One year ago today, I embarked on a new venture. I wanted to have an outlet for my writing. I had heard of people who blogged. I had read a few blogs, including my daughter’s and my daughter-in-law’s. The idea seemed to be to type a few things about my life, a web diary.
One year ago today, I started this blog.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Never in my wildest imagination did I think that I would have found friends through a blog. Good friends. Friends who share thoughts, feelings, ideas, sorrow and joy. Who could have imagined an Idiot, an English lady who visited Paris for two months, a wise woman who wants to become a Rabbi but is working three jobs while raising her children, a professor who took her family on a sabbatical to Turkey, a secret agent, a French-American world traveler, a lover of all things nautical, a grandmother pilot ? These are the people I have met through my blog. The list would make an impressive character list for an outline of a novel, don’t you think? There are many more. All of you have added such a wonderful richness to my life.
Little did I know what the year would bring when I started my blog. Just over a month later, my youngest sister, Kathleen died very suddenly, the day before her 50th birthday. My grief has not yet abated, but this blog has been a lifeline for me during the worst of it. The support and encouragement I’ve received from my (blog) friends has made it easier than it otherwise would have been. Somehow, it is easier to let the sadness, confusion, and anger over a death be expressed in writing than it is in person. It allowed me to try to make a bit of sense of a senseless situation.
Over the course of the year, I have written 226 posts, and have had over 1200 comments. Of course, many of the comments were my replies, so they don’t really count. But it is so thrilling to get notes from people who have read what I have written-the mundane, trivial and stupid things that make up my life. I never really expected that.
This next year I am hoping to have a more positive tone to my life, and therefore to this blog. I will try my hand at some different things. My sense of humor may show a bit more. Perhaps I need to get a sense of humor. Whatever. I am looking forward to another year of blogging.
Thanks everyone for being there-and coming back! I really do appreciate it.
Year two starts……..NOW!
Just My Life 
Happy Blogaversary! You keep writing and I’ll keep reading. I’ll even try to comment more often.
By: Betty Adams on January 10, 2011
at 12:56 am
thanks-comments are great!
By: chlost on January 10, 2011
at 2:39 pm
I look forward to reading your blog each day. At first I felt like a snoop, but now I find myself cheering your successes and mourning your loses. I kept coming up with “positives” for your list. Maybe it is much easier from my side of the fence since you have all the green grass. Really, its there. Just dig a bit through all the snow!
RustedGranny
By: RustedGranny on January 10, 2011
at 2:32 pm
If I put it out there, reading it is not snooping! thanks for coming by. It’s good to know that you’re out there.
By: chlost on January 10, 2011
at 2:40 pm
I know you’ve got a sense of humor. I still chuckle when I think of the breathing machine and Darth Vader 🙂
Congrats on 1 year. I’ll stay tuned to see what you bring for year 2!
By: jannatwrites on January 10, 2011
at 10:37 pm
Thanks. My sense of humor seems to come and go.
By: chlost on January 12, 2011
at 11:04 am
It still sends a pain through my heart to read about your sister dying the day before her 50th birthday; this year will be five years since it was my sister dying the day before her 50th birthday. I turn 50 in April. I assume I will not die and that I will soon be older than my sister and I’m not sure why, but the thought of this really bothers me.
On a happier note, next Monday we get to celebrate our sons’ birthdays together online for the first time. Sweet 16 for mine.
Always glad we met online. You know all the cool people I would never have encountered otherwise!
By: Yael on January 11, 2011
at 6:14 pm
Thanks. It is truly amazing that we have met here and have so much in common. I was telling my husband a bit about that, and he couldn’t believe it. I appreciate your kindness. My son will be 26 on their (your son’s and mine’s) birthday.AND it’s a holiday!
By: chlost on January 12, 2011
at 11:07 am
Congratulatons on achieving your one year landmark. I have been enjoying the visits.
By: Robert the Skeptic on January 12, 2011
at 4:55 pm
Thank you! I always look forward to seeing that you have visited.
By: chlost on January 13, 2011
at 6:09 pm
Happy 1 year Blogoversary ch. Many, many more happy blogging days ahead…Cheers!
By: Joy on January 13, 2011
at 5:51 pm
Thanks! I hope to keep it going for a while, too.
By: chlost on January 13, 2011
at 6:10 pm
Happy One Year Anniversary! 2010 was indeed quite a year. I know it was a tragic and stressfull year for you but I totally admired your drive to remain positive through everything. You are a true inspiration! I hope this blog remains a positive outlet for you and leads you to many more cherished online friends and family over the coming years. Have a great year TWO!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on January 14, 2011
at 12:31 pm
Congratulation on your first year. I know how it feels to have written posts and realize that many people enjoy reading them. It astounded me for sure about my posts. I enjoy reading your posts and feel like I have a friend in the north. You have showed a lot of strength in the last year and I hope that 2011 will be easier for you and more fun.
By: Vagabonde on January 17, 2011
at 3:51 pm
Thank you. I love having a world traveler friend!
By: chlost on January 18, 2011
at 5:08 pm