BLOGANNIVERSARY TIME

It is hard to believe today is my bloganniversary. One year ago I thought, what the heck and started putting together a blog page, having not a clue what I was doing or going to write about. I just knew it was winter and it seemed like a good cold weather project. I had been lurking on various blogs for about a year and really liked the premise of blogging.

I though how neat it was to write something and have others actually read it. I had always dabbled with writing but never put any discipline into my efforts. Kind of a spurty and when the mood hit type of writer. This seemed like it would be good exercise for the brain which at my age is always a consideration.

I tried to tell my self I was doing this for my own entertainment and it would be OK if no one read what I wrote, but that was a lie . Anyone who writes, wants some one else to read it, preferably when we are not present. It was getting others to read my stuff that had me a lot concerned. Who would ever find me? How do they find me? Would any one even care what I had to say? Having no answers, I went ahead anyway. Ignorance is bliss.

One of the cool things about starting a blog is that you now have a URL and don't have to resort to "Anonymous" to leave a comment on another's blog. So on my first day, I visited two of my favorites and left my first comments. Gosh that was fun. I was no longer a lurker.

I did not know blogger etiquette and didn't realize they might actually return the visit. I was a wee bit star struck at first. That Robin and Judy (two blogs that I had regularly visited) actually left comments was amazing. I did not realize they were originally just being polite. That they have stayed with me from day "one "makes them very special to me. Somehow on that first day, "Blue" also found me who is from Finland. Blue made me realize the the web was far reaching. Since then I have added New Zealand, Australia, England, the Netherlands, and India to my regular visitors as they joined those from all over the US. I then realize just how vast this web is. It truly is a world wide web.

Slowly, with help from some seasoned bloggers who graciously linked to me, my readers grew as did the list of blogs I follow. The only thing better than having others find you, is to find all the great blogs there are out there. There are a lot of talented, funny, thoughtful, insightful, educational, and some really great photographer bloggers. It seems when I just can't squeeze in one more person to visit daily, oops, here comes a can't miss blog.

What I hadn't counted on was when these blog buddies actually became friends. You laugh with them, worry with them, if you are lucky, visit in person with them, and on occasion pray for someone they know that needs it. It is a huge lovely network and I am ever so thankful that a year ago, I started clicking on the keyboard and jumped feet first into cyber space.

It has been a grand year and I really want to thank you all for being in it.