A year ago today I created my first blog.  This was my last attempt at making money online, I had a fledging jewelry website for a year before, & just never really thought I could make anything of it.  I’m reminded how much things have changed.

Then:  When no one found the following joke funny, I wondered if something was wrong with me, because it’s my favorite.  Note: No I did not make this joke up, my brother’s friend did.  I am one of the few people who finds it funny.  Don’t try to top it, it can’t be done.

One day a man walks into a bar. He is perfectly normal, except that he has an orange for a head. The bartender says "Why do you have an orange for a head?". The man starts to tell his story. "I was walking along the beach one day & I saw a lamp. I picked it up & started to clean it off. Out came a Genie. He said that I could have any three wishes that I wanted.

For my first wish, I wished for a beautiful wife & I got a beautiful wife".

For the second wish, I wished for million dollars & I was granted a million dollars."

Expecting some trickery on the part of the Genie, the bartender stops & asks what his third wish.

The man with an orange for a head replies:

"I wished I had an orange for a head".

Now: Several people from all over the world have found this joke to be hilarious, as well as the fact that I get several hits weekly from "I wish I had an orange for a head" joke. It’s so nice to be able to share my humor with a wider audience. There’s a much greater chance that someone will get what I’m talking about.

Then: I fought with my brother over a family car, even though I was 24. Everytime I got in the car, it was riddled with junk food & dirt to the point I could hardly stand to drive it.

Now: I bought the car from my parents, granted it has 180,000 miles on it, but it’s mine. I can pay the insurance & registration. The radio station is always turned exactly where I left it. Ah, the simple pleasures.

Then: I dread the question "So what do you do?". It was almost impossible for me to work with fibromyalgia & I never knew what to say to them.

Now: I’m excited to share my work with everyone I meet. Most of them are very excited for me, & proud of me. I even feel a little guilty because I’m one of the few people that I know who loves what they do.

Then: I worried about the future, a lot. I didn’t sleep at night, which made the fibromyalgia much worse. I felt insignificant & invisible & wondered how I could possibly make my life work. Even the simplest thing, like buying "Gilmore Girls" DVD’s required great deliberation.  (Even though Gilmore Girls DVD’s are a necessity of life).

Now:  I sleep well & wake up excited to work.  I have my choice of places to live, & can even consider traveling.  I bought a $50 tanzanite ring to celebrate my blogaviersary, while not a lot of money it would’ve been impossible a year ago.  I have enough money saved up to cushion me when/if the whole blogging/internet thing dries up.

Life isn’t perfect now.  I don’t make the kind of money that a lot of the top bloggers make.  (Although, I’m open to making that much).  However, I have enough for my small needs, & that in itself is satisfying.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 18th, 2007 at 2:15 pm and is filed under Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.