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Monday, January 12, 2009

A Little History ...

**Please remember to give me a vote at Mormon Mommy Blogs, if you haven't already.  Tuesday is the deadline!**

I began this blog in April of 2006 when I tried to comment on the new blog of an old friend and somehow didn't see how to do it without creating a Blogger account.  This was, clearly, back before Google owned Blogger.  I saw later how to just comment, but I'd already taken the plunge.

My blog was never meant to be an actual journal of daily life, never really a way for friends and family to keep track of us.  I wasn't interested in that.  I wanted only to write.  

A few years before I made a list of things from my childhood that I wanted to write about.  I think I wrote two essays.  I emailed them to my dad (and probably also my mom) to read.  He's not an easy critic, and he was impressed.  But I never did more.  So I saw this as an opportunity to continue with these stories.  I'm not sure that I've actually blogged anything off of that list, but I've been inspired by my thoughts and feelings and other memories that have arisen as I went.

I used to post about twice a month.  That was my goal, at any rate.  But sometimes it was less.  My audience of 6 consisted of my dad, my mom, my college roommate Jenny, sometimes my HS best bud Kelly, a dear friend from forever Laura, and the occasional person who actually followed the link that is at the bottom of all of my emails.  Jenny used to comment on each post.  Sometimes I'd get an email from my mom or Laura about a post.  Once my dad emailed me that he thought I should have a much broader readership than I did.  Laura emailed me that she thought I could write a column.  But really, it never mattered much to me.  I was writing for myself.  And I read my posts much more frequently than I wrote them.

Then this summer I moved to Idaho after 14 years in Southern California.  And I am glad, but I have felt very displaced.  For some reason, at this same time, one of my sometimes-readers who many of you know as Clan of the Cave Hair seemed to be visiting my blog a little more frequently and I was checking out hers more in return.  I was impressed with all of her readers, all of these friends that she had in the blogging world.  For a while I really assumed that these were all people she knew in real life who happened to blog.  I'd been "blogging" for two years, but had never really entered any portion of the blogging community and did not understand how it ticked.  

So, being lonely, I started peeking in on some of these blogs of gals who commented on Lisa's posts.  But I would never presume to comment.  These people didn't know me and would probably be annoyed that I was invading their privacy.  But then on Brittany's blog (an author, WOW) there was a post or two about a meet and greet.  After a couple of readings I realized that everyone was meeting each other.  Like, for the first time.  I think Brittany was the first person who's blog I commented on.  She loves Jane Austen books, and so do I, and I thought that might give me an in.  She didn't seem to mind, so I continued.  

I can't remember all the details of how this blogging experience blossomed for me, but it gradually did.  And I came to understand that most of these girls (and men, Ca-Joh) were a lot like me.   Not the kids at the cool table, as I'd originally assumed,  but misfit kids and insecure ones and funny ones and sweet ones and neurotic ones and pretty normal ones.  I found that I could make friends.  Not fake friends.  Real friends.  Just on-line.

I also realized that I'd need to post more often than twice a month to keep an audience.  Figuring out just how to do that continues to be a challenge for me.  I don't want tons of fluff on here.  I don't mind and even quite enjoy reading it other places, but I want to keep the purpose of this blog largely in tact as a place for me to write.

That is not why I want begin to post the occasional "Friday Flashback."  I want to do it because I've written some pretty good stuff in the past nearly three years, if I do say so myself, and I'd love to have more than 6 people read it.  (I may even get 12 people to read it now!)  Look for my first flashback on the 16th.  I'll pick a good 'un.

26 fishy comments:

Brooke said...

I had no idea there was this whole "community" of bloggers either. My sister got into it, but it still took me at least 6 months before the bug bit me. Now I can't seem to get off of my computer.

Lara Neves said...

It took me three years before i finally started commenting on the blogs of people I don't know. It's been fun, though!

Goob said...

I never knew that blogs were anything but exactly what the SSB blog satires, until I read SSB. I remember thinking, what? There are blogs out there that serve other purposes than to push the keeping up with the Jones' agenda? (or keeping the grandparents informed while living a distance away). I remember very specifically reading a SSB post, linking to a Pulsipher Predilections Post, leaving a comment, and then within a few days of linking and commenting finding that people were reading my blog too. It was weird and exciting, but I've tried not to get too emotionally involved in it. If I had more friends who lived locally, I could probably walk away from it all-together, but since I don't, this sort of fills the need for adult conversation.
I think its hilarious that at first you thought I knew all these people...I wish! (although, I will admit, that on Facebook I have been shocked and amazed at some of the people who've come out of the woodwork to say hello to me. Some of them I never even knew they knew my name. Its funny how perspectives can change in adulthood).

Erin said...

And it's kind of funny how our husbands don't understand it. My husband supports me completely, but he doesn't understand..."You mean, you have people you consider friends that you haven't even met?" Yep, honey, I really like these women. And they aren't pulling the wool over my eyes. They write with their hearts, I write with mine, and we connect!

Jennifer said...

I'll be reading it!! I hope I make 13... 113 that is :o) looks like you have quite a following to me though! I just started blogging a couple of months ago myself for the same reasons. I love to write and I'm a journalist but it's nice to write for FUN sometimes... not for money :o)

Can't wait to read more! I'll be lookin' the 16th!

Jillene said...

I started my blog as a journal as well and NEVER knew it would turn out that I would meet some amazing women!! I really do love this blogging thing!!

carrhop said...

I for one have been so blessed by getting to 'know' you through blogging!

Blessings!

Rebecca Irvine said...

I have never heard of a meet and greet for bloggers. How does that work? It sounds interesting!

Heatherlyn said...

That makes sense to me! It explains why your writing is actually REAL writing (and pretty darn good, too!).

BTW, my Mom was checking out your blog and she said it is her favorite :) Actually she said, "My favorite blog is the one with the pink background and something about little fish?" Then she wanted to know where you came up with the title. I surmised that maybe you felt like a little fish in a big pond. But I don't know really, where did the name come from?

Loralee and the gang... said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Loralee and the gang... said...

I jumped over here from All Good Things Come... and I'm glad I did. If all your writing is anything like this post, then I am in for a treat, I think. I will join your 'Following' (and will YOU please join MINE?)
I too love blogging, despite the teasing from my husband and my teenage daughter (who herself spends WAY too much time on IM) I love it that it's a journal, and once in a while I come up with a post or two that I like to re-read myself, so I hope others enjoy them.
And, I love to leave comments - almost as much as I like getting them!
:D

Becky said...

Blogging is a whole 'nother world, isn't it?

It took me a while to find my "place," and now my poor kid is all, when can I use the computer, Mom? I'm addicted - what can I say? :)

susette said...

I admire writers, especially since I'm not one. I'm kind of a short and sweet and to the point kind of gal. Have a great day my new friend :)

mCat said...

Secretly LOVE to write, so this has been a great creative outlet for me, especially since I DON'T scrapbook or cutsie journal. This is it.
Annnnnnd, since I enjoy your blog, keep the posts coming girl!!

Diane said...

I am newish to blogging and really enjoy making new BBFF. One of my friends who doesn't blog asked me "you read blogs from people you don't know? Why? That's creepy!" I don't think she knows that there are all different kinds of blogs, not just the ones about people's families and their perfect lives.

I blog for many reasons too. It's a online scrapbook, since I am two years behind on my regular ones, a way for the grandparents to keep in touch (they love it!) And a way to meet new people.

I enjoy your writing, I don't consider myself a great writer, but you inspire me.

Goob said...

I love the online scrapbook comment. That is one of my biggest reasons for blogging. Its a way to create something out of the pictures and thoughts I have about family, etc without spending money or making a mess. I love blogging because its FREE! (Yeah for FREE)

Unknown said...

My blog was just for people I knew in real life until I met Brinatty and her circle of bloggers! I met her later that year! We continue to get together at least once a year. We've been BBFF's ever since!

Unknown said...

Oops! You wrote Brittany, not Brinatty. It was fun thinking we had someone in common anyway!

Cute blog!

Kristina P. said...

I've probably met 35 women from blogging. Brittany and I have actually become good friends, and even went on a triple date with our husbands!

I'm a social person, but am not great at making real friends easily, and blogging has provided that for me.

Heidi said...

17 comments and counting. Methinks thou dost protest too much!

Cajoh said...

Thank you for the shout-out. I believe that your reasons for blogging are very similar to mine— I just want to be able to write. I always want my audience to expand and would love to know how those other bloggers get so many readers— so if you ever figure it out… let me know as well.

Brittany Marie said...

Yay! And I'm so glad you came to my blog! I didn't know my blog took your comment-posting virginity.

I was so excited to post my Sense & Sensibility review because I wanted to know what you'd have to add to it! I loved it! I can't wait to see what you will have to add to my Persuasion post.

Austenites Unite!

Rhonda said...

Like Erin, I have the support of my husband too...but he too doesn't understand fully how fun this is...

I so appreciate the message in your post. Thanks for sharing.

Fun Girl said...

Blogging is so fantastic. The connection you get with other women is wonderful.

Elisa said...

I have a testimony of blogging too.

It is an incredible thing! I have had this blog for 4 years (because I had moved across country and was a lonely outsider in UT)... I only starting commenting on peoples blogs after President Hinckley died. What a shame it took so long, because I missed out on making amazing friendships.

I heart your blog! Its wonderful! I'm glad you started commenting and joined the MMB so we could all find you!

rachel said...

I'm here! I love how you write, because I relate to you so much and I feel myself saying (out loud entirely too much :) yah, me too! I cannot wait to read your flashback fridays!!