Shy, shy, hush, hush, eye to eye

I'll occasionally get emails from folks I don't know in real life or whose blogs I've yet to discover, introducing and almost apologetically "outing" themselves as blog readers. Usually they'll tell me how much we have in common, which fills me with glee at the thought of other Nanette-ish folks roaming the earth, and that they've been anonymously reading my site for quite a while.

I also have friends (or friends of friends) who will drop me a line or mention during a get-together that they're avid readers. Again, with a hint of shame. "I admit it! I'm your blog stalker!," they say, as though I haven't welcomed readers from all over the web and parts of my life to my blog during the nearly three years I've had it or that I haven't constantly told folks, "I have a blog. You should read it." (Ok, not constantly... that would get annoying for them.)

So let me lay it out for all of you who read my site, whether it's regularly, occasionally or every 12th Friday that ends in an odd number during leap years - it's perfectly fine for you to read my site! I welcome it! Don't be ashamed. It may feel like you've stumbled across my personal diary that I accidentally left unlocked while you were house-sitting, but that's not the case.

I blog to keep connected with current friends (even if it's a one-sided conversation), and I blog to make new ones. (Ok, I may not purposely blog to make new friends, but it's fun perk of the hobby.) I blog as a record of how fulfilling my life is or what might be lacking. I blog to get my wacky thoughts outta my head. I blog as a creative release. And you are welcome to enjoy, question and freak out about any of it. I wear my blog on my sleeve. It just happens to be the same sleeve I wipe my snot on. (Oops... did I go to far with that last part?)

Feel free to take this post as an opportunity to "out" yourself if you haven't already. I always appreciate it.

"Happiness hates the timid! So does science!" - Eugene O'Neill