Friday, July 31, 2009

CELEBRATING THE CONNECTIONS

champagne

It’s my 1st Bloggiversary!

One year ago today, I posted my very first blog post. I had no idea what I was doing. I sadly thought that my only “readers” would be my imaginary friends that deserted me when I was four years old. Much to my surprise, Wodo and Toady (said imaginary playmates-don’t be judgin, people) did not show but real life readers did.

Janie of Midlife Slices of was the first to comment on my blog (other than my next door neighbor whose arm may have been twisted). Janie was kind enough to link my blog on hers. It was that link that brought the rest in one way or another, I’m certain. Janie and I have a connection that is revealed by commenters who think we are related or confuse our husbands. I always have “some splainin” to do when someone leaves a comment about HBL (Janie’s hubby) and me. It was Janie who taught me so many bloggy tricks. I would make newbie mistakes and confess my obvious ignorance in the post. Janie was kind enough to email instructions and I would promptly go back and edit. She became my blog mentor and I was a constant pain in her arse for life the first few months. I’ve tried to pay it forward and offer my help to new bloggers wherever and whenever I can.

The funny (funny–odd, not funny-haha) thing is that the very same people who were the first to comment on my blog are still here and I’m honored to consider them treasured friends. People who don’t blog laugh at the idea that you have friends that you’ve never met in person. But special relationships develop and communities are formed. My bloggy buds are real life buds too. Our friendships have spilled over into real life. Email, telephone conversations, texting, tweeting and real life meet-ups are just a few ways that bloggyville has spilled over into SMBland. If a bloggy bud showed up at my door, they would be welcomed with open arms by my whole family (as long as they bring beer. *wink*)

The Fragrant Liar was there too. Of course she was known at that time as Nana of The Nana Diaries. Her tales of Miss America never fail to put a smile on my face. (Dang, I love that kid!) But more than that she’s a smart mouth, just like me. Now that’s a connection. Gotta love her.

Jan of the Famous Sushi Bar came over from MLS too. Jan’s quick wit and devil may care attitude captured my heart from the get-go. Not only that but we are almost positive that our mothers had to be related. Talk about a connection. Wouldn’t that be something!

Lori at My Life Interrupted, Jason from The Jason Show, Twentyfour at Heart and Midlife Mama were all there in the very beginning and they remain favorites of mine and have a very special place in my heart. Real connections.

Many have come for a visit over the last year and I’m grateful for each and every one. Some return, some move on. You don’t connect with everyone. You’re not meant to. Nevertheless I’ve found so many great blogs and bloggers that it’s difficult to keep up with all of them. But what I’ve also found here in bloggyville is something that I never expected. Real, live people with huge hearts and wonderful spirits that have become real friends. I cherish my friendships with all of you and I am forever changed. You have opened my eyes to new locales, different lifestyles and cultures. I see things through not just my own eyes but your eyes too. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t repeat in conversation something I’ve read here in your pages. We’ve connected. I hope you feel it too.

I had great hopes of doing something spectacular for my bloggiversary but when I tried to come up with a plan, I realized that what I really wanted to say most of all was:

Thank you!

from the bottom of my little pea-pickin heart.



Hugs,
Smart Mouth Broad

39 comments:

Vodka Mom said...

awwwww. And you KNOW we love you. You are a great "loving" part of this blogosphere.

Now, where's the champagne???? Waitress????/

Janie said...

So if I hadn't encouraged you , you might now be here now? Hmmmm. I'll have to think about that one a bit. *wink*

Seriously. My life wouldn't be the same if you hadn't shown up in bloggyland. I'm truely blessed! Muah

Reader Wil said...

Thanks SMB for this post!Congratulations!! Your post made me look back to my oldest post and I noticed that I've been blogging now for exactly 2 years. But the first year I used blogger only to store my entries, which I wrote for EFX2. Because EFX2 was very unstable, so that we lost our previous entries, Patty Lincoln advised me to copy all my entries and file them in blogger. The first year I had only two visitors: Patty and Abe Lincoln, who were also my blogging friends on EFX2. About a year ago I got some other visitors among whom was Dina, who asked me if I wanted to join ABC. So I did and since that time I have a lot of visitors who keep me company. You are one of them. I bless the day that I met you! I am looking forward to that bike ride, you promised me.

Little Ms Blogger said...

Congrats on the 1 Year Anniversary.

I completely relate to your comments about friends in the blogging world and can't explain to others outside it.

I cherish (and am baffled) that I have followers. I love reading what others have to say.

Congrats again!

Mrsupole said...

Congratulations, now where is the champagne, well the bloggy kind anyway. So here is a toast to you and for the next 20 years in bloggyland. My year went by and I never noticed, I was real flakey for the first half because I was too busy blogging somewhere else and not on my Place, so I should probably consider my first post on my site my bloggy b-day. But I will probably ignore it like I did when I hit my first 100.

So someday if I have questions will you please help me cause I still know practically nothing about so many things that I see other bloggers do. I have found that I like all of your posts that I have read and so I hope that by your next bloggerversary, that I will have read all of those. You are great. Thank you.

Take care and God bless.

Crone and Bear It said...

I'm happy to be one of your blogging buddies whether I'm mentioned or not *slightly sniffles* - I love the stuffin' outta you and Happy Blogoversary - reading your blog and tweeting w/you always makes me smile and giggle! Hugs! *lifts wine glass in toast to many more years of blogging* MUAH!

The Peach Tart said...

Happy Anniversary you Smart Mouth Broad!

Jan said...

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY SMB!!!!

You know you make the blogosphere a better place for all of us. I love you, O Long Lost Cousin. ;^)

Ms. Witi said...

Ahhhh .... to think I only found you about a month or so ago. I have missed a whole year of smart mouth. :o)

Hey, I have a ton of blogging questions...I am such a non-savvy, non-techy blogger/computer geek.

Beware. HA!! Kathy

Beth Niquette said...

You know, it has been a real honor to get to know you. What a sweetie you are! ((hugs))

SaraG said...

Congratultions on your one year blogiversary!!!!

Duchess said...

Happy anniversary! I always enjoy your Smart Mouth wisdom even when I don't have a smart mouth to match it and leave a comment.

And because I didn't celebrate my own anniversary (because I didn't like to admit that 1year had come before 100 posts) I would just like to take the opportunity of your anniversary to say how much I also appreciate the amazing Janie at Midlife Slices and the inimitable Jan at the Sushi Bar.

Many happy returns of the day!

darsden said...

Happy Bloganniversary.. How cool, and congrats. I love coming here for a good laugh :-))

Maureen at IslandRoar said...

Happy Blogoversary!
I've only been at it a few months, but it's true about the relationships.
I hope I make it to one year!
I really enjoy your blog.

Beth said...

Happy Blogoversary!

I came here on Pseudo's recommendation. I think she told me you loved Paula Deen (and I love her, too).

I love hanging out with you!

Mike said...

I think that I have seven months behind me, and I learned the same way as you, by getting people to help and advise. Like I said before, read the first few posts of your favorite bloggers, they started out the same way!

midlife slices said...

Oh...and thanks a lot for sending all the new people to my place when I'm being a bad blogger and NOT posting!!! grrrrr......

To all you who don't know me:
She knows I give her a hard time because I love her so. :)

Unknown said...

Congrats on your anniversary. Mine came and went before I realized it. I am hosting Crock Pot Wednesdays on diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com and would love for you to join in. Come check it out.

Kelly P said...

CONGRATS on you blogerversary! I love reading your posts.They are great.You have all your blogger buddies all around. All I have to say is:

IT'S PARTY TIME!!!!

LIVE ~ LOVE ~ LAUGH

cheatymoon said...

Well thank YOU for being a blog friend. You are right that it is difficult to describe the sense of community to people out there in the real world.

xxxxooo and Congratulations. And thank you for being part of my blogging community.

Stacy Uncorked said...

Happy Blogoversary! I only 'discovered' you very recently, but I'm here to stay...I'll be sure to supply the beer! ;)

Joanna Jenkins said...

One year is BIG!!! Congratulations. Here's to many, many more together!!!
Cheers. xo

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Aw, pea pickin' hearts work for me. Always a pleasure to read your posts and receive responses from you. I'm always reminded of what a better biker chick bitch you are than me. Congrats on the anniversary. Get good champagne and don't share it with anyone.

rachaelgking said...

Happy, Happy Bloggiversary!!! :-)

Wunderwoman said...

Happy Anniversary SMB! Hope it's a good one...Now where's the drinks?

K Dubs said...

Happy one year!! I just went and looked and it was 1 year in February for me. Holy moly!

I'll have a cosmo please, waitress!

Debbie said...

Oh congrats Smart Mouth!!!!! I am sorry I have not been around...we are under construction here at the plains and life is a bit crazy. I have and still will thouroughly enjoy your blog for a good time to come I hope. You are everything your title in your blog says you are! Congrats my friend!

CocoDivaDog said...

SMB,
Happy First Year!
We all love you here in Blogland and espeecially in Twitterverse.
I feel like we are next-door neighbors & friends.
Through you, Ive met some fabulous folks!!!
*applause* and ((hugs))

Nina said...

Happy Bloggaversary!! I'm glad you're here and I found your site! Happy Blogging! Love and Light, Nina P

JeanMac said...

Congrats. It's been my pleasure to read.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I had to write my blog for NINE YEARS before I got TWENTY readers on a GOOD day, then I had to turn SIXTY to get 69 readers! And they're temporary. You've done wonders in one year!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations and I'm so happy you decided to blog. I enjoy your writings so much and you have such a great sense of humor. We would all be missing something if you weren't here.

Funny Girl said...

Congrats on your first year. I don't recall how I found your blog, but I'm glad I did.

Pseudo said...

Me too, me too!! ; -) I love being your bloggy friend and am also grateful to the friendhsip that has grown and extended into facets of "real life."

Happy Blogoversary dear one, and hope for many more to come!

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Thanks, everyone, for you wishes and comments. I've truly enjoyed getting to know all of you over the past year. Looking forward to many more.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! Keep on writing. I love stopping by your place to visit. ((HUGS))

Bookworm said...

Yay!! Congrats on your 1 year blogaverary!! Thanks for the linky love! :)) I love reading your blog and I am so glad you're here. You are awesome.

I know I haven't been commenting much lately, but I'm reading! :)

Love ya :))

Girl Tornado said...

Amen sista! I never woulda thunk that I would make so many friends in blogland! I started my blog to stay in touch with family and friends in Ohio after I moved to Kansas. I was shocked at how my blog world grew. I think my mom and my hubby have difficulty understanding the concept of me meeting friends that I adore through blogging.

I want to send thanks and hugs to both you and Janie for being there when I first started out, and extending that olive branch of friendship to me. I send it back to you, a tad stemmy, sans olives (the dogs ate them).

TONY LETTS said...

Happy Bloggiversary. Will there be a book?