500 !

Yahhhoooooooo!!!!!!!!

Yippee skippee!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEE hawwwwwww!!!!!!!

I had no idea when I started blogging on May 27, 2006 that I would hit this mark. I wasn't sure I would blog the next day, to be honest! I did, obviously. And the next and the next .......

In the last few days I've gone back and reviewed some of the posts and comments. I reread almost all the original few, then just randomly looked at some others along the way up till now. One thing I noticed is that it is interesting how the reader-base has changed. And not changed. Some of the people I traded "reads" with in the beginning are MIA now. It's OK. As we read each other's blogs, we discovered that our interests and/or needs differed, and we just drifted away from each other. Along the way, others have come and gone, but with each person I've encountered in this journey, I've brought something away from their presence that has taught me something and in some way helped me with my biggest underlying purpose ... to know who I am.

Then there are the readers who don't go away, no matter what I say! LOL! If you go look at post #1, my first commenter was Caroline. Well, of course she was! She had spent several months convincing me that I should start a blog. I was very skeptical. Blogs seemed to be something more in line for "kids" (anyone under about 40!!!) than for old farts femmes like me! That ceased to matter pretty quickly! I consider myself young at heart, so it wasn't really a stretch for me to relate to the younger readers/writers.

When it came time for me to make the big move from Kansas City to New Mexico, I think my blog made it easier. I had friends and family in NM. I was going to Allan's home for my first stop, so it wasn't like I was leaping into the unknown. But I have to tell you that it was a huge blessing that I brought so many of my blog friends along with me! It was as if all of them ... you! ... came with me. Every day, my blog buddies were there just like the day before. And having Caroline present on my blog made it less painful that I left her behind after being my neighbor for many years.

Over the time of these 500 posts, I've definitely grown as a person, and as a woman. I'm still in the process of metamorphosis, but it is becoming easier and leaving me with greater confidence all the time. The blog has played a part in that, for sure. I've learned from many of you, learned things I've incorporated into my life, learned things I avoid like the plague, learned about how people live their lives, learned about how to make my life more full, learned more about what I want to experience during my remaining years. I know that I'm not weird. Well, OK, I'm weird, but I'm weird just like many others out there! I'm more confident in expressing myself and in doing what I want to do, because I realize that other people step across the imaginary line in the sand, as well. Because of this blog, because of your blogs, I've been more willing to just be me.

The blog has been a vehicle for me in so many ways! I've met new friends, and even got to meet a couple of you in person. But IRL or Via Blog, friends is friends!!! I'm glad I've met each of you. I'm happy you have come here to read, lingered to get acquainted. I appreciate your invitation ... or acceptance? LOL! ... of me at your blog. I love the things I've learned about other people, other parts of the country, cultures different from my own. My world is much, much larger now. And much lovelier! What a deal!

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank Caroline for her gentle insistence of my blogging. If she hadn't pushed, albeit in a very nice way, I wouldn't be here today, be the same person I am. I like who I am, and without Caroline, part of this me wouldn't be here.

Blogging soars!!!



Now do you understand even better why I say......

Life is beautiful!!!