TMRE Turns Two Today!

See that cute little countdown button over there? (Psst! Look right!) It's reminded me that today is an important day in the life of TMRE. My little blog turns two today. After more than 760 posts since it's auspicious birth, I've come to see this as a rather grand adventure. There just aren't that many other places where I get to discuss/write about things I love with others who so genuinely share my passions.

I didn't add a Sitemeter counter to my site until April 2007, but I imagine there weren't many folks tuned in to my early ramblings, so it's probably pretty accurate. Since the counter was installed I have had close to 76,000 visits and more than 131,000 page views. What's the difference? Page views represent the number of individual pages viewed on a site, while a visit is a series of page views by one person.

Right around the time of Robert's Snow last year I added a NeoCounter to track visitors from different countries. This is a very cool widget that shows the flags of nations and the number of visitors from each. Today it lists more than 60,000 visitors from 146 countries.

What do all these data tell me?
First, that people search for some strange things! No matter how you find your way here, I'm glad you've come, and equally grateful that you keep returning. It's an amazing thing to throw your ideas out into the void and find that they actually take wing and reach others. The fact that you take the time to comment and engage in conversation, however brief, is immensely gratifying.

Second, that I am in some small way fulfilling the mission I set for myself when this blog was started. Here's what I had to say in that very first post.

So today I launch The Miss Rumphius Effect. As for the title, I selected it because I am living my life in the shadow of Miss Rumphius and trying to live by these words:

"When I grow up, I too will go to faraway places, and when I grow old, I too will live beside the sea."
That is all very well, little Alice," said her grandfather, "but there is a third thing you must do."
"What is that?" asked Alice.
You must do something to make the world more beautiful," said her grandfather.
"All right," said Alice. But she did not know what that could be.

Miss Rumphius planted lupines, but I want to do so much more. What could that be? Like young Alice, I still do not know. When I find the answer, I'll let you know.

I suppose my goal all along has been to contribute in some meaningful way to a community that embraces a love of books and reading in a variety of ways. I hope that teachers, librarians, parents, home schoolers and others find value in what I share.

Finally, they tell me that what I am doing is indeed worth the time I am investing.

While TMRE celebrates her second birthday, let me offer my thanks to YOU--my supportive, kind, and thoughtful readers. I would not be here without you.