How Lucky Can You Get?

[mrdreamjeans]

I received a notice from Live Journal on February 12 that my paid account would be renewed automatically today. I'd always had a free account until two years ago when gotmoof surprised me and gifted me with a paid account. Tim was the one who helped me create this journal and was absolutely correct that this site would be my cup of tea. Last year, I debated and decided to continue with the paid account. I went through the same decision-making process this year and I'm continuing on.

My account was created on August 8, 2003. Tim and I were at his home in La Crosse, WI and he was fooling around on his computer as usual. I glanced over his shoulder and he was blogging. I asked the obvious ... Tim explained Live Journal to me. I knew it would be a good fit with the emphasis on writing; I have no interest in the chat sites. My screen name and the title of my journal were spontaneous ideas; the words flew out of my mouth and felt instantly right. I only wrote a couple of entries until March of 2004 when I was living in Seattle. I've been faithful ever since.

What surprised me was how much I've gotten out of the process of maintaining a journal .. how much the men and women on my friends list have come to mean to me. I started with three names, gotmoof, bluedevilsf and bearbrat. Others on the early list included: bruinwi, mncuddlecub, excessor, drscott, lowfatmuffin, handlebear and bearchitect. From these beginnings, the network expanded outward to include the 280 folks on my current list.

I'm closing with the stats I recently discovered at the bottom of my User page. Since 2003, I've written 950 posts. I've posted 17,221 comments and have received 18,836 comments. I am really blessed. Thank you to all who continue to read my musings, who comment and advise, for the laughter and the tears, for the stunning photographs, for the affection and appreciation. How lucky can you get?