Twas Brillig

One year ago today, I was sitting at the computer in my mother-in-law’s basement, and suddenly I thought, “I’m going to create a blog under a pen name and write whatever I feel like writing.” I pulled the name “Brillig” out of the air and I ran with it.

My first posts were mediocre at best. I received comments from a couple of real-life friends who I’d shared my big secret blog with and they commented under fake names. It wasn’t until the gorgeous and amazing Amy of Butrfly Garden, who I had never met or heard of before, showed up at my blog and left me my first “comment from a stranger” that I realized how much fun this thing could be.

I currently have a total of 246 posts and 6,513 comments.

Over the last year, I’ve poured my heart out here. I’ve said things that were deep, I’ve said things that were stupid. I’ve told cheesy love stories and invited others to do the same. I’ve recounted nights in bomb shelters in Jerusalem and nights in cockroach-infested hospitals in Argentina. And there might even be one or two (thousand) posts about my children…

This blog has opened up doors for me that I never expected. For instance, I spent today at a writer’s conference—a conference for aspiring novelists. I would have never gotten involved in something like this if it hadn’t been for some of my blog readers (who are themselves published novelists) who told me that I simply had to write a novel. Why they think I can write a novel, I have no idea. But there were enough of them pushing me in that direction, basing their opinions of me solely on my blogposts, that I found myself helpless to resist.

And then, a few months back, because of my blogging, I got involved with Cre8buzz, and somehow my little bloggy climbed to the top. Of nearly 3000 participating blogs, mine has been ranked #1 for months. (Though, embarrassingly enough, I just looked and noticed that it’s fallen to third place. Come on, people! Show me some love!)

In a year of blogging, I’ve had some posts that have completely flopped—believe me, some have been simply awful! I’ve also had some posts that have somehow really resonated with people. My most popular picture is here— one that I took of my sweet daughter just before she headed off to school for the first time. My most popular post is here— it got 73 comments (which is not the most comments I’ve ever gotten, but they were the most meaningful) and it was honored with the Perfect Post Award for October.

More than anything, my blog has brought me some amazing friends. I’ve literally gotten to know hundreds of people. But there are a handful who stand out, with whom I have formed deep and eternal connections. These are people who I had never met before I started blogging, but who I now care about deeply. They have opened my eyes and changed the way I see the world. They have taught me, they have given me their love and their friendship. They have truly changed my life. They are some of my truest, bestest friends. In no particular order, they are: Butrfly Garden, Jenn in Holland, Novembrance, SMID, and Temporary? Insanity. I love them. I love them!

So, thanks, dear Bloggy, for all the things you’ve contributed to my meager existence. Happy, Happy Birthday.