Thinking Out Loud, Volume D

How fitting that this message fall on the day we are celebrating the New Year. No, my words today may not offer encouragement or hope, and they likely will not make you laugh nor cry. In fact, they may even be violating one of the principles I often preach with my writings: "It's not about me." You see, today's writing is solely about me and my baby. It also marks a major milestone. Please indulge me as I reminisce. Those of you who only read my articles on my Friday Facebook posts may not even be aware that they actually have a name, "Thinking Out Loud." It all started back in 2006 when I sent out a group email to my running group, and for some strange reason I can't explain, for the subject I wrote, "Thinking Out Loud, Volume I." I had no intention of ever doing a "Volume II," but the next week I wrote another one, and before I knew it, I had something going without a foreseeable stopping point. If you read these posts via email or Blogspot, you may have noticed that today's title is "Thinking Out Loud, Volume D." Then when you realize that the "D" is not meant simply as a letter of the alphabet, but is actually a Roman Numeral, it opens your eyes as to just what it means. Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, today marks the 500th consecutive week I have posted my weekly blog. Naturally some are better than others, but I've also learned that I can't really predict how any of them will be received, or which ones will be hits and which ones will fall flat. Some have unintentionally caused controversy, some have made people laugh, some have brought tears, and I can even recall one in which I was openly sobbing as I wrote. I will no doubt leave someone out here, but as I think back over the last decade, there are a few people who come to mind whom I have asked to be guest writers for me...people with stories to tell. Those names include, but are not limited to, Charlie Davidson, Valerie Campbell, Angie Richardson, Deena Ferguson, Heather Gray, Amy Miller, Jansen Martinez, Jeff Acreman, Amber Zambie, and Leslie Lamb. Several of these articles I've written have ended up being published, primarily in either military or religious publications. I even have a couple friends who have saved every one of them they've read. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for taking the time to read my thoughts, and for the feedback, even for those who have disagreed with something I've said. So far, no one has disagreed in a "disagreeable manner." There have definitely been times when I've thought about stopping, especially when it's time to write and I'm having a difficult time coming up with a topic, but as of now, my plan is to keep it going for as long as possible. Yes, "Thinking Out Loud" is my baby, and I've heard she resembles me quite a bit, which I take as a compliment. I promise that next week I'll get back to my regular style of writing, whatever that is, but for now, happy 500 week birthday, "Thinking Out Loud." Back on the first day, I never dreamed we would ever even come close to this day. May you still be around for 500 more weeks. Happy New Year, everyone!! Here's wishing you a 2016 that is your best year ever!!! Preston