I have been writing this blog since September 9, 2003. That's 1198 days, or 3 years, 3 months, and 11 days. It's more than 170 weeks. It's longer than the original Scheherazade entertained the Sultan and kept herself alive.
Including this one, I have written 2665 posts. Most of those I've published, although a few are just drafts.
You have left 9562 comments so far. Some of those are spam, and some stung me a little bit, but most of them made me laugh or made me think.
We've had two birthday parties. We've played games. You've seen me happy and sad. You saw me as a lawyer and as a sailing coach. You were there when I crashed my car and when my dog lost her leg and when she died. You stepped in to help when my mast toppled, and that generosity and grace made me cry. You were there during food poisoning and heartbreak and sadness and still morning walks and rowdy parties and all kinds of things. You've talked about books and music with me, and we've talked about love and sadness and finding your path. Some of the things you've said to me, here in front of everyone or privately, by email, have made me gasp and my eyes water with your courage and your honesty. Thank you for that. Thanks for the friendly forgiving eyes with which you've witnessed my life. Thanks for keeping me company as I fumble along trying to figure out my way in the world.
I've made friends through this blog -- some of whom I've gotten to meet in person and many of whom I still hope to have a chance to meet. I've fallen in love with someone I met through this blog, bizarre as that still seems.
Tomorrow I'll turn 34, and I'll stop posting on this weblog. I have a present for you, but you have to wait until tomorrow to get it.
I was just thinking that I should comment more frequently and now this?
You've made me think about a lot of things over the past couple years and I thank you for it.
Posted by: mj | December 21, 2006 at 01:42 PM
"maybe you have some kind of mental infection that's fixable?"
I regret to report that I have examined Sherry in depth and find her to be entirely sane. Alas, she knows what she is doing. There is no insanity defense to hope for here.
Posted by: turboglacier | December 21, 2006 at 02:14 PM
Happy Birthday, Sherry! I've truly enjoyed your blog and also applaud your decision to step away (at least for awhile). As the other entries before this one clearly show, you will be missed by a lucky bunch of readers.
Best wishes for 2007 to you (and Mr. NBT).
Posted by: jen | December 21, 2006 at 02:49 PM
Thank you for all you've shared and happy birthday! I've enjoyed hearing your voice and prized the wisdom and supportiveness to be found among the wonderful community of readers and commenters (even a couple of the sour pusses). I hope to hear your voice from some future platform and our family hopes someday we'll meet you out on the water. Lastly, we hope you'll be able to properly "marinize" some Tarheels, especially that litigator fellow.
Posted by: Pat | December 21, 2006 at 03:51 PM
Happy birthday, and very best wishes for the future! I'll miss your blog terribly (even though I seldom commented), but I understand that changes happen. Be well!
Posted by: Tim | December 21, 2006 at 05:34 PM
i want my present.
harmph.
Posted by: | December 21, 2006 at 05:37 PM
me, too!
Posted by: | December 21, 2006 at 06:09 PM
me, too!
Posted by: girltuesday | December 21, 2006 at 06:10 PM
Me too! We are going to miss you so much! You have been such an inspiration to us all! Thank you for sharing Sherry!
Posted by: Charlsie Kate | December 21, 2006 at 06:44 PM
Is it a kitten? Kittens make nice presents.
Posted by: (Way) Over The Line | December 21, 2006 at 06:58 PM
I guess I'll have to get back to those projects/work I have been meaning to start. Sherry, thank you for all that you have shared. I will miss your voice and writings. Even saying good-bye - you do so well.
Posted by: Trevor | December 21, 2006 at 07:36 PM
NOOO!!
I've been reading this site for the past 2 years, and I always check in, almost every day, because your take on life is so refreshing to me, and you express your thoughts so well. I am incredibly sad to hear that you'll stop posting, because I've enjoyed having your voice be a part of my daily routine, like my morning coffee, or late afternoon runs. I'm not sure what to say, except...thank you very much for your honesty. And I wish you the best of luck...you may feel like you are charting an uncertain path in your life, but I would argue that your path may be undefined, but your inner voice is strong, and true. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by: BF | December 21, 2006 at 11:37 PM
. . . you are beautiful and funny and oh so vibrant . . . thank you for sharing yourself with us . . . :)
Posted by: katherine | December 22, 2006 at 08:45 AM
Happy Birthday. You *will* be missed.
Posted by: Denise | December 22, 2006 at 03:00 PM
You will be missed Sherri. Good luck and fair winds on your adventures though.
Dan
Posted by: AdriftAtSea | December 23, 2006 at 10:17 AM
Oh Sherry, I will miss you. But I understand. I had a panicky moment when I read that you're closing down -- I thought, "I need to go back and print a bunch of her posts! I need to keep them for inspiration!" I hope you keep the site up for awhile so I have time to at least re-read some of my favorites -- but there are so many favorites, I can't imagine how long it might take!
You are probably my favorite blogger. The way you write and think -- I just love it. I hope to see a book of yours out someday.
Happy Birthday. You are terrific.
Love, Deb (from Indiana)
Posted by: Deb | December 23, 2006 at 11:28 AM
I tried to describe blogs to my mother, who does not have a computer: "It's like having a pen pal," I said, "who writes you lovely long letters, and to whom you sometimes send postcards. It's like having a friend you haven't met."
I will miss you. I have enjoyed the blog very much over the past two years. A different woman started this blog than the one who has finished it -- I've been honored to meet them both. You are ready for the next challenge, and I am looking forward to reading it. Happy birthday!
Posted by: Elfie | January 01, 2007 at 03:07 PM
On to the next chapter. May it be as beautiful as all the chapters that preceded it. Somehow, I know it will. Go, you woman...
Posted by: David | January 24, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Sherry but why ?
Posted by: Humor Man | April 24, 2007 at 07:50 AM
I've been reading on and off since 2005. (I haven't commented as much as I'd have liked to). I hope you leave your site up, because I'll be reading the many posts I must have missed. It will be sad not to have the immediacy of the new blogs anymore, but I hope your three years of words remain.
I want to wish you the best of luck in the next phase of your life! You've shown me that I don't need to be trapped in the law. Thank you for that.
Posted by: legis | April 30, 2007 at 04:34 PM
You're too generous, even in saying good-bye. I've been by and browsed only intermittently, but I've always appreciated and admired what I found. Please do consider this a job very well done, and thank you. Read, Sail, (Web)Surf Write Whatever Wherever Else In Peace.
Posted by: MT | May 23, 2007 at 06:02 PM
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Posted by: vme | August 09, 2007 at 10:11 AM
lisaaaaaa,
please don't stop blogging....
remember why you started in the first place...to make sense of things, because you enjoyed the process, bc you love it!
jsut bc you're married now doesn't mean it needs to stop!!
Posted by: lisaaaa | February 18, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Hello. Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.
I am from Togo and now teach English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "The use of the spray or cream is unlikely to affect the baby."
Best regards :-), Vita.
Posted by: Vita | June 23, 2009 at 07:39 AM