Three Year Bloggiversary

Today is the three year anniversary of the first time I wrote a blog post.  Before that there had been a Geocities community – what were those? – and I had a Facebook account that I populated far too frequently.  There were also the scores of emails that I wrote during bedrest with my husband’s laptop balanced on my giant tummy, the internet cable running all the way down the stairs to the family room.  Those emails would have made great blog posts, but they would have had to remain anonymous.  I was not a happy bedrester.  But it was on this day in 2008 that I wrote two long posts and hit publish for the first time on Resourceful Mommy.

Saying Goodbye to Fernando: I wrote about my couch.  Well, actually, it was a double papasan from Pier One.  I bought it right before I moved in with my best friend who took her own life in 2003.  It was also the place where my husband and I shared our first kiss, and likely our first many other things as well.  It was a concrete, material symbol of my youth.  And I gave it away.

…At my husband’s urging I turned to Freecycle where I knew some thankful freecycler would read my post and instinctively hit the respond button, their heart racing, reflexes jumping, hoping to reply to my listing first. I knew that to truly find a new owner, I’d have to be creative. My listing read as follows:

This offer is for a Pier One double papasan (the loveseat sized version of the papasan chair) that answers to the name of Fernando. Fernando has been a true friend over the years, but we need to find him a new forever home. He was where I was sitting when my now husband stole his first kiss (or did I do the stealing?), he gave me a cozy place to sit when my daughter cried in the night, and he witnessed lots of family fun. Unfortunately, he’s being pushed out by our new friends – large,plastic toys. If you’ve got a place in your home for Fernando, please let me know. No resales or donations, please. Thanks!

And then I had to get real…

p.s. Preference given to anyone who can pick up before Friday.

So why am I having such a hard time getting rid of an old piece of cheap furniture? I don’t think it’s Fernando at all – I think it’s what Fernando represents to me…

Motorcycles and Mustangs: Clearly something happens in a person’s life that makes them say, “Hey, start a blog!”  I know that for many people it was the birth of their first child, but for me, it was in many ways to avoid having a third.  In fact, I often joke that this blog is my third child.  It’s also my dog, my vacation home, my hot Latin lover (I’ve named him Pablo Escobar), and yes, it’s my motorcycle.

…So when does this happen in a mother’s life? When does a woman get to the point where her former self is so far in the distant past that she hurls at the speed of light towards what feels very much like a man’s mid-life crisis? For me it’s occurring at the nexus of several milestones. First and foremost, as of the winter of 2008, I no longer have any living grandparents. In much the same way that I viscerally felt myself slide one notch up the mortality ladder upon the birth of my first child, I once again felt that jolt when my parents became orphaned senior citizens.

Then there’s the seven year itch. This August will mark my seventh wedding anniversary, and although I’m in no way itching to quit the habit that is my amazing husband, I am itching for something – I just can’t put my finger on what that something is.

To make matters infinitely worse, my daughter is four, my son is two, and my body would like another baby. Did I say like? My body is trying desperately to convince my mind that it must have another baby now! While there is no way that my mind will lose this argument, due partly to the fact that my husband wants nothing to do with the idea of more children, nature is a powerful opponent. It’s amazing what millions of years of evolution can do to mess with the psyche of the average suburban house-mom.

So I’ve decided I need that motorcycle…

I considered not blogging at all today on this milestone date, content in enjoying the irony.  Then I considered looking over the last year of blog posts to choose my favorites, but there are hundreds of them, and it’s a Friday night.  When I sat down and re-read those first two posts that I felt I needed to share with the world, I was struck by how much I still feel those same emotions tonight three years later.  I’m amazed at how they still resonate and even move me to tears.

So I’m celebrating tonight the simple fact that I’ve been given the gift to share those feelings through words, the platform on which to do it, and you, the readers who take the time to feel those things with me.

Thank you, for three incredible years.

Leave a Reply

46 Comments

  • congrats! I’m class of 2008 too…we need a yearbook or sorts…

  • Congrats on your blogger-versary. You’ve done remarkable things & I have no doubt you will continue to remarkable things.

    Thank you for sharing Amy with us!

  • Congrats!!!!!!!

    • We’ll celebrate in person sometime soon with a bottle of wine.

  • Happy 3rd bloggiversary and here’s to many more!

  • Megan M.

    Happy bloggiversary to you! You have made my online world a happier place. Here’s to many more versaries!

    • Megan, I feel the same way about you! Always a joy to see your smiling face on Twitter. See you at BlogHer soon!

  • It still floors me that it’s only been three years. I could have sworn we’ve been friends for at least a decade!
    Love you!

    • I’m pretty sure we’re actually sisters and just forgot somehow.

  • Reading your post made me have to go back and check when I started my first blog, I knew it was summer of ’08…July 14 to be exact. Congratulations on all of your success.

    • Cindy, I cannot believe how many of us started at almost exactly the same time and for so many different reasons. And now look where we are!

  • You feel those similar feelings only because you are evolving ~ your family hits another milestone this fall ~ both kids in big school ~ you just celebrated your 10th anniversary ~ dude you are grown ups ~ and your business is WAY more than a blog for Pete’s sake. So…write about this time as beautifully as you have written about the others, keep it for yourself or publish if you will, but write your way through to the most beautiful you that is today =) Happy Blogiversary ~ I hope you had a cocktail to toast!

    • Always the voice of reason, the calm in the storm, my friend. Can’t wait to see you in San Diego.

  • Awww! Hapy Blogger-versary! I’ve enjoyed following you over these years, and you have yet to disappoint me!

  • Congratulations, darlin’!
    oxoxoxoo

  • Congrats on 3 years! I am in awe of the amazing community you have built in such a short time.

    Wishing you many more happy years of blogging.

  • And I’m so glad you started all those many years ago friend. So glad. Love you.

  • I shall toast to Fernando and Pablo, thanking them for bringing your words to the world (wide web). Cheers!

  • Happy 3 year blogoversary! Amy, you are an amazing woman and such a talented writer. I am looking forward to what the next 3 years have in store for you!

    And btw that motorcycle post had me in tears. I felt your emotions vividly.

    • Annie, thank you so much for those kind words. I know how my writing makes me feel, but to know that it stirs those same feelings in the people reading my words makes it that much more rewarding.

  • DarcyO

    Happy Blogiversary, Amy! Hope to be reading your posts for many more year.

  • anne hill

    congrats on 3 years of creativity and innovation

  • Wow! Congrats! You’ve come a long way in 3 short years. You go girl!!

  • Congrats on 3 years! As I raise this very strong cup of coffee to you, I’m wishing you 50 more years!

    • Thanks, Becca! I click in my Diet Dr. Pepper to your strong cup of coffee.

  • Happy Bloggiversary! I have enjoyed reading your work and look forward to reading for more years to come! I must have started shortly after you, my three year will be in December this year 🙂

    • Brandy, yes, I always think of you as being in my group of bloggers who all began around the same time, all started tweeting around the same time. It’s been wonderful to have you along on this journey!

  • I have accomplished a lot in 3 short years. I think you need to write a book for the rest of us 🙂 Happy Anniversary!

    • I’d love to! LOL Thanks for the anniversary wishes!

  • JoeyfromSC

    Congrats on 3 great years! Thanks for all your hard work!

    • Joey! I haven’t seen you in forever!

      • JoeyfromSC

        Hey!! I know..life has gotten in the way of my online fun haha..busy, busy busy! I hope to attend some of your parties this week!!

  • Brandilea

    Great post and great excerpts from your first two posts. I’m curious though, you write so well and really seem to know how to pull people in to your stories so why don’t you post like that more often?

    • That’s a great question… I guess partly because I’m not sure that’s what people want to read.

      • Brandilea

        That’s a good question, what people want to read, but it seems like when you’re writing for yourself is when I love to read your posts. I don’t mind reviews and keping informed about parties but I love the personal stories! 🙂 Thanks for pulling me in and making me a reader. I just found your Facebook page so I “liked” it.

  • Joan Washington

    Congrats!! I have been there with you every step of the way. I’ve learned so much and connected with other women in the community. In fact, one of them told me about an awesome program ‘Climb Wyoming’, which gives single mothers job training. http://climb.seeyourimpact.org/.

    So thanks for being a beacon of light! Much success in all that you do.