Nine years old!

I can’t believe I forgot. I’m such a bad father. How could I forget this birthday?

This past Saturday marked 9 years since I started this blog: July 3, 2001.

As I do every year at this time, I reflect on how much has changed. Just a few months later would be 9/11 and then a few months after that the Scandal would break out. In that time span I would meet Melanie, we’d date, get married, and now are preparing for our 4th child. Nine years ago, I was the newly minted managing editor for Catholic World Report and today I’m working in New Media for the Archdiocese of Boston.

So many great blogs and bloggers have come and gone. Heck, nine years ago I think Tom and Rocco were only in high school and look at them now. They’re the leading lights of Catholic blogdom. But a lot of familiar names are still around too: Amy, Mark, Jeff, Jimmy, Kathy. (Note to self: Don’t make lists of names. You’ll leave someone out and hurt someone’s feelings.) And a lot of great blogs have started even in recent years.

Not to forget the great commenters as well. I miss the regular connection with so many of you who used to populate my comboxes when I was writing regularly and I want you all to know that I often think of you and wonder how you are doing now.

Back then there wasn’t such a thing as a Catholic blogosphere, or even a blogosphere at all. Now, there are thousands of Catholic blogs, all providing one facet in this great jewel of faith shared among strangers-who-are-friends.

I guess there will come a day when we don’t make blogiversaries, either because blogs will be as commonplace as telephones or because they will have become anachronisms replaced by something new and shiny.

Nevertheless, I’m glad to be here at Bettnet.com, whatever forms it takes and I most greatly value all the people I’ve connected with through it. This blog has changed my life for the better in so many ways and for that I’m grateful.