The Internets Is a Strange Country

Several times in the past few years, I've thought about giving up the blog. Some weeks I wonder why I do it. I gotta admit that it feels downright arrogant to think anyone cares what is going on in our lives. But we live pretty far away from the people we love, and I keep posting because it's the easiest way to share photographs and news with friends and family. Occasionally, I share my thoughts as well. And I always like hearing about other people's lives, so I guess I figure it's reciprocated. But it's all fairly mundane, isn't it? I don't write a lot about politics or religion or whether or not to vaccinate your kids. The most controversy I'd ever managed to stir up on this site was probably when we asked people to suggest best- and worst-possible names for the Fabertids. And I gotta say, that didn't bring much.

Anyway, if you'd asked me how many people read my blog, I would have guessed ten at most. And that's only if you let me count husbands and wives separately. As it turns out, a lot more people than I ever would have imagined read this thing. I never knew because very few people leave comments. But recently I decided to try out one of those tracker gizmos that tells you where your readers are from, and I'll be damned if there aren't more of you than I thought from more places than I ever would have guessed. So this has me curious. Who are you folks and what brings you to these parts? It is utterly amazing to me that people from all over the world stop by here. I had no idea. It makes me feel less isolated somehow. And if I had to name my favorite thing about the internet, it might be just that. That people who have never met and never would have any reason to meet "in real life" can stumble across each other in this one place we all have in common. Kind of heartwarming, really.

So welcome, stranger. Pull up a chair and help yourself to a beer. And if you are feeling brave today, leave me a note on your way out. I'd like to meet you.