Two years ago today, Irish Gumbo came to life in this here blogosphere. 461 posts, lots of tears, laughs and weirdness later, here I am still at it. A small miracle, that.
Back then I really had no idea how this thing would evolve, or if it would evolve at all. Mutate is perhaps the better word, 'cause I'm all about the mutations...
I say small miracle, because it is the second longest personal project I have ever undertaken. The first was my personal (longhand) journals that I began in July 2003, the month my first children were born. Those journals I kept up for almost five years, much longer after the twins passed away.
And then I got tired. Or something.
Anyway, I decided I would put them aside for a while, just to see what it was like. It was nice, not having that personal pressure in my head to "produce" something, to do that daily entry. But as many of you know, and as I found out myself, my fascination with and love of the written word did not fade away. It was there, always, a presence or breathy whisper in my ear: "Write."
I couldn't resist the call, I'm a sucker for a pretty lady who is kind to me, even if she occasionally makes me nuts. If that isn't love, I'm not sure I know what it is.
Two years. A few months back I considered giving up on this blog, too. The pressure inside and out was piling on and I felt like I needed to hibernate. Life and stuff, you know.
But I didn't so I'm here, for better or worse. On this, the two-year anniversary of this the hot mess I call Irish Gumbo, I want to say thank you to all you kind folks, new readers and long-time fans alike, who put your peepers on my page. I've made some interesting connections, met some of you in the Real World (and hope to meet many more), and generally had a grand time sharing, learning and reading.
Thank you, one and all. A long, strange trip...and I hope you'll stay on for at least a few more stops...
Posts
Your blog adds a wonderful spice to the blogging world Irish Gumbo...so glad i found you and you are still blogging! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you didn't give up the blog Irish. You are a light and such a talented writer. I've been in hibernation mode for a little over a year now, huddled down to the core and peeping out only when a cool breeze blows by. I've had a hard time keeping up my blog connections, but the important ones seem to have weathered my storm with me. I'm so glad you are one of them.
ReplyDeleteHaunting and beautiful photo of the tracks BTW.
Happy Blogoversary!! I raise my glass in a toast to many more years of hot Irish Gumbo! xx
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary, mon cher ami, Irish! Long live the Gumbo! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't dream of leaving! Happy Blogiversary! (we started at nearly the same time.)
ReplyDeleteThis a pretty happening blog you got going on here, a little information overload for the new bloggers like me
ReplyDeleteGlad you're still here, Gumby!
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
=]
Congrats on the second anniversary, old fruit!
ReplyDeletewell done you! xoxoxox
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary, dear. I'm glad you're still here.
ReplyDeleteJan
This is my first visit to your blog - I was intrigued by the title on Joanna's blog roll and so...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your anniversary. I will read past posts with relish. I feel much the same way about blogging -- it does call to me, and it is the most sustained project I've done (5 years in 2 months).
Glad to have found you!
Glad that you are still at it. I do the written journal stuff as well. But I put a lot of other thoughts into the blog world. Keep it up, my friend.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on hitting the two year mark.
ReplyDeleteOn Blog Breaks -
My personal online journal is close to ten years old (oh god I'm old). Prior to that, I always kept hand-written journals, but my typing speed is more in line with my thought speed. I know there was a multiple year hibernation period where I didn't post at all. I didn't write in longhand journals either. Later, I realized this was when I was feeling the worst in my life, felt the least put together, and made the least personal progress. I really feel for many folks, it can be a form of therapy and self-improvement, a way to organize thoughts in ways that are difficult without seeing it all written down.
Look forward to reading more in the future.
So happy you didn't give up, Irish. That you chose this photo of the winding railroad tracks to mark your blogiversary says so much. Looking forward to the next stops. But I'm gonna need to order a beer.
ReplyDeleteAnd who's punching the tickets around here?
Only 2 years? Really? Wow. I didn't realize we were Irish twins.
ReplyDeleteTwo years... quick, eh? Glad you stuck with it. The bloggy world wouldn't be the same without you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with Pseudo - Love that photo.
:-)
Two years Eh! Makes me feel old!
ReplyDeleteFunny how we both started within weeks of each other to!
So glad that you're still around Irish...