One Year Ago Today...

Today is officially You've GOTTA Read This's first birthday! I shake my head when I think about how far I have come. (I apologise in advance to you if you have heard all this blabber before. I tend to repeat myself, but this is a moment for reminiscing, so bear with me!)

I've always loved to read - that was a given. But a writer I am not. And a techie I am not. My only writing efforts had been to compose my annual Christmas letter that goes out with my cards.

My sister had a blog, and I was full of admiration for her moxie and her writing prowess (I'm not thinking she got it from our high school English teacher, so where did it come from?). Never once did I say to myself "Sandy, you should do something like that". Too scary to contemplate.

I could never find a good live book club. I couldn't find a good online one either. I was complaining to my sister one day on the phone, and she said "Well, do your own book blog. What do you have to lose? Get on blogger and mess around. It's free." No way. It blew my mind. With a nervous laugh, I told my husband about my sister's idea. He said it was insanity. I don't have enough time as it is. But the seed had been planted. Why not indeed?

So I blindly set up my blog. I know more about splitting the atom than I do about html. I was an idiot pressing buttons (actually I still am). I banged out some obtuse "welcome to my blog" post. Then I sat and stared at the computer. Nothing happened. Nobody commented. Sort of anti-climactic! So I grabbed a couple of recently-read books, Child 44 and My Stroke of Insight, and banged out a couple of reviews. Still no comments. I kept adding reviews, and finally got one comment from my sister on November 8. God love her, but that doesn't count!!!!

Scratching my head, I asked my sister how long it would take to get someone's attention. Her advice was to start socializing, so I did. My first official follower, after my mom and my sister, was C.B. James. He took me under his wing, and even offered me an opportunity to write a review on Larousse Gastronomique at the end of November that would be posted both on his blog and mine. When the big day came, we heard crickets chirping. How embarrassing! But soon, the socializing paid off. I clicked through on blogs from James' blogroll, and pretty soon I was hopping from one to another, making inane Sandy comments. When anyone would give awards, I would check out the recipients. (Because of this, I will ALWAYS pass along awards. It is important!). I "met" the Bumbles and joined their Monday Movie Meme. Jackie @ Farm Lane Books and I interviewed each other. Influenced by Beth Fish, I started posting my photos on Wordless Wednesday. I hosted a Wuthering Heights readalong. I participated in a Gone With the Wind readalong. And on and on it went. I was even shortlisted for a Commenter Award in BBAW.

I never would have imagined this hobby for myself, not in a million years. But I have found it to be incredibly rewarding. I have forged friendships that have extended far beyond the occasional comment. We have found common interests, we have been there when a parent has taken ill, when a pet has chewed through a string of lights and nearly electrocuted itself, when babies were born, when cancer was detected, when loved ones were lost, and when we celebrated achievements. It is one, giant support group that just happens to have a deep love for books.

It has also dawned on me that online, everyone is equal. There is no poor, rich, fat, thin, disabled, black or white. Unless you are rude to someone, you are welcomed to this community with open arms. And that is a pretty wonderful place to be.

In honor of my bloggiversary, I've decided it was time to finally post MY top 10 books ever. I've milked it out of my friends and family, so fair is fair. Stay tuned on this Thursday, all will be revealed....