The Undiscovered Country

What constitutes a successful blog?

After three years, and countless blogs here and elsewhere, you'd think I'd know the answer.

Do I label a blog successful by the number of comments? The number of views?

If I count the number of comments, I'd say -- by comparing mine to others -- it's mediocre. If I judge the number of views, it's average.

I don't like being average at anything; I want to excel, darn it.

But I can only do what I can do. I can't copy better blogs by way of writing or subject, because I may not be true to myself. A reader can spot a disingenuous writer within a single entry.

When I'm feeling maudlin about my abilities I remember the line in "Trading Places" with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy.

Eddie's character asked the butler (played by Denholm Elliot), "What do they want from me?"

"Just be yourself, sir. Whatever happens, they can't take that away from you."

I can only be myself and write about my life, my thoughts and my passions.

Whining over.

Nada made my day yesterday by stealing something from me.

You read that right.

She needed a picture for a story, and she took a photo using the cover of my book:



Pretty cool, huh? A writer and a photographer. Nada does it all.