One Year Later....

It was a year ago this week that I entered the blogworld.


Well, sort of. This blog was around a little longer than that. But, it was just my online journal where I would write when I felt like it- which sometimes meant weeks or a month or two would go by between posts.


I didn't read other blogs, I didn't know about following- didn't have the follower gadget on mine. Didn't know about blog communities, memes, buttons, any of it. And what? You can do PR on your blog? No clue. I just typed faster than I could hand write and usually misplaced journals, so I just wrote on here, for me.


But, then, last August, I started reading some blogs. And thought, hmmm, look at the comments- what fun to actually have a conversation through a blog. Maybe I could try this.


So, on September 9th, 2009, I joined in my first meme. You can see that post HERE. Yes, it's totally Shell-esque.


Not having a clue and having so many people who were so helpful, teaching me how to do things on my blog and around the blog world. Offering help without me having to ask or jumping into help when I asked for help. I've been doing my best to pay this forward with other blog newbies.


And since then, I have met so many people. Found women that I relate to instantly. And some whom I've gotten to know over time.  And some whom I only know a little bit, but who have touched my life through sharing their stories.


You listen to my stories and I listen to yours.


I'll read a comment and think yes! Look at that, someone completely understands what I'm saying!


It goes beyond just blogs and into email conversations so long that gmail eventually starts the message over in a new one because it has exceeded their limit.


To tweeting, bbm'ing, texting.


Phone calls. Even though I hate the phone.


And meeting some of you in person.


Through this blog, I've met people who I know I can turn to when I need to vent, or cry, or sometimes even flat-out bitch when I need to. You offer me advice, agree with me on some things or help me to see the other side of an issue.


I feel like I have an online family.  When I talk about you, I don't say "this girl whose blog I read," I say "my friend."


I never guessed any of this when I took that first hesitant step off my own little space and into the blogworld.


Never.


It's these friendships- ones that have been around for a while- like some of the girls who commented on that very first post and we still read each others' blogs- to ones that we have met along the way and formed a connection with- to ones that we have just met recently- we are celebrating these friendships(along with your IRL friends, too, of course) during Women's Friendship Month.

One of the Friends You Love girls, Kristen at Only Parent Chronicles, is having a Blogoversary Bash for her blog next Wednesday, September 15th. A twitter party from 9-10:30 EST. Sponsored by Eden Fantasys- there are SO many prizes that it has to be an hour and a half to get to all of them! You can RSVP HERE.