It's hard to believe, but there you have it.
Enough water under the bridge that I can actually look back with nostalgia! I was thinking the other day about the bloggers who encouraged me when I was getting started -- Language Hat, Mark of Wood s Lot, James at consumptive.org, and other companions from the same time who have continued to blog just as long, like Maria of Alembic; Nancy Gandhi of Under the Fire Star; Joerg of Conscientious (blogging was different back then, don't you think?) -- and then about more recent writing-friends like Chris Clarke, Dale, the elusive Teju Cole, Tom Montag, Jean, and my trusty copain at qarrtsiluni, Dave Bonta -- and that's just a tiny list from among so many people I'd like to name. Every blog in my blogroll has been important to me during these years of nearly-daily writing. I'm grateful to all of those writers, photographers, artists, and thinkers who enrich my days and challenge me to be creative, but even more, to the readers who've kept coming here. Blogging would merely be journaling without you; you make it a whole lot more fun and more rewarding.
In honor of this blogday, I did a little work on the sidebar. For one thing, you'll find a picture and a link to my new author's website. My plan is to add some links soon to "favorites", such as the collected posts about my father-in-law, the family history from last November, and maybe some book reviews. (But then I notice that on my last blogday I resolved to write one post a month in French...uh...did I manage to do 2? or only 1?)
This particular year has had some pretty big heights and pretty low depths; so I've been especially glad to have this space in which to share my life and reflections with you, and grateful for what I've received back. Madeleines and cappuchino for everyone!
Congratulations and Happy 4th Blogday, Beth! How wonderful it is indeed to be a blogger, to have the many many friendships amongst a wide spectrum of other bloggers around the world. I'm so happy to have you as such a friend and an inspiration. Thank you. Now I'm going to check out your new links!
Posted by: marja-leena | March 20, 2007 at 08:46 PM
Happy Blogday, Beth! Glad you've stuck around.
Posted by: Dave | March 20, 2007 at 10:59 PM
Oh, and nice job on the author's site: well-organized and -designed, easy to navigate.
Posted by: Dave | March 20, 2007 at 11:05 PM
I love your website, Beth. Very nice indeed.
But not so much as I love your blog, of course. What would I do without it? And what would I have done (or perhaps I mean what would I not have done?) if I hadn't discovered you and a couple of others who lured me into the world of blogs, magically peopled with like-minded, like-hearted future friends?
Posted by: Jean | March 21, 2007 at 06:07 AM
Happy blogiversary, and congratulations on the new site, which looks wonderful. There are some new-to-me tidbits there that I'm looking forward to reading.
My, how time flies...
Posted by: Lorianne | March 21, 2007 at 08:03 AM
"Madeleines and cappuchino for everyone!" indeed--pardon me--delicious! Great party!
Thank you Beth.
Posted by: Bill | March 21, 2007 at 08:48 AM
Happy blogday, and may you have many more!
Posted by: language hat | March 21, 2007 at 09:24 AM
Beth: happy blogday.
Like you, I'm finding it hard to believe it's been four years...
Posted by: Pica | March 21, 2007 at 10:06 AM
This blog has kept its cool, which is a heck of a lot more than I can say for other four-year-olds I know.
Keep on keeping on, my friend.
Posted by: Teju | March 21, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Happy blogday!
Posted by: blork | March 21, 2007 at 11:12 AM
Happy 4th blogday! Amazing how time flies and things change. Glad you're still here and keepin' on!
Posted by: leslee | March 21, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Happy Blogiversary!!! I will tke the madelines...but can I just have an espresso...
Posted by: Fred Garber | March 21, 2007 at 04:36 PM
bon anniversaire! i hope there will be many more to celebrate. i'm reading your book now, by the way, and enjoying it very much indeed, especially given the timely nature of the subject matter.
Posted by: elizabeth | March 21, 2007 at 10:34 PM
bon anniversaire! i hope there will be many more to celebrate. i'm reading your book now, by the way, and enjoying it very much indeed, especially given the timely nature of the subject matter.
Posted by: elizabeth | March 21, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Happy Blogday!
Posted by: dale | March 22, 2007 at 07:31 AM
I'm late Beth, but the wishes are still warm as toast. How the time flies! In blog-terms, to be still alive and kicking and creating at four years old is quite an achievement. Wish we could be drinking champagne together.
Posted by: Natalie | March 22, 2007 at 10:46 PM
Beautiful! I'm glad I found you all those years ago, and that you're still writing.
Posted by: A-M | March 24, 2007 at 06:03 PM