A year ago today, i wished to comment on one of gracielou's posts, and had to register. Never being one to join and not play along, I posted my 25 Things About Me. Since then, I have posted Top Tens, appreciations of days and seasons, foodie posts, poems, and assorted musings, always trying to bring cheer to this dreary rock we call earth.

So, in honour of this anniversary, I present 10 things I Have Learned in My Year on OS:

1. Cover Picks and EPs are unfair. But so what? ain't never gonna change, so why bitch about it?
2. It's best to stay out of catfights. Who needs to get scratched?
3. There are really fine people here.
4. I will never be as good as the best writers here. But, again, so what? I am good enough.
5. Hoping for external validation is a curse. In life as on OS, but, oh, darlings, I AM a needy soul. Let's blame Mommie Dearest. 
6. The support that I do receive here is worth treasuring, however much or little it is.
7. I should write what I want, when I want, but not be afraid to ask for inspiration.
   
8. Just as side roads make the most interesting journeys, often the best posts are obscure. Between this and point no. 1, I learned early to try to scroll the "recent" tab mostly, and to try unfamiliar writers with interesting titles. Or hot looking women (why are the writer photos so small?) That last sentence is dedicated to Theodora, who loved to tease me about the fact she thought I flirted with who she deemed "the pretty women of OS", but not her.
9. Anonymity might not work for everybody, but it works for me. I could never write as honestly if my sons, co workers and friends knew I blogged.
10. Perhaps most importantly, I have learned the courage to talk comfortably about my disability. I never define myself as "disabled", because God gave me many gifts, but my differentness is part of who I am.