an honor, and I am certain that Mayor Gentes will do a great job representing all of us government "wonks" who enjoy blogging!

After our meeting, Mayor Gentes wrote in his blog that our first encounter was similar to one between Master Poe and "Grasshopper" from the classic "Kung Fu" television show starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine. So, in keeping with that theme, I offer the following exchange:

Grasshopper: Master, how can we find our way when all the paths seem dark?

Master Poe: The way runs through darkness. Through shadow. Neither is cause for despair. The five colors blind the eye. The five tones deafen the ear. The five flavors dull the taste. Therefore, the wiseman is guided by what he feels, not by what he sees.

Grasshopper: Master, blogging feels good.

Master Poe: Grasshopper, then blog you must!

Thank you Mayor Gentes and Christine for traveling way out of your way to visit Elburn, and for taking the time to visit someone who is as much a student of yours, as you are of him.

For more thought provoking conversations between Kung Fu's Master Poe and "Grasshopper," click here.