As I flipped open my iPad, sipping my morning coffee, my wife nudged me and pointed to this before I could explore my WP Reader:
While coffee was brewing in our cluttered kitchen here in Florence, Ore., blogger Aman Shrivastava, a freshman engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, pushed the “follow” button — and became one of 4,500 people who have contributed to this blog reaching more people than I ever thought possible. I am constantly amazed and just as often humbled by all of you; your generosity of spirit; your witty and insightful comments that never fail to elicit a laugh (sometimes more than the actual post); your support of me and each other throughout the world; and your endless creativity, wisdom and acceptance, even when…
I slide down a pole and do a face-plant:
Get punched in the face by a wooden lion:
Or slightly overreact to receiving maple syrup from a foreign country:
I just want to thank all of you for being a part of this small corner of the blog-o-sphere.
(Ned Hickson is a syndicated columnist with News Media Corporation. His first book, Humor at the Speed of Life, is available in paperback or eBook from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or request your signed copy from Port Hole Publications.)
Ned's Blog 
I like this small corner. It’s comfortable and just kooky enough not to be disturbing!! xx
Comfortable and kooky are always what I’m aiming for.
Thanks so much, Susan 😉
Thank you for the pleasure and laughter you have afforded us. You bring a lively, carefree presence into our lives that we want to visit often.
My porch light is always on, Patricia — although I can’t always promise “someone’s at home” 😉
Yo are too funny, Ned….congrats dude👍👍
I appreciate that, Barb. Thank You! 😉
Congrats, Ned! I wrote a post this morning wondering where all the readers have gone. Perhaps they’ve flocked to your blog. 🙂
Ha! That would’ve about doubled my followers, so I’m thinking “Naaaaa!” Either way, thanks Austin 😉
Hmmm….it’s all a great mystery then. 🙂
Reading this makes me think there’s hope for the Human Race after all. I mean, 4,500 followers can’t be WRONG, can they? Well, not ALL of them, anyway. Keep it up, Ned. The world needs you! Your FANS need you, even the ONE down here in Florida. 🙂
Thanks, Marcia! If I ever visit sweltering Florida again, I’m glad to know I have a fan… 😉
What you’ll need is a FAN, as in blades that rotate and push air in your general DI-rection! And you’ll need that fan placed directly in front of an a/c vent blasting arctic temperature air straight at you and your 55-gallon drum of iced tea. Then you throw away the straw and climb into the drum! You’ll be glad you did.
It’s almost 100 degrees again today, here in the Sweltering State. My brain is par-boiled, and my eyeballs are sweating. But, please…come on down! Why should I suffer alone???? 😉
I take the time to follow your blog for a few reasons, one you seem nice and take the time to reply to people’s comments, three you’re funny and lastly you appear to be a regular guy, though I could be wrong on the last point. Who knows you could be a super hero or the devil in disguise. Either way thank you, and your wife for giving you time to write, instead of giving her a back massage. 🙂
Haha! Thank you for following for all those reasons. Sometimes, though, I write with one hand and give my wife a massage with the other 😉
Awesome milestone. And for very good reason.
Thanks for being a part of it, Judy 😉
🙂
Sir, that’s a period, not a comma…you have 4 and a half followers, WordPress is just being extra precise.
Signed, your half-wit friend
I don’t even want to think about which half…
You’re awesome – congratulations! 🙂
Coming from awesome, that means a lot — thank you, Lynette 😉
It’s always a pleasure Ned. Thanks for the giggle 🙂
Well deserved. Congrats, Ned!
Thank you, Amy!
You’re great at what you do, and then you throw in kindness, respect, and thoughtfulness to your readers, enough to be called a friend. I have no doubt that you will double your fan numbers shortly, and then who knows how many more not long after that.
I suppose we’ll have to get used to sharing you and your time, but you better make sure I stay #1 groupie or Lord help you, I will send Lisa after your tail. Have a nice day, friend. 🙂
I appreciate your kind words and optimism, Robyn, as well as your friendship. I also respect your stature as No. 1 Groupie, and not just because I’m scared of what Lisa would do to my tail.
Truly; Thank you 😉
You are obviously doing something right. 🙂
It’s rare, but it happens 😉
Those 4500 doesn’t even count tens of thousands that Skippy is reaching out during his cross-country rampage.
I’m not sure if threats from the CDC and PETA count as “followers,” but I appreciate the optimism, X.
Wait a minute. I thought we already established the fact that besides Marcia being a fan of yours – in Florida, you have me a well. And I see Marcia is complaining about the heat. The #1 rule to being a Floridian is to never leave air conditioning unless you’re at the beach. You’re a good guy Ned. Your other fan in Florida, Lucy
I didn’t forget you, Lucy! Because of you, I can honestly say I have “fans” in Florida. And not just the kind you plug in. Thank you for that 😉
4500! Wow! What a milestone. Congratulations. It’s been fun.
Thank you so much for coming along on the ride 😉
Congrats, Ned!!
Thanks, TD!! I really appreciate that coming from someone who is one with The Force.
Eh? I’m dead? I so didn’t know that.
It happens. Look at Kenny Rogers.
I guess you’re right. I didn’t know he still existed.
With all of that plastic, he will exist in some form forever.
That saddens me.
That disturbance in The Force you felt? It’s Kenny, man.
I thought it was the destruction of the Death Star. This is worse.
Hahahaha! “As if millions suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced… when they saw Kenny Rogers.”
Or even worse…heard him.
Now you’ve gone too far.
On the contrary…I haven’t gone far enough!
I thought about unfollowing and refollowing just to get a call at home from the famous Ned of Ned’s Blog, but then I remembered I don’t have a home phone so you could end up calling my cell while I was at the grocery store and, depending on what section I was in at the time, that could get awkward fast.
Lol! It would be so worth it, though, just for the looks on people’s faces if I could make you giggle uncontrollably in “that” aisle! Wait, we are talking about the detergent aisle, right…?
Yeah, ahem, detergent…that’s the aisle.
Congrats, what an accomplishment! I always enjoy reading your stuff Ned. I love your ability to make us laugh but at the same time there is a side to you that every now & again throws in a serious piece that connects us to you. Glad to be among such good company!
And I’m so very glad to have you here, Lynn.
Thank you 😉
You’re welcome from the land of maple syrup!
Awwww. How sweet… 😉
Your sweet and humble thank you is just one of many reasons why we follow you. Thanks for making your corner of the blog-o-sphere a fun and inclusive.
And, speaking as #3251 of 4500, I can honestly say that you have never made me feel like just another number or follower. The care you take and the time required to answer each and every one of our comments is a testament to you as a person and yet another reason why you need to go ice that blog muscle.
Thank you, Ned!!
Thank you, Michelle. I’m so glad to hear that. I was beginning to worry that people were only interested in the size of my blog… 😉
By the way, you’re actually #3248.
See? THAT’S how much I care.
Ned,
Of course you know, it’s not the size of the blog that matters, but rather the way you use it 😉
Thanks for the number clarification…I may have thrown a decimal in there.
Happy Monday!
I’m still waiting for the carrier pigeon.
It’s possible that it encountered turbulence passing over Washington D.C. You see, when all that hot air mixes with cold air…
Congrats. Well deserved, Ned!
Thanks, Darla!
Who are you trying to kid, Ned?
You PAID for the women! Wait, that was “Scrooged”…
Well, in that case, you EARNED the followers… Putz.
Earned. Stole. Paid off. No need to split hairs…
Congratulations! Your pole sliding adventure is by far the funniest cat video I’ve ever seen!
I swear I’ve never done that at the fire station. *crosses fingers behind back*