The other night I was sitting at the kitchen counter with my laptop, checking through my blog stats, when I noticed some traffic coming my way from WE Magazine's site....a link mentioning something about top women bloggers of 2010.
Naturally, my curiosity was peaked so I clicked on the link. And there it was in black and white. My blog....little ole' me....included in the list of 101 women bloggers to watch, according to WE Magazine.
Holy crap. I had to read it repeatedly to fully digest this. Seriously, me?
I felt like I had won an Emmy or something. Tim had just walked out the door and I ran out to the garage to catch him but the garage door was already closing. I didn't realize he had seen me trying to get his attention until the phone rang.
"Did you want something from the store?" he asked.
"No, you're not gonna believe this. I mean, I can't believe it. It's...uh, well, I had no idea...uh, I can't believe this," I blabbered breathlessly into the phone.
"What?!" he screamed back, obviously becoming frustrated with my inability to express my thoughts.
Gathering my wits, I explained, "Well, there's this magazine for women called WE and every year they put together a list of the top 100 bloggers to watch for..."
Tim interrupted, "Let me guess....you made the list".
Damn him. It was just like him to rain on my parade. I wanted to be the one to say the words, "I'm on the list".
It reminded me of the time when I finally told my mom I was pregnant with our 2nd set of twins. I had said, "I have HUGE news...you're not gonna believe it!"
She stated, "Hmmm, what? You're pregnant with triplets?" Kind of deflated my bubble a little bit, know what I mean?
Then Tim said, "That's awesome, sweetie. Maybe with some of the other recent recognition your blog has gotten you, you'll be able to make some more money from it".
I shook my head in silence. He'll never understand.
I mean, yeah, it would be amazing to bring in the kind of big money that Dooce earns from blogging but that's not my sole purpose.
I've earned what I call our "pizza money"....just a few dollars here and there, which allows us to enjoy bi-monthly dinners at the local pizza place. And I'm cool with that little amount.
However, what means the most is the recognition...it lights me up in a way that can hardly be explained to someone who doesn't have the same passion for it that I do.
When someone else notices and appreciates what I put out in the blogosphere...a piece of work which I poured my heart and soul into (along with a healthy dose of sarcasm)...well, it's like a warm welcome of gratitude.
To me, it means what I had to say mattered to others...it resonated with them, it spoke to them, it moved them. Perhaps it made them laugh, smile or cry...it made them FEEL something. Somehow and in some way, my words had an impact.
And in my little world, the feelings of acknowledgement and acceptance from seeing my blog included on a top 10 or top 100 list or being asked to contribute a piece of my writing to a charitable cause is worth its own weight in gold.
Long after the money is gone, the written word still lingers for everyone to read, including my children someday when they're older.
Well, I'll be darned....I guess I'm not so speechless after all.
71 comments:
You so deserve to be on that list. You should be so proud....and if it earns you some money, splurge!!!! :)
Well-deserved, my dear.
I guess I should thank Lucas for understanding why I spew nonsense online. :)
Congratulations! Of course you deserve every bit of recognition! I'm always impressed by your gift with words and stories of life :-)
Congrats!!!! How exciting - and how curious to find out through stat tracking ;)
Absolutely well-deserved, girl! Yay, congratulations! =)
Congrats! It is a well-deserved honor!
Wow, how awesome is that! Congrats!
Way to go, Helene! That is one heck of an honor, and so well-deserved. I'm happy to know you!
Way to go, Helene! That is one heck of an honor, and so well-deserved. I'm happy to know you!
Well count me as one of your devoted followers who think you whole heartedly deserve all of that recognition and more.. you go mama
Whoohoo!! Congratulations! It is wonderful when people recognize what you do - be that at work, home or blogland. Enjoy every bit of it!!
That's so awesome! Congrats!
~Mimi
Yay for you! And thanks for reminding me why I'm not sad without a husband :)
O.M.G. What exciting news...So cool!!! How come Men always think "Money" Congratulations again!!
Wow Congratulations!!!! I'm jealous! You deserve it!
That is awesome! You definitely deserve to be on the list!
Oh my goodness, congratulations. It is most definitely well deserved. You are an amazing writer and your words impact everyone.
congrats! that's totally awesome! i don't even remember how i found my way to your site, but i definitely think you deserve this. you've been one of the kindest (and most interesting!) bloggers i've begun to read this year. congrats again!
Congratulations! Well deserved.
Congratulations!!!! That is so awesome!!!! I would be speechless too but it wouldn't last long, the menopause would make sure of that :)
I'm so happy for you Sweetie!
Congrats!!! How exciting!
(And I'm a little jealous haha)
Congrats! That is awesome!!!!
GOOD FOR YOU! You have a way with words that keep people coming back for more. So happy for you!!!
WOW, that is SO exciting!!! Congratulations!! You definitely deserve it :)
Way to go, Helene!
You so deserve it! Way to go!
Oh my gosh! That is so awesome!!! and SO exciting! Congratulations!
I'm brand new here, The Purse Blogger sent me over here, she said your blog was a MUST read :) Glad I came by, it's sure nice to meet a celebrity :)
Anyway, I'm following you now, and look forward to reading more.
Yay!!!!
Are you allowed to have a party?
I would!
It's a good thing you have us around to build your ego back up!
This is incredible! And very well deserved.
Wow! That's amazing and well-deserved! Congrats!
You know I think you are awesome & totally belong on that list! You're my bloggy role model. And how dare he rain on your parade! :)
OH MY GOD! You totally deserve it. I LOVE your blog. I featured you as my top daily read a few weeks back. You are greatness! That's so my husband too. They will never understand unless I start paying the bills. Oh the boys! :)
OH MY GOD! You totally deserve it. I LOVE your blog. I featured you as my top daily read a few weeks back. You are greatness! That's so my husband too. They will never understand unless I start paying the bills. Oh the boys! :)
I've been saying it FOREVAH !!! You really deserve it.
For me personally ... blogs come and go ... I lose interest after a pretty short time and I stop reading them. Not so with you ...
Many, many congrats ...
I believe a huge CONGRATULATIONS is in order!!! That is awesome!
We spend so much time hurling electrons into cyberspace. It is nice when they actually connect to someone's cortex. Congrats.
I follow a good handful of blogs but yours is one of the few that I honestly and truly always look forward to reading. You crack me up with your wit and your blogs are always so fun and so easy to read.
You totally deserve the nod!
way to go!!!!Yeay!!! congrats!
Well clear the furniture and stand back baby, I'm doin' a great big happy dance for ya!!! Woohoo, congratulations to you and your wonderfully entertaining blog. A well deserved recognition sweetie.
God bless take a bow and enjoy your exciting day!!! :o)
That is awesome! Congrats!
OK so my nice well-thought-out comment didn't take and disappeared. Anyway, I am just now catching up on your blog! That is such great news! I LOVE your blog and for what it's worth I read yours but not Dooce or Nie Nie or any of those. Perhaps it's because I relate best to yours. :) Anyway, a BIG CONGRATS! I would have been elated too!
Congratulations!!!!! You should be on every Top 50 list everywhere!! And Tim is right, your work is valuable and should earn money. You are THAT good!
That's so awesome Helene. You totally deserve it! Your blog is so awesome. I love your honesty and how you pour your heart into it! :) Congratulations!
That is is awesome! Congratulations! And you are second on the list! WOOHOO!
How wonderful to get such recognition! I enjoy reading your blog, congratulations on the mention!
Congratulations! How wonderful and well-deserved!
Congrats! You deserve it!
Oh my gosh that is so cool! I'm so happy for you! Very well deserved my friend. :)
Congrats!!! That is amazing!!!
You are incredible!! Just found you on my 'who to follow list' on Twitter, (sometimes they get it wrong, sometimes they get it right...YEAH!).
As as soon as I saw 2 sets of twins, I was very intruged, and had to follow you, lol.
You completely & totally deserved the honor you were given, and I'm very happy for you. You not only deserve that recognition, but a 'Super hero-mother of the year award' to boot:)
4 kids in 2 years is just amazing. How do you find the time to blog? Must have one amazing husband. I have a hard time with one set, but they are only 6 months, still working on that whole 'building a schedule thing, if humanly possibly cr$p, lol'.
Nights are great, days can be insane, but I'll take it, cause at least I do get some sleep.
Anyhow, definately going to follow you on Google friend connect, right now & facebook to. Definately a blog, I'll be sure and watch! Congrats again!
xoxo Shelly
Soooooooo AWESOME! Now I can say I knew you when! I had no idea you made the list and I totally would have let you say it!
Congratulations Helene!!!!!
I am SO excited for you!
I'm, like, 98% excited and 2% jealous.
Or maybe it's more like 90-10.
Definitely no less than 80-20.
Congrats! That's awesome! What a great feeling!!
Congrats! You definitely deserve that recognition.
I totally understand what you mean about why you blog.
Very, very cool and well deserved!
Congrats...I dont know why you are so surprised. They just recognized what we already knew...that you are a really great person and a wonderful blog writer. You deserved this, and I am soooo happy for you!!
YAY for YOU! That's awesome!
Glad you're not speechless!!
I would say you said it just about perfectly. Recognition. Commiseration. Understanding.
Really, isn't that what it's all about?
And girl, you are good! It's no surprise people see it.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! that's huge and really well deserved!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! that's huge and really well deserved!
That so awesome!!! You deserve the accolades...you are prolific and moving. You can make me laugh (a lot) and cry too!!! I sincerely love your blog and I hope it brings in lots of pizza money for you. There is nothing wrong with being compensated for your hard work and talent...of which you have in abundance! :)
Congratulations!! As you can see, none of your readers is surprised by this... :)
Congratulations!! As you can see, none of your readers is surprised by this... :)
Huge Huge Huge congratulations!! Although I'm not a bit surprised. So totally deserved, Helene!
Congrats and totally deserved! Pizza money or not, I love your blog!
CHEERS HELENE!! WOOHOO way to go girl..keep up the good work, dont stop writing, you make me smile a few times a week, your stregnth as a mama..it helps me go on, and the craziness of your life..lets me know I am not the only one! I am proud of you!
That's fantastic! I know how good it makes you feel to be recognized.
And I'm laughing about your mom asking if you were expecting triplets...bwahahaha!!!
Congratulations! You so deserve to be on that list. Your blog gives me great laughs and lots of perspective. Keep on typing!
How fantastic - but you would've thought maybe someone from WE could have popped over real quick just to let you know? Regardless - you deserve it and CONGRATS!!
Post a Comment