Dear blog

Dear blog,

It’s been a long time, my friend.

390 posts since 2006, and yet no posts for the last year? It’s been all too long.

Sometimes I think of you and wonder why I never have the time to write a few lines. You’re like an old friend that moved away: one that I wrote often to for a start, then more sporadically – a Christmas card or so – before neglecting to write altogether. Meanwhile, years and life fly by. All those birthdays, Christmases, summers, times good and bad – without me even taking the time to write a word.

Yet I’ve thought of you. I thought of writing to you those times I felt that I needed a friend, when I felt alone. But I was too embarrassed to admit I was feeling that way, so I didn’t write. I also thought of writing to you when I felt happy, when I’ve accomplished things or did things that made me swell with pride. But after a while, these things felt strangely trivial and I didn’t write about them either. And in between, there were those days that were just the everyday grind. And what’s there to write about that? Or so I thought. That’s how relationships cool off I guess.  People talk about growing apart. It starts when they share too little of themselves because things seem too ordinary, that soon enough the person standing there becomes a stranger. I never wish to turn so blasé though.

I’ve had the privilege of keeping long-distance friends through the years even though I seldom write to them nowadays. So, maybe you could see this post as a way for me to keep in touch again? For me, you’ve been there at the back of my head all of the time. And why not? You followed me through so much of my early years in Sweden – through all of those things that were so new to me and yet so “everyday”, like frost and snow, and boats and mountains. You followed me through grief and back to “normal life”, through projects that I planned for myself, through my travels, and through the workaday world. “Home and away”. No wonder I write to you like you were a friend. You’re a lot of my life and thoughts in a nutshell. And also, we go waaaay back before Facebook! Twelve years and – as with this post – still running!

Time flies. There are many things I haven’t had a chance to write about. But let’s catch up. I know I’ve said that before – but this time around I’ll try to think that no thought is too little as to be too uninteresting. After all, I really am mostly writing to myself and for a few crazies out there (hi friends and family who are reading this!) who probably would gladly read what I write anyway. Since I started this blog, there had been so much technological advances on the smartphone that has allowed me to keep in touch with friends and family on a regular basis. But to be honest, I missed you. You had the stories one could read over and over again, and I re-live those moments each time I read an old post. Write to you again soon! For now I have to get some shut-eye for tomorrow's commute. See ya,

Yours truly, Joy