Monday, October 03, 2005

A new friend

Morphing into Mama and I had a wonderful and very long lunch yesterday at a little bistro near my apartment. She is as fabulous as you would guess from reading her blog. She's smart, funny, gorgeous, down to earth and really nice. She's going to make a great therapist (actually, she already is a great therapist she just doesn't have the degree yet). I just wish she didn't live so far away!

Thinking back, here are the expectations I had in writing this blog:

- working on my writing
- getting over my fear of writing "in public"
- having an outlet to express my feelings about various things
- sharing my life experience with other people in the hopes that things I've learned might help someone else.
- getting feedback from people about my writing and advice on various issues in my life

I hoped people would read my blog; I feared that no one would. I was so excited when I got my first comment - Sandra will always hold a special place in my heart for being the first person to comment! Realizing that I could insert a webcounter was a revelation - I could tell when people were reading even if they weren't commenting (or maybe they just stumbled on my blog and got the hell out of there as fast as they could but at least they were visiting, if only for a minute).
It didn't occur to me that this blog would help me develop a community. I have regular commenters (besides MIM and Sandra, there's landismom, a fab writer and one of the few people I "know" that really lives their values) and I have people that stop by on occasion. Like a "regular" community, an online community consists of people you see all the time and people you see every once in awhile. I read MIM, Sandra and landismom's blogs every day. I try to stop by the others on my list every couple of days and I try to add at least one new blog each week as a way of expanding my horizons (and increasing my community). It's the community that keeps me writing - I know how disappointed I am when one of my online friends doesn't post, I don't want to disappoint my regulars!

My one concern is that I've been spending so much time with my new online friends that I'm starting to neglect my old friends a little bit. I have to keep in mind the song I learned long ago in Brownies: Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold.

8 comments:

landismom said...

I know what you mean about developing a community. Partly because of my telecommuting life, the bloggers that I interact with regularly are like my watercooler friends. I actually have conversations with my dh involving comments that people make on my blog, which is a little weird. Thanks for the hat tip!

Kimberly said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Kimberly said...

I love that Brownies song! Good thoughts:)

PS- Thanks for the skype advice. My cousin and I talked for an hour last night. It was wonderful!!

Anonymous said...

You have a wonderful blog. After reading it, I am seriously considering a personal blog of my own!
-Jill

SlackerMom said...

Jill - You have a very cute site. (Everyone should go look at the cute stuff at joliesonline.com!) I will definitely browse around when I have time. I'm glad you came to visit - come back any time!

Anonymous said...

I feel this way all the time. It's amazing how guilty I feel if I go too long without visiting my "regular" sites. It's like driving past a neighbor without waving...guilt, guilt, guilt. It fascinates me how much the "community" has become an important part of my days.

Anonymous said...

So, it's taken me a million years to comment for two reasons: 1) life has been insane since I last say you!; and 2) I blush every time I read this post. So, yes, I read it earlier this week, and just didn't know what to say -- but didn't really have time to comment anyway . . . blah, blah, blah. I do, however, feel like I should send you a check for your kind comments. How much should I make it out for??

Seriously, I had a GREAT time! Call me when you get out here!

SlackerMom said...

MIM - No payment necessary! I will definately call you when I get to the west coast.