Where it all began

Glowing socks (2006)

Start telling the stories that only you can tell.  Because there will always be better writers than you, and there will always be smarter writers than you, and there will always be, you know, people who are much better at doing this or doing that, but you are the only you.

~ Neil Gaiman

Yosemite (April 2006)

Once upon a time, in the year 2006, I began blogging publicly under my own name.  I’d been blogging in some format or another since 1999, but always under a pseudonym or in a group where there was limited access to just those in the group.  Writing my first public blog post was easy.  Hitting “publish” was not.  There was something scary about putting my very own self out there where anyone could see me in the form of my words and images.  It’s hard to describe the nervousness I felt when I published my first blog post.  It seems silly now, thousands of blog posts later.  What did I think would happen?  Well, I don’t know.  I didn’t think it through that far.   Besides, nobody was reading my blog so I had no reason to worry or feel apprehensive.

My first blog post was titled September’s Full Moon, and looking over it, I can see that I’m still doing pretty much the same thing.  I go out for a walk.  I blog about it.  Once in a while I travel.  I blog about it.  Nothing much happens.  I blog about it.  A lot about me has changed, but my blogging habits remain the same.  Oh wait, one thing has changed.  I use fewer prompts and memes, although if one grabs my attention or tickles my fancy, I go for it.

Yosemite (April 2006)

I had very few followers (none, I suspect) during the first month or two.  In November of 2006, I decided to take the plunge and really put myself out there by signing up for NaBloPoMo.  It was a crazy move since I was still working outside the home, and getting ready for our temporary relocation to Sabbaticalville (West Chester, Pennsylvania) which was going to take place in December.  My first NaBloPoMo post was titled NaBloPoMo.  Very original, don’t you think?

Cheese! (Philadelphia, PA 2006)

It was through NaBloPoMo that I met other bloggers and became part of the blogging community, for it is a community.  Some of the people I met through the first NaBloPoMo are still blogging occasionally.  Some have moved to other forms of social media.  And others have disappeared.  Some I’ve met in person, and others I’m still longing to meet someday.  I’ve made acquaintances, friends, good friends, and maybe an enemy or two (for reasons I can’t fathom).  Blogging and NaBloPoMo opened up the world to me at a time when I could barely leave the house due to pain and injury.  It also helped me work my way through to the other side (healing).

Scattered colors (November 2006)

When I got the email announcing NaBloPoMo 2013 I thought, “Eh.  I’m not going to do it this year.”

Fall Foliage (2006)

And then I thought, “Eh.  Why not?”  So here I am, giving this insanity another go ’round.  It might be easy to do this year because of the kitchen renovation.  I won’t have to spend too much time (if any) prepping and cooking dinner while the work is going on.  It’s not about time for me, anyhow.  Not at this point.  It’s about tradition.  NaBloPoMo has become a tradition for me, and I couldn’t bring myself to take a pass on it this year.

Reflections on the surface of the pond. November 2006.

Want to join me in this craziness?  You can sign up over at BlogHer right here.  I think.  I’m finding their instructions a little on the confusing side, but I find the website a little on the confusing side because there is so much going on that I have trouble focusing on one thing or another.  I blame that on me, not them.  I don’t multitask well, and when there are too many shiny and/or flashing objects to look at, I can’t seem to pick just one and that’s when confusion sets in.

My oldest granddaughter at Thanksgiving in 2006.

Well, that’s enough history from me for today.  Thank you for stopping by.  It is a dark, warm, windy, and occasionally rainy day here on the Eastern Shore.   The trees are still somehow holding on to most of their leaves in spite of the gusty winds.  We’re having pizza for dinner tonight.  Would you believe they have good pizza on the Eastern Shore?  I know.  I was surprised, too.  It’s not as good as the New York-style pizza I grew up with, but it’s darn close.

I hope your Friday was a good one.  I’ll be back tomorrow with the tale of a turtle and why he crossed the road.

Manokin River at Raccoon Point. Taken yesterday.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂  And have a great weekend!