My vital statistics

At midnight, I checked my stats tab on my blog and here’s what it says: I’ve had 471 hits from 4 different continents and 8 different countries. Very encouraging after only 5 days online.  I am beyond grateful for the generous and kind comments I have received in personal emails, and Facebook wall posts from relatives, old friends, new friends and people who don’t know me well at all.  Your compassion and your words of support are more touching than you can possibly know.  Please feel free to pass along my blog address to whomever you see fit... particularly to someone going through the agony of divorce (http://dreamer62.blogspot.com).  I’ve made it easier for you post your comments right on my blog if you choose.  If you tried to do so previously you may have noticed that you were required to have a g-mail account or your own blog in order to comment.  That was the default setting, but I’ve changed it now so that anyone can comment on any blog entry, and you even have the option to remain anonymous or identify yourself by initials, first name only etc.  Unless your comment is particularly unkind or vulgar, I’ll leave it up there ...even if your remarks are not appreciative of my attempts to be humorous, wise and articulate.  Besides -  by posting a comment on my blog, you will ensure your own words are immortalized  when Oprah approaches me about publishing my blog as a bestselling book and then wants to buy screenplay rights for a big budget Hollywood film.  Move over Elizabeth Gilbert- you may know how to Eat, Pray, and Love but I know how to Beg, Cry and Self-Flagellate.

I realize in retrospect that my blog entry from yesterday (Valentine’s Day) may have been a tad on the depressing side and judging by some of the email I received I think I may have left the impression that I am poised on the brink of succumbing to overwhelming despair.  So let me say that I most certainly have been at that point in the past 10 months, but if I was still there, I could not have begun this little writing project.  My pain was far too raw and intense until very recently to step outside it long enough to ascribe words to the hurting.  Writing is therapeutic and your comments have been life-affirming, so to borrow lines from 2 of my favourite poets:  While I certainly have “been one acquainted with the night”, I have also been given the ability to recognize that “kindness glides about my house.”