blog-iversary

So here we are.

It was exactly one year ago today that I started this blog. In that time, I’ve written exactly 70 “things.” I call them “things” because I don’t know what else to call them. Some are essays, some are thoughts, a couple are just lists, one is a musical. Sure, they’re “posts,” because they are posted. But what, exactly, have I posted? The answer: “things.” 

When I began this little experiment, I didn’t have a mission statement or a real purpose. I just did it because I needed a creative outlet. As such, I confess that I was not entirely confident that this blog-that’s-not-a-blog would last a year. In fact, I noted that my 25th post was my “silver blog-iversary;” referring to posts, not years. (New relationships are like that, aren’t they? You make a big deal about lasting a whole week or month.) I assumed I’d burn out or simply run out of things to write about. So far, so good.

This is not to say that I won’t someday burn out or run out of things to say. It might happen tomorrow. But I’ll try not to let that happen, because we all know that when a blog dies, the Internet cries. 

I’ve learned a lot over the last year. I’ve learned that I am not everyone’s cup of tea; however, I think I knew that long before I started this public writing project. I’ve also learned that deadlines, even self-imposed ones, are great motivators in a freelance life.

When I moved this blog from my website to Blogspot, I also learned exactly how many people were reading it. And by “how many,” I mean “how few.” 

So I figure this would be a good time to thank my 11 followers, as well as those distinguished few brave souls who check in on a regular basis. You are the reason why this tree goes *boom* when it falls in the forest as opposed to *nothing*. Thank you to those who’ve stopped by late in the game and explored the earlier posts. I even send thanks to those who really tried to understand or follow my writing but just couldn’t do it anymore. Not that you’re reading this now, but at least you tried. And thanks to all of you who told a friend about a particular post. I hope that friend didn’t hold it against you.

Of course, I only started the blog because exactly two people told me that if I had a blog, they’d read it. Ironically, I don’t think either of them has stayed with it, but at least I can say that there are more than two of you out there now. Maybe you haven’t read all of the more than 50,000 words I’ve lovingly typed, pored over, and edited for you so far, but no matter how many or how few of them you’ve read, I appreciate knowing that you are -- or once were -- out there.

So celebrate along with me: go eat some candy or have a cupcake or pie or something equally delicious, and get ready for our second smash year.

Yes indeed. Welcome to me.