"Even though I have neglected my daily writing, I am grateful there are still those of you out there still blogging." ~ Debbie

This is the wonderful thing about blogging.  No one sees you.  And I must admit when I sit down late in the evening, which is usually the time I do most of my writing, this is pretty much how I look.  Just picture her with silvery-white hair and glasses and that would be me.  Oh, and a tall glass of iced tea.  If I drank coffee that late at nite I would never sleep.

I got another comment that's sticking with me by a reader named Debbie.  I quoted it above in my title.  You know, I've read here and there the past few years that blogging is a dying art, just like snail mail letters.  I wish I had a dollar for every snail mail letter I've written in my life, as well as every one I received.  I got my first pen pal when I was 8 and I acquired hundreds of pen pals between that time until a few years ago when email seemed to take over for the world's postal services.  Then I went the route of email pen pals for a while but that was never as satisfying as finding a true-blue real honest-to-goodness letter sitting in my mail box.  Something besides bills and junk mail.  And then there was the deliciousness of getting a cup of coffee, sitting down on the couch, opening the envelope, and reading news from some friend or loved one in their own individual handwriting.  Knowing they'd actually touched the paper or stationery, had taken the time to sit and write it to me.  I'm sorry, but there just isn't that magic in some words typed on a screen, no matter how nice, no matter how much you enjoy hearing from someone.  Then along came MySpace.  Bebo.  And the monster of all mega-monsters, Facebook.  Don't get me wrong.  Facebook is a lifesaver for me as far as keeping in touch with family and friends 2400 miles away on the west coast.  I am thankful for it.  But I'm just sayin'.

And so...back to blogs.  I read when I first began blogging in April 2005 that a million new blogs were being created every day at that time.  And if you had even one visitor stop by you were really lucky.  It took me a few weeks to finally get my first comment and I was as giddy as a kid with a new toy.  Somebody was reading what I'd written!  I remember lamenting to my daughter, "No one seems to be reading my blog!" and she shook her head and rolled her eyes and showed me where the stats were on Bravenet at the time.  I'd had almost 1000 visitors!  I was flabberghasted!  And now...6 1/2 years later...I've had close to 3/4 of a million.  My little peanut brain can't wrap around that number, just like it still can't wrap around the reality of living in Michigan yet.  But even if it had ended at 1000 I would've been happy.  That's a 1000 more people than I ever dreamt I would reach.  And even if the numbers die off and dwindle down to nothing, this is for my most important audience of all...my grandchildren.  I'm not here to spew out my political views.  I'm not here to change the world.  I'm here to record my simple life, day by day, and to teach my grandchildren the beauty and the wonder of Life.  To try to teach them to embrace each moment of every day because Life is a gift. If I am able to leave them that legacy, every word on this blog has been worth it.

And so another day has come and is slipping by at greased-lightning speed.  It's beautiful outside and time for a walk.  But first...thank you, Debbie.