Thursday, February 26, 2009

Five years ago tomorrow . . .

. . . I took a break from folding laundry and decided, more or less on a whim, that it might be fun to start a blog. Despite my extended absence from here, which will continue for a while yet, it seems like a good idea to keep it going.

While walking Scruffy this evening, I thought about what I might post on by way of looking back over the past five years--Things Accomplished, Lessons Learned, etc. Whatever work this blog represents for me has been in me. It has made me think harder about things that matter to me and has, in some cases, led me to a strengthening of my convictions--I still might be wrong about them, but I like to think I'm more skilled now in expressing my wrongheadedness--and has led to a reassessment of some others. It's also made me more attentive as I go about my business or read or listen to music or watch films or look at pictures: I'm no longer thinking solely about what I think about these things but about how best to talk about what I think about them. That's because keeping this blog compels me to think about audience in ways the usual diary or journal would not.

Whatever merits this blog has, therefore, is due in large measure to the fact that people visit it. But more to the point, those of you who visit regularly and make your presence known via comments keep me honest: you are smart, thoughtful people. I don't want to look dumb or foolish in front of you on too regular a basis if I can help it.

Thanks for helping keep this blog going for as long as it has.
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Many thanks to those of you who have wished me and the Mrs. well. You may like to know that she is doing better, which means that I am, too. I hope to have the chance to be a bit less cryptic about all this a little later; in the meantime, though, I still have work to catch up on. I'll be back in, most likely, a couple of weeks.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

good to hear progress is being made on the home front - that's what's important....

Anonymous said...

I'm glad things are looking up for the Mrs.

As for five years, congrats! Keeping these things going for that long is indeed an achievement, and I look forward to another five years.

Cheers.

Sheila Ryan said...

"It might be fun to start a blog."

"I think it would be fun to start a newspaper."

So glad you are still at it, John, and it is good to learn that Mrs Meridian is better.

Positive vibrations from me (and Robyn HItchcock and The Soft Boys).

Cordelia said...

I stopped by to wish you a happy blogaversary, and am heartened to see your post here from last night, especially the news that Mrs. Blog Meridian may be on the mend. I was very worried about you. If you think there is anything we out here in the bloglands can do, say the word.

Gwynne said...

Glad the Mrs. is doing better, and glad that you'll be checking in from time to time even while taking a break. Your blog is the essence of what I think a good blog should be...intelligent, well reasoned, educational, and humorous. Your insight into the world around us never fails to illuminate. And it's obvious that you put a lot of work into it...thank you!

Cordelia said...

I'm just dropping in, or on, your virtual front porch for an evening cup of tea, to leave a virtual casserole at the doorstep and to wish you well. See you around when you're back around.