Crush












I am such a neophyte around the blogosphere, it's embarrassing. Sometimes I feel like the nerdy latecomer to the party. I just got here, and all the cool kids have already hooked up and left, or else they are in the corner throwing up. Meantime, I am sitting by myself on the couch, exclaiming, "Gee, this is great!" I'm like the Joan Cusack character in Sixteen Candles. Before she gets trapped under the coffee table, although I'm sure that's where this thing is heading.

I hate to blog much about blogging, because it feels a little like chasing my own tail, and intimates that I have no life (I have one; I just choose to ignore it sometimes). But my spidey sense has been all a-tingle this week with a convergence of developments in the careers of some of the bloggers I follow. It's as if all the seniors are graduating, getting married or dropping out.

For instance:

• Brandon has given his six months notice.
  
• Heather has been sued (and near mortally wounded).
  
• Karen got a job.
  
• Sarah got a tv show.
  

I could go on. I spent some time recently trolling around Leah's wonderful archive of interviews with assorted bloggers and other writers. I have decided Leah is the Terry Gross of blogging. She gives great interview. I now spend my time in the shower formulating complex and witty answers to her provocative and original questions. Anyway, in a number of instances, I was sufficiently hooked by the Q&A to go pay a visit to the A's website, only to learn they have either retired or drastically pulled back from official duties.

What gives, people? Is there a natural life cycle to this thing? Have you all moved on to the next difficulty level?

Does everybody have a book deal but me?

I suppose it is inevitable that the good ones will move on. All of the above are genuinely talented individuals, and I would be dismayed for them if the blogs were the terminal destination, and not the launchpad, for their creative gifts. Also, I don't want to indict the wrong people in this statement, but the phrase "pearls before swine" sometimes comes to mind when I read the more banal and occasionally hostile comments their posts attract. The law of averages dictates a certain percentage of freaks, I guess.

I don't have that problem. No freaks here. Although it is kind of freaky how many of my readers are named Jen. As noted in my brand spankin' new banner, up top. My husband designed it, in exchange for sexual favors that I shall surely renege. I am inordinately proud of it, and have admired it pretty much without interruption for going on 48 hours now.

I may be late to the party, but at least I am dressed for it.

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