Sunday Salon: On my 5th Blogoversary

I've never been one to celebrate my blogoversary. This blog has been a slow evolution into what it is now: a book blog focusing on literary fiction, literary prizes, and a scattering of thoughts on films, television, food and the awesomeness of Des Moines. I didn't start this blog with the intention, or even any notion, of what it would become. There's something about turning five, however, that has me reflecting on how I got to this point. As I'm guessing none of you were around five years ago, I thought I'd share some memories of who I was and what this blog was to illustrate how much has changed.

1. My first post was Tuesday, March 13, 2007. I posted three times that day. One was about books! I listed the seven books I'd read so far and rated them on a scale of one to four. There were no reviews. Oh, how things have changed!

2. My fist comment came on May 21, 2007. The first comment from someone I didn't know in real life came on June 11, 2008. My first comment from a book blogger (J Kaye) was on November 17, 2008. The first comment from someone who still comments here was Diane from Bibliophile by the Sea on October 8, 2009  (on my review of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol.)

3. When I started this blog, I was working in an office during the day and waiting tables at night. I was applying to 18 graduate programs in library science. I had a lot of time to spend in front of a computer. I read a ton of newspapers, blogs and magazines. I thought it would be fun to share the most interesting things I found for my friends who didn't sit in front of a computer with nothing to do for seven and a half hours a day.

4. I wrote a lot about sports and television. I grew up dedicated (some would say obsessed) with Kansas basketball. In college, my brother and I traveled to wherever they played in the tournament. It meant spring breaks in cities like Dayton, Ohio and Birmingham, Alabama. I went to two Final Fours. I chose not to study abroad in college because I would have had to miss part of the Kansas basketball season. Its my biggest regret in life (and I didn't even go to college at Kansas!) I've stepped away from sports for the most part, largely because I realized how few hours are in a day, days are in a year, and years are in our lives, and I'd rather spend time reading novels, watching movies and traveling.

5. Mr. Nomadreader was then nomadreaderboy. We'd been dating for 1 year, 1 month and 6 days. I first mentioned him on the blog on March 27, 2007.

6. I was very conscious of not revealing my name (first or last). I was exclusively nomadreader. I've loosened up about that too.

7. I was living in Atlanta. Remember when I said I'd moved 21 times in my life? I've moved four times since I started this blog.

8. If you'd told me five years ago I'd be a judge for the Indie Lit Awards (then non-existent), a member of the National Book Critics Circle, tweeting with authors I admire, and regularly reading over a hundred books a year, I don't know how I would react. Part of me would be ecstatic, part of me grateful, and part of me would be relieved. At twenty-six, I was happy in so many ways, but I was still finding my way professionally and seeking my voice. This blog brings me joy. I love reading, and I love sharing my thoughts on books with all of you who take the time to read and respond. The biggest surprise from my five years of blogging is perhaps the most personal: I consider nomadreader part of who I am, and all of you play a part in that too. Thanks for reading.

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