Is “blogiversary” a word?

On July 3, 2005, I started this blog with this post…

Lessons from Oz

"Yes, Dorothy, what have you learned?"

"Well, I guess I've learned that if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I shouldn't go looking any further than my own backyard. Because if it's not there, I never really lost it to begin with...there's no place like home!"

Vacation is snuggling on a couch in Kiawah Island, South Carolina with my 4 and 7 year old cousins to watch "The Wizard of Oz." There is nothing else to do, no other pressing agenda than to settle in with these sweet girls (after they have fought over who sits where, of course) and watch our "most fav-oh-wit movie evah."

It really is my most favorite movie, has been ever since I was captured by the color, spectacle and wonder of Oz. I wanted to be Dorothy on a grand journey with faithful friends and a cute dog. Well, maybe I just wanted that fabulous dress and ruby slippers. My mom made that possible on Halloween when I was 8 years old. The dress was perfect, just like Judy Garland's, with a white blouse and the trademark blue gingham pinafore. And thanks to two bottles of Wet and Wild nailpolish, I had my ruby slippers.

Now it is my turn to watch it through a child's eyes. The girls narrate the entire viewing and punctuate it with question after question. Madison and I discuss the witch and the flying monkeys and agree that it is violently unfair when they take Toto away. After I explain (again) why the Winkie soldiers are chasing Dorothy, Abby nestles into the crook of my arm and murmurs, "I love my Leslie." Does it get better than that?

I realize that my 8 year old wish has come true. I am in the middle of a grand journey. Many faithful friends accompany me. I don't have the cute dog yet, but as the Wicked Witch says, "All in good time, my pretty, all in good time!"

Four years. I don’t remember how I found out what a blog was or even how I knew to set one up on blogspot. But one summer evening, while on The Cruise Family Beach Trip, I did. And honestly? I don’t think I’ve ever been the same.

I’ve always loved writing. The fifteen journals spanning from age ten to the present testify to that. A small box of my elementary and middle school writing projects give voice to my love of words. The fact that I would rather bury my nose in a well written novel than anything else {have I mentioned that you have to read Love Walked In?} is a testament to what the written word does for me. Written words are an outlet, a catharsis, page upon page of my imagination, emotions and musings. Once they are on a page they are mine but even better, I can share them if I want.

I love this blog. As in I’m getting teary-eyed even as I type thinking about how this, my little piece of the internet, has been such an encouragement and accountability for me over the last four years. It’s taught me to choose my words carefully. I’ve learned how to use my words to recreate the image or experience I want to keep forever. Best of all for this social southern drama queen, it has connected me to you.

From North Carolina to Texas and then back again to Tennessee. And allllllll the places in-between where I have discovered new friends who have graciously shared their words with me as well. From a single woman without a cute dog to a married woman with a freckle-faced monster. Thanks for listening to the ramblings of this southern drama queen…

Happy Blogiversary, dear diary!