Saturday, April 21, 2012

Four More Years!

hank hands

On this day I have been blogging for four years. I cannot account for my persistence in this habit. I must really be getting something out of it.

And of course I am! (That was my trademark dry humor that you've come to love! RIGHT?)

Three big somethings come to mind: I have made real friends of people I met entirely on the internet, and I've grown closer to people I already knew because they became readers here; I have learned a ton from the people who comment here, on matters practical and more metamagical; and the third thing is more interior. It's that sometimes, on this blog, I have known the satisfaction of saying something the way I meant to say it. Anyone who writes, even if it's just an email to a friend, knows that that is an elusive butterfly.

I certainly don't achieve it in every post, but it flickers in and out, even if only I can see it. And I get satisfaction from reading back and discovering moments that make me say, "Oh, this is a true record of how I thought about this thing," or, "This is exactly how this was for me."

I don't mean for this to be horn-tooty! I'm just talkin' 'bout Shaft.

By way of anniversary retrospective, here are the posts from the last several months that stick out in my mind. In these posts, in places, I said it the way I hoped to:

Old Picture
The one about the snapshot of my brother, sister, and me. I think about this one still.

He'll Be Here All Week
The one where I took Hank for his five year-old checkup. I'm saving it for his rehearsal dinner.

All Happy Families Are Alike
The one about being with my whole family in the mountains and the group picture and the nightstands left in the Swap Hut. Reading it makes me feel like we're still together. A close second in this regard is Cricket Finger.

Let's Name Numbers
The one about my health insurance clusterfuck. To put it delicately. The comments on this one are invaluable, really.

The Report on That Dildo Party
I read this and still laugh. Read it and you never have to go to one of these parties. And thank you for being a friend.

Lovin'
The one about having The Talk with Laura, sorta.

My memory only goes back to late last summer, apparently. Thank you for indulging me in this look backward. You people are in my head. You're in there when I'm writing, and I'm thinking, "How to tell them this?" It is some of the best fun that can be had.

xoxo


20 comments:

Leciawp said...

Happy blogaversary, Becky. I know exactly what you mean about what you get out of it. I'm glad you're 'here'. xoxo

Christian said...

Congratulations on your BA in blogology!

Beth said...

Wow, four years! That's fantastic. That is PLENTY of content for a book, so keep that in mind.

You have a wonderful knack for being insightful and expressing said insights in clever, funny, and heart-warming ways. I know that sounds a little like some adjectives I just pulled out of a Hallmark card, but I think they express what I mean.

See? I cannot do this thing of which you speak, this saying-exactly-what-I-mean thing.

jo said...

cricket finger is my alltime fave, pure gold. Keep on keeping on.

Sheila said...

I am glad you are here....you make me laugh AND think on a regular basis. Thank you.

Justine said...

"He'll be here all week" was early on when I found your blog, and I remember thinking "This person is somebody special." Your blog continues to prove me right. Thanks for that!

Anonymous said...

Becky - I "stumbled" on your blog through A Day that is Dessert (another one that I read on a daily basis). My best friend and I love your blog and from time to time, we'll facebook each other and say "did you read Suburban Matron today?" One post that really stands out is the one with the wigs...I read that one more than once and it always made me laugh. Even though I'm a grandmother now, I can look back and relate to what you blog about your children and your life as a wife and mother. Thanks for sticking with the blogging! We love you out here in blogdom....
Susan Williamsburg, VA

Camp Papa said...

It's been a good run. I'm feeing like I could hold my end of the deal for another four years.

kathy said...

Happy blogging! I love reading your blog because you do capture what I often would like to express in words only can't or don't. Keep it up. I love it.

delaine said...

Hey, four years of fun, laughs, and a few goosebumps/tears: priceless! I love opening up to a new blog post from you. Congrats on capturing the thoughts and feelings so well for me. I especially love the ones you highlighted as I went back and reread them and enjoyed them and got teary-eyed all over again! Well done, Bec!

Veronica said...

Hmmm, a book; I agree with Beth!

Lisa Lilienthal said...

What would we do without you (and Camp Papa, thank goodness he's in for four more years!)! Congratulations, and thank you for sharing your life and your marvelous wit and insight.

Allison said...

I love the blog, your writing style is funny and insightful. Here's to four more!

Bonnie said...

Ditto what everyone else said!

Aimee said...

Happy Blogiversary!

Elizabeth said...

Oh, happy blogaversary, Becky! I am inordinately glad to have met you both here and in person and hope you'll grace us with your prose and dry wit forever!

Anonymous said...

Four years is a long time; most bloggers have whiningly let theirs lapse long before this mark. xoxox

Rebekah said...

Keep up the good blogging! One day I may be inspired enough to join you.

Jane said...

I remember all those posts. You really are wonderful at blogging, Becky. You say things not just in the way you meant to, but in a way that lets other people really _get_ it. An elusive butterfly, indeed.

Jane said...
This comment has been removed by the author.