I'm a toddler blogger now

February.

It happens every year about this time.

It’s the shortest month in the entire year, but full of so many different things.

Like Groundhog Day. It always makes me laugh because it’s so absurd. And, they even made a movie about it, which also makes me laugh.

Then there is Valentine’s Day. I love hearts. I have several pieces of heart jewelry and lots of heart decorations around my house. Since I was a little slack in sending out Christmas cards back in December, I have tried to make up for it by sending out a few Valentine’s cards. That’s always fun becasue people aren't really expecting them.

February also brings a holiday for presidents. Well, not really FOR presidents, but in honor of them, celebrating all the cherry pie and not telling lies and wooden teeth. And reading books and theatre assassinations.

This year we have a new president, who is also African American. Which is another thing about February. It’s Black History month.

This year Lent begins in February. I’m not sure that’s always to the case, but it’s probably close.
On a personal level, February always makes me think of craniotomies. (If you want to know why, click here and read this). It’s funny how a personal experience will affect your perspective about something simple, like the weather conditions in February. It’s also funny how something random (like the weather) will trigger memories of that personal experience. For me, there’s something about a cold, brisk, sunshiny February day that always makes me think about a brain being exposed to the light of day. Weird, I know.

And, tomorrow, I’m celebrating something new in February. My first blogiversary. It’s been one year since my very first post. Wow. I can’t believe 12 months have gone by already.

I don’t even remember how I even got interested in blogging in the first place. It’s almost like I woke up one day and said, “I think I’ll start my own blog.” And I did.

I didn’t do it for any kind of supplemental income. I don’t have ads or sponsors or giveaways, so there is no money involved.

I didn’t do it to become a part of a larger community or to network and add to my contact list. I like to communicate but I prefer more intimate settings, not mass, global levels and not at light speed. I do not have a Facebook page, I don’t twitter. I don’t even really have a cell phone. (Well, OK, I have a prepaid phone with about 30 minutes on it that I carry in my purse just for emergencies. I don’t even know the phone number of it. I only use it to call my husband and it's turned off until I get ready to do that).

In the same vein, I didn’t start blogging to grow my own cult. By that I mean, I have no intentions of building a readership for some future book I want to write. There is no such book in my head. I also had no expectations about comments. By that I mean, I expected that there would be no comments. I know there are some readers because I get emails and face to face comments from some local friends. I love those of you who do read and I’m glad you’re along for the ride, but sorry, I didn’t really get into the blog thing to keep you informed and intrigued by the goings-on in my head. That’s just a bonus, for free.

The real fun is in reading other people’s blogs. I can’t tell you how many times in the last year I’ve been drawn in to other people’s lives that I have never met. Sometimes I get so absorbed in it that I think these bloggers live right in my own neighborhood and are my best friends. The blogosphere makes me believe it really is a small world after all. But at the same time, I have never met most of the people who write the blogs I read and I probably never will because they live half way around the world, which makes me feel small and the world too big. I had no idea about any of that that kind of duality this time last year.

All I know is a long time ago I used to be different. Somewhere along the way in living life and getting older, for one reason or another, I lost many of my creative outlets. My creativity, part of my heart and soul, just stayed inside longing for release. About a year or so ago, I began to think my head would explode from the internal build-up. Voilá! The blog spot for my brain overload was born.

Maybe if I keep at it for another year, I might figure out what in the world I’m really doing here. If you have any clue, leave me a comment. Or not. I love you anyway.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3: 16-08