Tuesday, October 09, 2007

One Year Later

My first blog post and the creation of my blog was on October 5, 2006. It is a sad little post that I won't even bother linking to, it is just too pathetic...something like Blog Post #1. I have many times said that I didn't even know what blog was before frantically searching and trying to find a website for Catherine Newman after she left Baby Center. Of course what I did find was her blog and my very first click away from her blog took me to Bub & Pie - do I know how to pick them, and the rest is well, bloggy history. I found some kindred spirits and even though they are halfway across the country they inspired me.

My blog has definitely been a huge part of my life for the past year and if you told me that a year ago I would have scoffed at the idea. My high hopes of posting thought-provoking and riveting pieces filled with literary wit have given way to me spewing out posts sporadically at best. It seems I am greedy or lazy or both and often prefer reading blogs to actually posting on mine. I do love to write posts, to have a great idea, stew on it and write something wonderful. More often than not though it is something I need to get off my chest or some moment I want to preserve, that actually makes it into a post.

I still want to learn how to change my wallpaper. When given twenty minutes though I will always pick reading blogs over figuring out code.

I don't want to sound too naive or anything, but I have learned LEARNED so much from the blogs I read regularly. New books to read, parenting tips, recipes to try, causes to embrace, movies to watch, places to visit, and so many more I can't even type them all. I have friends and family, yet this is the place I go to for answers a lot of the time. This is the place where I feel my shoulders relax and a sigh escaping my body as I travel around my online neighbourhood. I feel joy when something goes well for a friend, anger when something doesn't, sympathy when a friend is hurting and empathy for a friend struggling with something. I say "friend" purposefully because anyone I think about on a daily basis, whether I have met in person or not, is a friend.

When I start to feel bad, like I am not contributing enough to this place, I feel myself retreating. I worry about keeping up. I WANT to keep up and post and comment and comment and post, but sometimes real life gets in the way. I am amazed at how people with busier households than mine find the time, I wonder how they do it.

All that doesn't really matter though because I refuse to stop doing something I love and brings so much into my life.

So one year later I am still blogging. This was a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, we went apple picking, ate lots of turkey, visited Chapters and bought so many great books (with gift cards!) and spent time together as a family.

I have a lot of blog posts percolating so hopefully I will get the words out more often and if I don't that is OK too. I might still be at the kids table of the blogging world, but hey I am at the party and that is what matters.

14 comments:

N. said...

Okay. I'm sorry I nagged you. Happy anniversary, blog buddy.

N. said...

To make amends I'm going to email you some hints about changing the html. Cos I'm a suck up.

N. said...

Psst...I sent you the instructions.
Also, I think I am the only person on the internets. Anywhere. It's spooky quiet.

Beck said...

It HAS been spooky quiet today, hasn't it?
This was a great post. And you mentioned me. Which makes it AWESOME. Blog when you can - real life matters way more and I appreciate whatever you can find time to write.

Christine said...

happy blog birthday friend!

it is funny, we have so much in common. i came to blogging through catherine newman's blog, too. my fist click over was beck!

Jenifer said...

I DID IT! I changed the background to the lovely olives? that ADM sent me. You are all right, it was quiet today and I think Google Reader is to blame it took over 8 hours to pull up my post.

Christine, it is karma that we hooked up!

N. said...

Go you! I love the...umm...retro-looking polka...okay, yes, you're right: those are some big ass olives. Yeah for you!

Melanie D. said...

I like reading your posts. Whevever they are published!

Happy blog-versary.

Love the wallpaper. And I am impressed that you did it!

Melanie D. said...

P.S.

ME TOO on the Catherine Newman thing. That was the only reason that I found blogger. Yours was one of my first clicks away. Because the name intrigued me.

Mad said...

Hey! You changed the wallpaper. I love it. (Ahem, would you mind forwarding along AD's instructions?).

Happy belated blogiversay. It's always a treat to see you pop up in Google Reader.

Mimi said...

Happy birthday, you! One year makes you a blog expert, a citizen of longstanding, now able to dispense to all and sundry advice on how to change the wallpaper. Which I see you can now do, hurrah!

I really enjoy reading your posts, and getting to know you and your girls. Here's to another year!

Family Adventure said...

Happy Anniversary. I just started blogging a few weeks ago, and I, too, am surprised - shocked even - at how big of a role it is beginning to play in my life. It may be a virtual world, but it is full of so many real, warm and beautiful people whom I've already learned so much from.
- Heidi

Pendullum said...

Happy Happy Anniversary to youuuuuu!!!!

Karen MEG said...

Happy anniversary! Love the wallpaper.
I too, am addicted to blogging. Glad I found ya!