A Thank-You Letter to My Blog
Dear Blog:
You came into my life four years ago today. I want to thank you.
Thank you for giving me a sense of purpose. When I first arrived in Joburg, I didn’t have a job or even a plan. But I always had you. Eventually you became my job and my plan.
Thank you for introducing me to photography. Creating you made me realize that I tell stories much better with words and pictures than I do with words alone. I’m a photographer because of you.
Thank you for helping me to survive the most difficult times of my life. When I felt like I had nowhere to turn, I turned to you. I clicked “New Post” and started typing.
Thank you for keeping me in South Africa. When life got really bad, I thought about leaving. But I knew that you couldn’t live anywhere else, and I knew that I couldn’t live without you. So I stayed.
Thank you for introducing me to my city. You made me fall in love with Joburg. Now it’s home.
Thank you for introducing me – directly or indirectly – to many of the people I care about most in the world.
Thank you for introducing me to myself. I had no idea who I was before you came along. You gave me a mirror and forced me to look. Now I know what I’m looking at and I love what I see.
Thanks, Blog. Happy birthday.
Love, Heather
A few announcements:
- SandtonPlaces has officially launched and is on sale in bookstores. Come to the first public launch at Exclusive Books in Sandton next Wednesday.
Look, it’s me with a giant book.
- “Hazy Blue Hour”, my limited-edition Jozi print, is still for sale. Five prints have sold so far and five are left. If you’re interested, message me through the blog or on Twitter.
- I have a milestone birthday approaching. To celebrate, I’ve helped organise a gig with my favorite band, BCUC, at Curiocity Backpackers in Maboneng on July 5th. You’re all invited.
Thanks to Anna-Belle at She Said She Said for this beautiful graphic.
Life is good. Thanks to all of you for reading 2Summers over the past four years and following along on my crazy journey. Looking forward to the next four.
Comments
Congratulations - As you know life is a strange strange journey leading to the most unexpected outcomes….and when we look back we realize that it was meant to be.
Yes. And life just keeps getting stranger and more awesome.
Heather, I feel it is I whom should be thanking you for keeping me abreast of what’s happening in my old home town. I’m not big on writing but do read and enjoy every one of your postings, So, a formal thank you from me to you. Alex. Chiang mai, Thailand.
Thanks so much, Alex. I really appreciate the comment and glad you’re still enjoying my blog.
Hey Heather. You’re awesome. Your story is the coolest and I’m so excited that you created a life for yourself that you truly love. Nothing better than that.
Thanks Gary. You’re awesome too. Hope things are going well.
Horray to you and 2 Summers. You both rock. Your blog has had huge success. Happy birthday, my friend.
Hugs from Ecuador, Kathy
Thank YOU for sharing your story and experiences with us in a beautifully artistic way xx
Although we miss you a great deal, it is with excitement that we share your celebration of life in Joburg. It doesn’t seem to matter the distance it might take to get where you are supposed to be–just that you get there. Becky
Congrats and thank you for your openness and willingness to share. You have inspired me and many others I’m sure. Mazeltov.
As always you entice us to want more. I am glad you stayed. Well done and you deserve the awesomeness!
Congratulations on your blog’s anniversary. Who woulda thought………..?
Congratulations Heather! It’s been quite a ride following you and all your (usually) wonderful exploits, and that of Smokey also. Sadly, it’s now time for me to say goodbye, I wish you well in all your endeavours and trust you’ll continue to amaze everyone ♥
Thanks Enivea! But what do you mean by saying goodbye? Where are you going? I hope all is ok… It occurs to me that you’re one of my oldest readers and one of the blogs I’ve read the longest.
Very happy for you, Heather. Your life’s gamble paid off!
It certainly did. I’m fortunate.
So glad you decided to stay, love your blogs and you have often shown me something I did not know about my own city. To many more. xx
Thanks Gail :)
Congrats on four years of blogging. I have my 6th coming up next week. Can’t believe its been so long.
Thank you Heather, for sharing with all of us, friends, people you have never met but whose hearts you have touched, you have been an inspiration, a lesson in how to love life, plus, let us not forget, an endless source of cool ideas of things to do, places to visit in SA.Thank you!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Catherine :)