Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Anniversary

Today marks the first anniversary of my blog. I am amazed that I have stuck with it this long. When I started I didn't have a clue about what I would write about. Surprise - the opposite happened. I found more subjects that I wanted to tackle than I had time to write them.


If I didn't have other things to occupy my time I am sure I could be more prolific. At times I feel like I am obsessed with this critter I call my hodgepodge. It has certainly become one.

I seem to have a list going on in my head of topics I would like to explore. Then when I sit down to write, my mind is a blank. Where did that list disappear to?

Because it's my blog anniversary here are some random thoughts on why I blog:


  • I have made some wonderful friends through my blog. To my faithful followers I wish to send you a bouquet for sticking with me. Thank you so much.

  • Blogging has helped keep my mind active. It has stimulated my aging brain cells and kept them from atrophying. At least, I hope that's the case.
  • Keeping up with my blog has given me a reason to get up in the morning
  • When you no longer drive and are limited in physical abilities to partake in the social events of yore, blogging lets you do so through reading the blog of other's.
  • I have enjoyed vicarious trips to far away places with strange sounding names through reading other blogs.
  • Sharing thoughts on random subjects has enabled me to broaden my horizons.
  • Blogging is a learning experience. I have discovered that there are many new things and ideas that I didn't know about.
  • Blogging can be a way to share your life. It is like having a chat with your best friend. Only you are chatting with many friends.
  • Because I am in touch daily with all my blogging friends I don't have time to be lonely.
There are, of course, downsides to blogging. It is frustrating when I am unable to compose my blog the way I want. Then there are the times when your blog just vanishes after you have spent hours writing it. Other times, the final composition doesn't look anything like what your original looks like. (I have an evil elf in my computer that changes things around or steals things.)


Nonetheless, I intend to slog on as long as I am able to sit at this keyboard. I have an abiding gratitude for my friends who have overlooked my misspelled words or poor sentence construction and other errors. Thank you all for hanging in there with me on this great adventure called blogging.

22 comments:

Joy Des Jardins said...

Oh how very fortunate we were the day you decided to join our blogging community Darlene. I can't imagine not having your beautiful and unique voice here in our little world. You've said it all in your post...beautifully. I think your description of blogging is very much how we all feel....frustrations and all. But, the joys far outweigh those few frustrations.


Happy, Happy 1st Anniversary Darlene! You are a joy to have as a friend and I love to come here to read your blog. You are witty, interesting, fun, smart, loving, honest, informed and gracious. May you blog-on forever! Love, Joy

20th Century Woman said...

Congratulations on your wonderful effort which has had wonderful results!

I am grateful to you for writing about your chosen political issue, health care. It is the thing in politics I care about most, and you discuss it so rationally and intelligently that whenever I think about writing on it I think, Darlene does it so well, I couldn't match that.

That said, I hope to do a short post on Group Health, a local "cooperative" here in the Pacific Northwest. Believe me, it's just another insurance company. My husband's late wife had Group Health, and they tried not to treat her breast cancer.

Rain Trueax said...

Happy Anniversary and I think you contribute a lot to the blogging world by your reading, humor and ideas. While it can be a lot of work, it also has a lot of rewards. *hugs*

Darlene said...

*Joy - You are so very kind. Thank you, thank you for the sweet praise you heaped on my humble head.

*20th Century Woman - Thank you so very much for the generous compliments.

Please write about the cooperative because I know so little about it and it is being discussed as an alternative to a Public Option.

*Rain - Thank you so much. Without blogging I would never of had the pleasure of meeting you and Paul in person. I treasure that time.

Looking to the Stars said...

Happy Anniversary, sweetie! If it were not for you I would not be blogging, for that I am so very thankful. You are the greatest and my life has been enriched because of you. Thank You!

Roshni said...

congratulations of your first anniversary! May there be many more to come!

Nancy said...

Congratulations on your first BLOGAVERSARY, Darlene.

I hope you are writing your interesting and entertaining post for many years to come.

Sylvia K said...

Happy Blogaversary, Darlene! We started just a week apart -- my anniversary was on July 1! Isn't that fun and amazing! You have a wonderful blog and blogging has done all the same things for me -- filling the empty spaces, keeping us focused, minds operating, sharing and best of all making so many new and wonderful friends!! I love your humor, your frustrations with the same things that frustrate many of us and your marvelous sense of humor! May you have many more!! Much love and hugs!

kenju said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary, Darlene. We are all fortunate to have you here among us!!

joared said...

Congratulations on your first blogging anniversary. Enjoyed your description of what blogging means to you.

I don't visit as often as I might like, but sooner or later I do get here and to others.

Ugich Konitari said...

Darlene,

Congratulations on the first anniversary of your blog ! I enjoy reading your blogs, and your style of writing. And I look forward to celebrating more blog anniversaries...best wishes...

Darlene said...

*Looking to the Stars - I'm glad that I had some small part in encouraging you to blog. Thank you for your lovely comment.

*Roshni - Thank you so much.

*Nancy - How sweet of you.

*Sylvia - I had no idea that we started blogging together. Happy Blogaversary to you.

*Kenju - Thank you. I am fortunate to have all of you.

*Joared - You are a busy lady with more important things to do. I am always pleased when you can find time to write a post.

*Ugich - Back at you. I really enjoy your style of writing and you are teaching me so much about your culture.

Betty said...

Happy Blogiversary! I go blank, too, when I sit down in front of my computer. So, I have partially solved that problem by keeping a legal pad beside my recliner in the living room. Then, I can "compose", or write down blog ideas.

Vagabonde said...

Happy blog anniversary Darlene, your blog is a lot of fun to read. Just like you, when I started blogging last April after my daughter urged me to, I did not think I would have a thing to talk about, but I keep finding subjects. Your blog shows your individuality and also shows that you are a kind and knowledgeable person, I wish you many more years of happy blogging!

Mortart said...

Darlene,
Congratulations on your blogging anniversary!
Your observations on the pleasure of blogging tells it better than anything I have ever read on the subject.

Mortart said...

Please note that I made a typing error and not a mistake in grammer in my post. I am embarrassed.

Darlene said...

*Betty - good idea, but my best ideas come to me in the bathroom.;-)

*Vagabonde - Thank you for your very nice comment.

*Mort - Thank you so very much.

LadyLuz said...

Viva Darlene's Hodgepodge.

Anonymous said...

Better I should congratulate you late, rather than ignore the whole thing. Thanks for taking up blogging, Darlene. Your postings and comments on other blogs are always well thought out and presented.
Happy blogaversary!
Cop Car

Norma said...

Congratulations on your anniversary. I've been blogging since October 2003.

la peregrina said...

A belated Happy Blogday, Darlene. Thanks for sticking around. :)

Lydia said...

As I just told you on comments at later post, I'm catching up with blog reading tonight. So my Happy 1st Blogiversary greeting is a bit belated, but nonetheless heartfelt. Your blog really means a lot to me, Darlene. I absolutely love your crystal clear celebratory thoughts about what blogging means to you. You said it for all of us just perfectly!

Now, off to your second year of blogging you go!