Today is the 3rd anniversary of the Family Travel blog here on the BootsnAll Travel Network (true story - I first heard about BootsnAll at the stupendously great annual Texas Book Festival in Austin.)
The first post on February 10, 2006 said hello to everyone, the second was some random screed about traveler’s checks, but hey, I started a blog and wrote something, then kept at it, and boy am I grateful.
3 years is something of a lifetime in Internet terms, but I am proud of every gray hair I’ve earned, both on my head and on my blog.
I cannot tell you how often I’ve thought to myself, “Wow, if I wasn’t a blogger, I wouldn’t have a clue about what’s going on right now in journalism/travel/business/communications.”
I wouldn’t have a social media consulting and training business, either.
Props (as always) to the old friend who said to me back in late 2005, “If you’re gonna be a writer, you’ve gotta have a blog:” the Interactive Journalism Editor at the Houston Chronicle, Dwight Silverman. When I started this journey, the only blog I read was his TechBlog, and I usually couldn’t make heads or tails out of half of what he wrote.
Here’s the secret, though….I knew that whatever gobbledygook he was saying about the Web and social media and technology was important, and I’d better figure it out. So I did.
And along the way, what a priceless community of travelers and readers have joined me. Thank you as well to my husband and two kids, who still roll their eyes when they hear me say, “Oh! That’s a blog post!”
Blessings to all of you, and thanks for your support of Family Travel.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats!
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Sheila’s family travel blog, happy birthday to you…and many, many more!
@Sean - thanks, your support is much appreciated and I love Budget Travel!
@Jessica - the bloggingest person in Iowa tourism, that’s you. lol
Happy Bloggiversary! Three years is quite an accomplishment, and your readers are fortunate, indeed. So are those who get to sit under your instruction–you have so much knowledge to pour into people.
Congrats and blessings to you too! The Family Travel /Seafarer blog was literally one of the first blogs we looked at to figure out what we wanted to do in blogging. So yes we were distant admirers of you in the beginning, but now we are friends! The blogosphere and Twittersphere rocks!
And imagine how many wonderful people you would never have met! You’ve made a whole new universe for yourself. Congratulations!
Big congrats to you!! Please know that you have inspired me to follow in your footsteps…however many baby steps it might take me!
Love your perspective and humor….can’t tell you how many times I laugh out loud at your Tweets!!
Continued success to you, at least until May 2012…right?
Congratulations Sheila! Here’s to many more years of blogging happiness and great information sharing!
@Connie Reece - Your words mean a lot, coming from someone as respected as you are in the social media world. I’m honored that you’re a colleague and friend.
@ElliottNg - Thanks so much for your support over the years - sometimes y’all’s comments were the only ones I’d get all week!
@Becky McCray - So true. There aren’t many nicer feelings than when some seemingly random person says, “Oh, I read your blog.” Big-time warm and fuzzies!
Happy Happy Birthday!
I started also in 2006, but a few months later when I was trying to figure out what the heck a blog was, I was grateful to find yours! Family Travel…just what I was looking for!!
You are a whiz kid because when I first saw it, I thought you had been doing it for years!! I was a huge fan and still am!
Your generous heart always shines through in your writing and everything you do. Keep doing it, we all love it!
Hi!
Happy anniversary ! I wish to your travel blog goes well to share all happiness and amazement around the world.