Anniversaries Aplenty

Forgive me if I get all maudlin on you. I'm just the kind of person who likes to mark significant days, even if they're really no longer significant. Today I've got three somewhat important anniversaries on my mind:

• The 17-year anniversary of my first day in book publishing. So much has changed since I sat there at my DOS-based 386 PC, sharing a cubicle with the publisher's assistant and wondering just what I had gotten myself into. But I'm still drinking my hot chocolate out of the same mug, a farewell gift from a former co-worker at my very last crummy job. I call it a talisman.
• Saturday was exactly one year since EMC took over JIST. I was telecommuting that day and the COO and my boss later called to tell me what had happened. I literally shook from fear and excitement over the unknown--both the good and the bad possibilities. A year later I still think that was a valid response.
• It's also been a year since I launched this blog. I had been thinking of it for a while, but the merger sort of lit a fire under me. I felt like I needed to be doing something proactive, constructive, and creative. I can truly say it was one of the best moves I ever made. I have so truly enjoyed connecting with so many people and being able to help them. I also love having a creative outlet and an audience. Without blowing it too far out of proportion, you are my muses, and I am grateful to you.