Exit 241. Five years.

So I’ve been trying to think about something to write about all weekend.  I kind of had an idea earlier today.  But then I remembered that this week marks five years since I started this blog.

Well, not exactly.  Last week was the actual anniversary, but I had something more important I chose to write about last week.  Still, five years.

Looking back, I had one post before I started my actual posts.  When I started numbering the posts, I didn’t include that first one, because it didn’t really say anything.  I was just kind of writing out my thoughts about starting a blog.  And one thing stands out, now that I look back on that post from five years ago: “I don’t know if anyone other than my friends will ever find this page, but who knows?”

I have to admit, when I wrote that, I had fleeting thoughts of Highway Pi getting this huge viral following, getting me millions of followers and so many clicks that I could quit my day job.  Yeah… didn’t happen.  And I’m not surprised.

But what does stand out is that while I haven’t gotten millions of followers, some people other than my friends have in fact found this page.  I’ve made friends just through here (although I haven’t met any of them in person), from looking at people who comment on my posts and then reading their blogs.  I have read about organizing your life; people’s experiences with introversion, autism, eating disorders, anxiety, and various medical conditions; some interesting posts about Christianity; poetry and short stories; just life in general; and many other subjects and cultures from around the world that I wouldn’t know as much about otherwise.  And I have also started a second blog, episodic fiction which has led to a great deal of introspection about a significant time in my life.  And most importantly, I’m not stressing as much over either blog about having to write something every week.

Thank you all for a very memorable five years.  It’s been nice meeting and getting to know all of you… and to those of you whom I already knew, thank you for your comments and helpful words.  I plan on keeping this going as long as I can.