I've been the New Kid a lot. New neighborhoods, new schools, new jobs - everyone's been there, but my childhood and adolescence were more than a little gypsy-like and I've followed the pattern as an adult, to some extent. That kid with the wavy, peroxide-damaged hair and major trust issues to my left was the New Kid as they snapped his photo. Just a few weeks later, he would be the New Kid when he left one school (call it a mutual break-up) for another.I've certainly felt like the New Kid this last week as FB stepping down as a regular contributor put this blog back into my hot little hands. My knees buckle a little at the responsibility of handling this alone again. It's been this and other recent experiences that make me realize that circumstance, not anything I did, made me the New Kid time and again. It was just that when everything's new, when everyone's just learning your name, they don't get to see the "warts and all" version of you.
Being the New Kid, in other words, is an easy mask to hide behind. But it requires leaving a lot behind and starting anew all the time. Exciting, because change is, but exhausting, because so is running. To very few people in my life am I old news. When you're old news, old tricks don't work. People expect something more of you. You fail the expectations sometimes. That's not always a bad thing.
How, you ask, does this relate to the blog? Well, the changes I've been thinking about making are really about putting more of me into this forum of mine. To be clear, I'm not looking to make this some online journal. I can't bleed all over the internet for everyone to see. But I can be more of myself. I'm doing this in my "real" life and this is an extension of that, after all. So while I will be making with funny with the new features, I also want to make sure I'm giving an accurate picture of myself. J. isn't a different person than me, after all - just a nickname I've wanted to stick for a long time.
And I plan to stick around for a long time. I want to be the old guy (not literally, though - I'm going to be rocketed to the sun at 50, so everyone remembers me somewhat youthful and somewhat wise all at once) whose blog you can't remember ever not reading, even after blogs have been outmoded by whatever technology has to offer next. I won't give it all away, but I do want you to feel let in a little.
Just don't ask for nude pictures. I'm saving those for when I go broke and need the cash to pay the rent.
-J.
This post was sponsored by the Hangin' Tough Committee.
4 comments:
I agree a little...being the new kid can be really easy. Everything you do is new and exciting...and anything different is exotic, not weird, lol. But, it gets tiring, I think.
Either way...still love ya!
I look forward to reading more from you, and watching your new steps. I have been glad to stumble across this blog! Change is good, its just that change can be scarier than an old lady with a shotgun =]
I've been a newbie many of times so I know the feeling but hey,you can do it! Cover Wrinkler in bees!(please forgive the Little Nicky reference but that's the only time I've found Rob Schneider to be amusing on film).
Seriously,if you start any real life whining,the only solution is a LiveJournal account,where whimpering about your mundane existence is mandatory:)
J. I am sure I speak for most when I say that we feel very fortunate to be able to learn more about you through your blog. It is so great that you are willing to put yourself out there. We all love you for it!
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