A Thank You Note for Bloggers

Today I am celebrating my 100th post on this BLOG.

Course I would not have known that had the dashboard function not informed me. I haven't been keeping count. I also am not a daily blogger. I have tried to be a regular participant in the Mute Monday activity but other than that I have posted randomly. My first post was October 24, 2008. Discounting the MM game, that's a bit more than a blog a week. What FUN this has been for me!

I came to this interesting blog community by happenstance. I visited a website searching for French antiques which also has an accompanying blog. On that blog an unusually knowledgeable and witty comment had been left by someone called " Aunty Belle". Curious, I traveled to her blog and found the MM game displayed there. I then traveled around to the blogs of the MM players and found lots to hold my interest. So for a while I visited these blogs, mostly on Mondays, occasionally leaving an anonymous comment. I was content to be a spectator. Then I began to visit the MM bloggers on other days of the week and again, I would occasionally leave
anonymous comments. Eventually, the comments I left became recognizable as a repeat anon to one of you, I think it was one of the Seattle Summiteers who called me on it. Thank you!

Like many of you I have elected to blog anonymously. Thus I created "Fishy", described my location as the "Pond" , my status as married to a "Blowfish" with whom I share our wonderful child "Mermaid" . I don't really have any big secrets in my life. The general blogging guideline I received was to follow this path to avoid the potentiality of stalkers. Either to myself or family members. What I did not forsee was how much fun it would be to describe my life in this format. I find it very entertaining and , in a way, liberating. I might write on this blog, as I did in my first post, about a personal comfort I enjoy, but it is unlikely to be a bit of history I would share with my next door neighbor.

I can be honest on this blog, and comment on your posts, without those in my physical realm ever having the opportunity to use my thoughts, feelings or words as fodder for their gossip or other bad habits. This blog community allows much freedom to be. I think most people "edit" behavior and conversation by environment. That's a good thing, like not playing baseball in the house. Or to not tell your husbands lifelong friend he is a world class jackass. Or to not tell your neighbor with an ObamaBiden sign on their car you'd like to hold them accountable for their decision. Can you do all these things? Sure! But, it probably is not your best option.
One of the joys of a blog is you can tell the multitudes your husband's long time friend is a skank. I love that.

Boxer, K9, and Aunty Belle have all had recent posts on the benefits of blogging, the people behind the avatars, or the reasons for misdirection. All very entertaining, and certainly we all weighed in on why, how, when we each choose to spend time on this activity. The recent scrap at K9's dogyard was an awesome demonstration of free speech, free exchange of ideas, and a great education on the realities of a shifting American base all across this country. Even some from other shores. God, I loved that ! It has been a very long time since I have been in a room full of people where the exchange was nearly that interesting. That is a sad statement, but true.

I have been engaged, time and time again by the smart, sassy, kind, nurturing, funny, bitchy, erudite and informative interactions this blog community has offered. I have "met" people I will likely never be introduced to and yet there is a sense of "knowing" a Troll who loves his country and his Gators. Loathes stupidity, especially when associated with certain political parties, will travel long distances to help a relative and take care of a dog. Will show up to protest what he does not agree with, has a wonderful approach to being Uncle Troll, gives no quarter on issues of faith and sometimes shares his angst about the search for his Helen of Troll. Or, what to wear to a wedding or what style of hair and clothing women find most alluring in a man his age. Amazingly, I have discovered through this blog I once lived in Troll Country but I will likely never know if I know Troll.

I have seen a blog community of "strangers" offer counsel and prayer in the difficult patches like Pam's extended hospital vigil for her sister, or Boxer's grief with the loss of beloved family both four legged and two. We all sent blessings to Australia when Gypsy closed down her blog because life and her struggle with MS led her to that decision. We have witnessed the difficulties and absences which earmark Aunty Belles commitment to " seein after Granny" or K9's stunning decision to watch the hawk feast on her beloved hen so the loss would not be for "nothing". This blog shares in a way which is rarely experienced in realtime. I find this blog reminds me of the March family in "Little Women" because so much of what influenced that family's life came from letters and conversations with visitors. Here, we are all effected, perhaps influenced, by the interactions of this blog. What a present for us all.

I also find I have been fortunate to join this blog community during a pivotal time in the history of our nation. Big issues of faith, economics, politics, war, terrorism , bailouts, and even the tenor of our national character have been on the posts. We have benefited by the viewpoints of occasional foreign participants and certainly from the reports from our respective locales.
Very different views have been on display with many going toe to toe with opponents but in most cases with great passion coupled with great civility. In this way, our blog has demonstrated what is so wonderful about people. It has shown antagonists and protagonists can and should engage in exchanges of views for the awareness it brings to all the participants. I found on the blog far more in depth scrutiny of issues than will ever be heard from the mouth of a politician or a newscaster. It has been great!

Thank You All! for being so welcoming to your bloggersphere and for being so generous in sharing your wit, wisdom and solace with Fishy.