Friday, July 28, 2006

One Year

One year ago tomorrow, I began this blog. I'm not sure what it was I wanted to accomplish, or if I've reached whatever goals I had set for myself.

I think bloggers, in some ways, have to be extroverted people. You have to have a certain amount of sangfroid at revealing bits of yourself to the largely unknown public. Yes, you can conceal, and you can obscure, the the truth is that at the end of the day, you are laying chunks of yourself out in the open for public scrutiny.

I'm not happy with the way I've become (unhealthily) addicted to sitemeter and comment numbers. I am happy with the wonderful people that I've met. CCW says her mother refers to her online friends as "fake friends." While I see the amusement in that view, I don't think of you all as fake friends. You're more like technologically enhanced penpals. I've learned a lot from sites like Beanie Baby -- Andrea is a total dominatrix of eclectic and thought-provoking posts. Phantom Scribbler has made me think hard about a lot of issues of import both great and small. And where else can you whine without being told to stuff a sock in it? I have developed a weird symbiosis with people that I've never met and live hundreds of miles from. CCW and Karyn are both long-lost twins (most assuredly fraternal, though) that I've discovered I never knew I had. I've been awed at the love and heart it takes to bring a new family member into your hearts and home like Yankee Transplant. I'm amazed at the courage it took for Linda to not only change her life, but be determined to make it a good life.

Then there are the sites that make me snarf up a lung -- Dr. Corndog has got to be the most hilarious man I've never had the pleasure to meet. I marvel at his humor and cheer his progress through a difficult time. I can't read Anne Glamore's blog without having a box of tissue at the ready. Never try to read Anne's blog while drinking. It's a guarnteed way to short out your keyboard.

There are the parenting blogs that offer so much more -- not only cute kids and slices from everyday life, but warm, open people who constantly amaze and surprise me with every post that they put up. I love to read stories about Phantom's LG and Baby Blue, the two kids who make blogging very easy for Mama by constantly saying adorable, and bloggable, bits. I rejoiced with Purple Kangaroo and CCW when they gave birth to beautiful bundles of pure joy. I cried like a baby myself when I read that Halloweenlover's wish to someday join the exalted ranks of those called "Mommy" was going to be reality. I clapped in glee when I learned that APL was expecting again. I've watched so many children grow over the space of a year: Kid L and Not-So-Baby-H; Ella and Chloe; OD and YD (and now there's Gigi, too!); Finn, Porter, and Drew; Frances; Angry Boy; AJ and M&M; Muffin Man; LG and Baby Blue. I read about dogs who are furry children: Molly and Sam; Tango and Murray; Grimmy and Dozer. I read wonderfully written stories of jo(e)'s family, and I pray that my daughter ends up as poised and self-assured as any one of her children, or as much of a lyrical writer as jo(e) herself.

I can make references to movies or TV, and *someone* always gets it. We can talk babies, or cookies, or even the fact that tortilla chips burn. Who knew? I can say, "Do you *realize* the street value of this mountain?" to APL, and she gets it. If I were to say "twiddlebugs," I would know that Liz, Phantom, and APL will understand. We can make Corndog regret the day he ever heard us utter the fateful word: "Caillou." I can rest easy, knowing that even with all the stupid stuff I've done in my life, the blogosphere will keep me informed of countless legions who've done things dumber than I.

I talk education and so much more with Scrivener, Mystery Mommy, and Purple Kangaroo. I learn about homeschooling and Montessori; college and curricula. I learn what it's like to be a professor from Russian Violets and Medieval Woman. I see God every day in the postings of Songbird, InnerDorothy, PPB, and Gord. They give me faith that not only are there people full of grace out there, but that we can find that grace even within ourselves. They are gentle and loving souls who truly make the world a better place to live in.

There are the people that I'm just discovering and beginning to know: Marni, Harmonia, Haanster, and DevilMacDawg. I've not had all that much time with you, but you've already brightened my life.

I'm not sure if blogging is really right for me. I don't know what it was that really motivated me to start a blog in the first place, other than nagging from Corndog and having a place that I could use instead of waiting impatiently for Phantom's Wednesday Whine to roll around again. I've enjoyed it, to be sure, but I'm not sure I've contributed much more than just words taking up space. At any rate, it's been fun getting to this point. Thank you for all taking the journey with me.

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Updated: I wanted to add all these linkity-link-links when I originally posted, but was under time constraint. I have now added in anyone I inadvertently left off, and linked as well. I think all these people are great, and if there's a name on there that you don't know, go visit them!

21 comments:

Yankee, Transferred said...

Happy Blog-iversary, KLEE! It's been a great year with you! I purposely gave up my site-meter link and don't ever look at the emails from them, because I have realized I don't really give a damn-as long as my "regular" readers are coming back from time to time, I'm happy. I don't check to see who's lurking, or where my referrals are from-it's been very freeing.
I love your blog, and I love your comments. You're cool!

Anonymous said...

Happy 1st Bloggiversary, KLee! I may not always comment, but I read every word. Thanks for all the laughs, and the smiles, and the nods of recognition. You're right about how blogging makes you put yourself out there. Thanks for your generosity in sharing so much of yourself here.

And I agree with YT; after worrying about site statistics and comment numbers for too long, I decided to focus on the friendships, fake or not, that I've made. Thanks so much for yours.

Karyn said...

Aye Aye, Capn' - set sail, ships ahoy, look out blogosphere.

Congrats on your one year! Isn't it great?!

Anonymous said...

Happy Blogiversary!

1. "Andrea is a total dominatrix of eclectic and thought-provoking posts" I am so stealing this. I'm going to put it on a t-shirt or something. You made me laugh out loud--at work.

2. "I'm not sure I've contributed much more than just words taking up space." WHAT? Are you--did you read your post yesterday? I mean, just as one little example of your contribution.

You are an incredibly valuable and contributing member of the blogosphere.

barista brat said...

i just discovered your blog the other day and i'm sure i will be a longtime visitor.

ps. the post about the hair-free husband cracked me up!

Marni said...

I have to admit the day I saw my blog linked on your page I was thrilled. You were the first one to do so (other than my cousin who, like, has to have my linked).

I am looking forward to getting to know you better and meeting you someday. I LOVE your writing and think you are one of the smartest and well versed people around.

Congratulations on one year... I look forward to many, many more!

Phantom Scribbler said...

Site meter can really be a trap if you use it for much more than making sure that you're not being stalked by scary Google searchers. I mean, you could have ten times the traffic and have three-quarters of it be trolls and people with Nair fetishes. The readers you have here are friends, not hits. And that's a lot more valuable, no?

You've also produced a lot of profound and moving writing here over the past year. You've made me think, too. And I'm so glad you've stuck around with us for the past year, whether just hanging out or revealing your wounds. It has been a privilege to get to know you in this way.

Now I have a very important question: should we hang it up on the picture side, or the glue side?

Bridget said...

Happy anniversary!

I only recently started my own, and even more recently started reading yours, prompted by the sweet, thoughtful, hilarous comments I've seen from you at some the others I read.

Keep it up!

Unknown said...

Oh, of course you have done more than take up space! I have loved your stories since back in the pre-blogging days, and loved you, too. Keep up the good work, and Happy Blogiversary!

Liz Miller said...

Happy Blogiversary!

I'm so glad you're here and love what you have to say.

Big hugs!

I'm working on getting a visit to my MIL scheduled (she thinks it's so that I can see her, but she's wrong. I'm REALLY coming to see you!)

ccw said...

Happy Blogiversary!

I am honored to know that my long lost twin is a person as wonderful as you.

This is a great post! I really enjoyed reading it and remembering.

KLee said...

Welcome, Bridget! I had a quick look around your place, and saw a smiling boy who looked like he had a bit of devilishness in him! I know I'll be back!

To all the others who've said such wonderful things: thank you. Thank you for being here, and being supportive. I'm glad that you're my "fake friends." :)

Anonymous said...

Happy blog-iversary, KLee! I distinctly remember the days you were a commenter at Phantom's and Songbird's blogs. Folks were begging you to blog because you wrote such great things. Indeed, your blog has been just that...and more. Your value of the community that blogging has created rings through in the post and in the comments you leave behind. Maybe that's why we all do it...to be a part of people's lives.

I'm glad you're here. Thanks for jumping on the bandwagon.

Anonymous said...

Happy blogiversary to you, happy blogiversary to you, happy blogiversary dear KLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE....happy blogiversary to you.

Sitemeter is a trap! For one, I read you through bloglines, which means I don't show up on your sitemeter--and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

I thought about getting rid of it, since it was making me nuts, but I check every once in a while to be sure I haven't been detected by employers, etc. For some reason I never get the wierd googlers, which is a good thing.

But none of that matters because "it's your birthday, have a party, it's your birthday, have a party, it's your birthday....go klee, go klee, go klee, go, go, go...."

lostinthemiddle said...

ditto ditto ditto.

:)

Scrivener said...

Happy blogiversary, KLee! I also usually read you in Bloglines and don't comment frequently enough, but I'm glad you're here!

jo(e) said...

I'm coming in late with this comment because I've been off on vacation ... but happy blogiversary!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Has it been a year already? Congrats, Mizz KLee!

Partay! Partay! Partay!

La Binsk

purple_kangaroo said...

Wow, a year already? I didn't remember that you started blogging so close to Baby E's birth. Congrats!

purple_kangaroo said...

BTW, I definitely enjoy both your blog and your comments on other blogs (mine and otherwise). I'm glad to have you in this corner of the blogosphere.

Anonymous said...

Hey - happy anniversary, and for your kind comments. I love tuning in to see what's happening over here!

AG