A Cornucopia of Thanks

First off, I wanted to say thanks to all those of you who came by the Collective Inkwell to wish Dave and me well on our new writing and creativity site. We had such a wonderfully warm welcome. I also wanted to say thank you to those of you who subscribed to the Ghostwriter Dad feed. That was a nice surprise. At only one a week, those posts have the potential to be pretty cool.

With that gratitude neatly wrapped, I’d like to say a bit more. I think it’s important to thank your readers. I’d like to spend a few hundred words thanking some of mine.

Next week Writer Dad will officially flow into its second version. I’ll start on Monday by writing a rundown of my expectations for the site. Since we’re all here together, I thought it would be nice if we expected them together. Before I can do that, there is something else I must attend to. Each night before laying my head on the pillow, I like to acknowledge my day.

Before placing this first part of Writer Dad into the past, I would like to lend a round of applause to celebrate those who added so much conversation to the show.

As of this post, this site has seen 5,981 comments. That’s a lot of voices to bounce around such a small space. There is no way I would have been able to cross the chasms I did with the faith that I had were it not for many of the cheerleaders on this list, who propped me up, pushed me forward, told me I could do it and then said it again.

On paper, I could never have imagined that the compliments of people whose eye colors are a mystery could have collectively conspired to shape the first breath of my online voice. But they did and it is something that would do me well to never take for granted.

Thank you, in no particular order…

Kool Aid at Butterflies in My Hand is a wonderful lady. I started out with my moniker as a mystery, but Kool Aid has kept herself shrouded in shadow. That’s okay, Kool Aid, I know you have awesome taste in music and are a fantastic mother. What more would I possibly need?

Barbara Swafford from Blogging Without a Blog has built a community that is all about thriving community. Your comment sections are always full and the exchanges tend to linger. Once a week you shine the spotlight on a new blogger to ever widen a web of citizens.

Randi at Foreign Quang might just be the Writer Dad comment queen. Randi, your comments are always so wonderfully thoughtful and indefatigably sincere. Your appreciation for my family and who we are is evident in everything you’ve ever said. Your students are fortunate.

Cindy at Namas Daisy. Though her comments are rare, she has sat beside me and listened to me as I have read every single word this site has ever published. Sometimes with just a slight tilt in your expression, you give me the feedback I need to lend my posts that little extra polish.

Vered is a mommy blogger extraordinairre who might be the reigning comment queen of the blogosphere. Vered, you were  the first and only one to drop a comment on my first post. You said, “This was beautiful! You write really well. I am subscribing.” The instant hope bloomed from that single comment on my first day in the blogoshphere is one I’ll never forget.

Emily from Remodeling This Life is SIMPLY wonderful. I love how your site focuses on frugal living and extracting the best from each of our moments. It is beautiful, inspired, and in perfect alignment with a well lived life.

Janice is a musician and poet as well as  writer and certified life coach. Janice, you would certainly be the WD comment queen were it not for Randi. I appreciate your deep belief in me and unwavering faith that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and that a bath of success is iminant.

Hayden Tompkins is all about rockin personal development. Though you have a multitude of appreciable qualities, one thing I have always loved is how you speak directly to my children. You comment TO them in a way that makes me certain I pass your thought forward.

Megan is my sister as well as one of my favorite writers. Thanks, Megan for believing in me and actually one time calling my writing “fancy,” even if you were mocking me.

Marelisa writes an outstanding creativity blog. If I didn’t have my own, it would totally be my favorite. Thank you Mare, besides your wonderful thoughts, I have to say my favorite thing about your comments is that wonderful beaming smile of yours.

Trina may have a site, but I have no idea as she’s never left a URL. Her comments are pure, genuine compliments. Thank you Trina for taking so many opportunities to comment on my words. We can never make more minutes and you have given many to me.

GreenJello wishes her readers well and hopes that they may live an interesting life. Thank you for always saying such succinct, intelligent and thoughtful things. Your comments have the measured pace of someone who chooses to absorb the world around them.

Eric Hamm talks about motivation like no one else I know. Thank you Eric for sending me an email out of the blue six months ago and asking if there was anything you could do to help. Few trails started in my inbox have gone further.

Lori is a space age sage with a black belt who is about to blow our minds with a brand new site. Thanks Lori for wielding wisdom so wonderfully. I love your comments and emails both. I enjoy your love of humor, sci-fi and all things cool.

Patricia has wisdom as any reader of her blog knows. Writing is her joy and connection is her purpose. Thank you Patricia for always leaving your comments unguarded. It is obvious that you speak from the heart and say what you mean.

Laurie, why don’t you have a blog? You have plenty to say and know how to say it well. I think you would look good in Thesis. Thank you for your constant compliments and incessant encouragement. Your belief in my abilities is warming.

Daisy is not my wife, but raises the wonderful point in her site that the “answer starts with you.” True that. Thank you Daisy for making me laugh on several occassions. I always looked forward to your comments and knew they would make me smile even if they were from the “other” Daisy.

Blogger Dad is a creative cartoonist with a colorful personality. Thank you Dave for making me laugh on a regular basis. Your talent is supreme and your editing makes me look smarter than I really am.

Maya is looking for happiness and balance in her life and career, while sharing what she learns with her readers. Thank you Maya for trying to pull the child from inside me and place it with your promising project. I’m looking forward.

Sal scribbles some nonsensical ramblings of a 20 something guy while managing to strike a balance between funny and thoughtful. Sal, I don’t know if you were here from the first week, but if you weren’t it was awfully close. Thanks for being a constant and always having manners.

Evelyn Lyn wants to help people transform lives. Evelyn, thank you for always drawing parallels. Your comments always have a way of joining our experience together. You personalize your comment by talking about your daughter, which makes me feel it ever more.

Friar is the author of one of the funniest blogs I’ve ever read. Thank you Friar for never being afraid to speak your mind. I don’t think I’ve ever seen quite the measure of humor and intelligence as you regularly display.

Marc is a freelance writer from Wales who, impossibly, cares not for the American version of the Office. Thank you Marc for supporting me everywhere I go and always being quick to respond when I have a silly question that I could probably answer myself.

Matthew Dryden is a bloody brilliant freelance writer. Thank you Matthew for your strong early support and never being afraid to stand up and speak your mind. That sort of courage seems at times a lost art.

Kyddryn writes in such an authentic voice that I can practically hear the lilt of her voice as she’s slinging her shade and sweetwater. Thank you Kyddryn for long comments that feel like they were written in the shade of a tree.

Melissa Donovan of Writing Forward authors one of my favorite spots for creative writing tips. (Quick aside: she was also recently named to Writer’s Digest’s 100 best websites for writers. High 5!) Thanks for helping to bring out the best writer inside me.

Jamie Simmerman of Blue Duck Copy gave me my first early lessons in SEO writing. Thank you for being so genuinely helpful so often. If there is a nicer person online, I have yet to meet them.

Mike Goad of Exit 78 reminds me of what is so wonderful about generations that have planted their flag before mine. Mike, your intelligence, work ethic, and clear speech are always a pleasure to read, regardless of which comment box I find them in.

Chase March writes in silent cocophany and is a teacher (I’m sure) like few I’ve ever had. Thank you Chase for always speaking your mind and being direct. I loved when you said, “I don’t buy Lucas as a 10 year old.” It made the subsequent compliments stand out in bold type.

Grammy is WriterDad’s Mom. She sometimes comments from her computer class or the library, but ALWAYS makes me read my posts out loud when she comes over for dinner each Thursday. Thanks for your support mom, even though you are crazier than a bag of brains left in the sun.

Bamboo Forest is funny, intelligent, and a bit of a mystery. Thank you Bamboo for being such a great conversationalist both in and out of the inbox. There are few bloggers I am more curious about or more eager to see where life takes them than you.

Kristin T claims she’s halfway to normal, but I beg to differ. You are wonderful Kristin because you articulate the confusion that is inside us all. No one is normal. Normal is probably only achieved upon the removal of the frontal lobe.

Steph is a professional editor and one of the first online people to steep my potential. Steph, your quiet belief in me helped fuel me forward in a way that was so perfectly ideal for that time and place. You say things so well, they never need to be said in other words.

Ian from Indigo Spot has a quiet, intelligent manner that is far too rare. Thank you Ian for always wishing others well and never failing to appreciate the things around you. The good things that are happening in your life are well deserved I’m sure.

Rita had an impact on the first few months of this site, both undeniable and disengenuous not to acknowledge. An episode I still don’t understand and subsequent surrender to “Satan with a side of hot sauce” left me confused. Regardless, thank you Rita for your early hoorahs.

Dave Fowler is still in the midst of dealing with blog burnout, but will probably end up owning the Internet one day. Dave, you are impossibly funny and I have laughed so often from your emails that I now giggle at the simple site of your name. Thank you for your early and unrelenting support.

Vodka Mom is a mom and kindergarten teacher with an awesome blog. More than any other commenter, you made me want to dig deep and finish RedBook. There’s an awesome story there waiting to be told. I’m looking forward to November.

Ryan Scott, sometimes known as Oktober5, is cool and a bit of a mystery. Thank you Ryan for always having such striking integrity and always being so willing to try new things. You present a wonderful model to follow.

Tara is one of my favorite mums. Her wit is sharp and love for movies enaging. Tara, I love our common interests and genuine banter. Thanks for being one of the first to show me that Twitter wasn’t just a tool, but a place to laugh as well.

Lance cuts his way through the Jungle of Life with gentle thought and reason. Lance, your sincerity shines between the words. I will forever remember that comment you left on Jamie’s site. It was a wowzer. Your site, by the way, is looking better every day.

Wendi-Kelly knows all about life’s little inspirations and passes them forward to each of her readers. Thank you Wendi for always having something thoughtful to say. I remember many of your comments clearly and some still speak to me to this day.

Stacey wants to create a balance, a worthy goal we all should strive for. Thank you Stacey, specifically for our email exchange not too long ago. Those couple of sentences meant so much, I repeated them later to my wife.

Susan Green isn’t a heavy commenter, but she has never been shy about filling my inbox with wonderful assistance. Thank you Susan, not just for being an awesome freelance copywriter who is so willing to share your experience, but for being so genuinely concerned about the welfare of my family.

Teena and Karen are two previous clients who strongly believe in what Cindy and I are doing. They have been unwavering in their support and cheerleading. Teena, thank you for every kind word you’ve ever said. I simply can’t count high enough to assign a number. Karen, thank you for letting us know how grateful you were for all we did. Gratitude covers more distance than most things in life. I love how often you’ve expressed it to both Cindy and myself.

Renee doesn’t have a blog, nor has she ever commented. She has, however, sent me more emails than I can count telling me how much my words mean to her. Thank you Renee for taking care of our children during those first few years, before we were able to do it ourselves.

Thank you to everyone for everything. I look forward to what is nex.

Writer Dad