Throw me a bone

Today - May 18 - is the one year anniversary of the day I got on a plane. With two really really heavy suitcases and the rest of my belongings either sold or floating in a container somewhere in the Atlantic.

I started this here blog, this story of the adventure, partly for me: to record the magic in the little moments. But also partly for you: to keep in touch. To acknowledge that experiences are only meaningful when they are shared. So you could be a witness, a virtual traveler on the journey. So many people said, "gosh, I'm so jealous ... if life were different..." But really, don't we all say that? I, in turn, live vicariously through the emailed pictures of your childrens' birthdays, your vacation postcards, emails detailing your promotions and moves. You stop in here every now and again to visit and see what life in Tuscany - daily life, not the 7-day vacation plan - is really like, or maybe just to marvel at the slightly crazy girl behind the glass.

So, for heavens sake, where ARE you people? Would it kill ya to leave a comment now and again?!?!

To review: comments are free and don't cause bad things to happen to you. You can be totally anonymous if you like, or you can pick your own nickname (or heck, you can use your own name if you want -- though I don't, as you know! Try anonymity on for size, it's kind of intoxicating.) You don't have to sign up for a Blogger profile, nothin'. Don't know what to say? If you don't know me, tell me where you're from. Or tell me how you found "If not now, when?". Or tell us a joke, or what color underwear you're wearing. Anything! Now I know how Radio deejays feel: wondering if there's anyone out there actually HEARING this stuff.

The funny thing is that - though the miracles of technology - I know you're out there: hundreds (though not quite yet thousands) of you, which REALLY amazes me, to be honest. For many of you, I know I'm your "first blog" experience: It's okay; I'll be gentle. You don't have to drink the koolaid.

To frequent readers AND commenters, you rock my very-small world. To those of you who send emails instead of commenting, I love the personal interaction more anyhow. And to those of you who lurk, and read, and laugh, and cry right along with me ... and then when I run into you somewhere, mention how much you love my blog... yes, you: wouldya throw me a comment bone every now and again?

And of course, the mouse in me will keep pushing the lever, because the reward of a comment-pellet comes out -- occasionally -- and unpredictably, a gift from the blog-o-sphere. Thanks for being here. For being the reason this makes sense. For witnessing, even if silently.

Happy anniversary to me!