My Blog Followers

Best as I can tell, there are four groups of people who read this blog:

1. Those who I've actually met in person, but don't talk with often;
2. Those who I've never met, but communicate with electronically (via email or the Tracheostomy.com message board);
3. Those who I've never met and don't have a clue are reading; and
4. Those who I see in my real, every day life

I started this blog as a way to keep family and friends updated on Jack's spinal fusion surgery. Two years later and I'm still blogging. For the most part, I blog about the mundane details of every day life. I record pictures and share Eric funnies mainly to create a scrapbook of my life that I (and my kids) will always have to look back on. To the extent it has entertainment value for those who read, all the better. Then there are those times when I share my innermost feelings and thoughts with utmost honesty and frankness (because subtlety has never been my strong suit). When I reach into the depths of my heart and soul and write about the difficulties, challenges and triumphs of life, I share a very private part of myself that I wouldn't likely share face to face with you. I don't mind sharing such personal feelings because I figure for the majority of the people reading this, I either don't know you or I don't see you often enough to worry that you'll remember what I said.

It's much easier to write from the heart if I pretend that no one I know is reading. Problem is, I keep running into people I haven't seen in a while and they start out our conversation where I left off on my blog. Talk about a feeling of deja vu! It doesn't bother me so much that people I see in person know the goings on in my every day life, but the fact that they also know some of my most profound thoughts and they are right there looking me in the eyes . . . well, I feel so transparent. It gives me pause about putting so much out there for everyone to read.

However, blogging is very therapeutic for me and I also see it as the foundation for that book I hope to write some day. So, despite the occasional feeling of vulnerability, I shall continue to share all of my story with those I know, those I don't know and those I hope to get to know. Thanks for checking in, thanks for caring and thanks for sharing your comments.