I recently joked with some of you here about presenting my own Major Awards to fellow bloggers. If I could present an award, I’d present the BAIB, for Blogging at its Best. And it wouldn’t have anything at all to do with what your blog looks like, or how many people visit you, or even what or how well you write. It would have to do with how much goodstuff you put out in blogworld, by way of encouraging comments.
For me, some 10 months of blogging have yielded many rewards. I got the increased writing practice, and the outlet for goofiness, that were really my only two goals when I began. But I’ve gotten much more than that. I’ve gotten to be a part of something much bigger than that, something I didn’t imagine at all, when I began. I’ve seen how actual people can derive some actual benefit from the kind and encouraging comments of strangers. I’ve been on both the giving and receiving ends of that transaction. On my birthday, when I was anxious and scared, people I will probably never lay eyes on took my mind off of my worries, which was the very best gift I could have gotten that day. I’ve seen people go through illnesses, unemployment, children’s disabilities, and worse, and be helped by strangers taking a moment to say, “I was here, and I care, and I’m hoping good things for you.” It is no small thing, this “blove” we talk about.
I’ve talked a little bit before about how (and I still don’t quite know how) blogworld seems to be an amalgamation of neighborhoods. I adore my neighbors. Can you imagine the block parties we would have, if we could really all come out and get together? One of our neighbors, the beautiful, charming, gracious von Krankipantzen, has made it through chemo, and through radiation, and is preparing for surgery. Big, terrifying surgery — a bilateral mastectomy — on Monday, January 23rd. Kranki has blogged through nearly a year of dealing with cancer. And in that year, she has amazed and delighted us, and given us an excellent cookie recipe, and exploited her beloved cat, Yoshi, nearly every Friday, for our pleasure. If you haven’t already, or even if you have, please take a moment to stop in and give Kranki some love, and some encouragement, and whatever else you got lying around that she might put to good use.
A couple of days ago, I got an email from someone very special*, inviting me to visit someone else very special. This second someone is Deb, at Debutaunt. She lives in another neighborhood, but it’s not all that far away. She is a fine writer, and the single mom of a beautiful little girl, Zoe. And she has leukemia. She’s just entering a fifth round of chemo, with the hope of preparing for a bone marrow transplant after this round. I know that my neighbors here are not a bit shy, and will think nothing of going and knocking on a new door and introducing themselves. That’s another reason I love you guys. So after you leave Kranki, with a kiss and a crush for Yoshi’s head, please head on down the road just a bit and give Deb some encouragement, too. But be careful while you’re reading there. She likes to give out a daily assignment! Last night’s required me to do laundry at 11 p.m.! Just be careful, that’s all I’m saying.
I wouldn’t bother asking for this, except, it’s important. People who’ve had serious surgeries, and people who’ve had dear ones who did not survive, despite our witty comments and our fervent prayers, tell me that it helps to have weird blog people come and comment. So of course we will do that. No good reason not to.
Thanks, friends and neighbors. And lurkers, too. Hey, if you lurk here, do me a big favor and go de-lurk on Kranki and Deb’s sites 
Much love to you strange, lovely people who stop in here. Now go get your BAIB. THAT is a Major Award.
*The someone special who emailed me was Nikki. If you are a non-believer that your comments make a difference, please read Nikki’s comment here on this post. Not because of the outrageously kind things she says about me, but because no one knows better than she about the power of comment-love from strangers. Nikki is Sarah’s partner.
