by Bob Sparrow
While Suzanne was enjoying the cooler environs of Nipomo and I was trying to sneak into Russia, this past August marked a small blog milestone – our 4-year anniversary. Those of you who have been with us for the entire ride may remember that our blog started in August 2011 – we certainly don’t remember back that far! Initially it was a way to use social media to drive visitors to our ill-fated tribute poem writing business, Red Posey. The blog was then entitled Morning News in Verse and we would follow a USA Today newspaper format by writing four rhyming stanzas about topical news – one stanza each about Headlines, Business, Sports and Entertainment. Suzanne and I would alternate publishing a poem EVERYDAY! That everyday thing lasted for about two months, when we realized that it was occupying way too much of our life – like all of it; so we cut back to twice a week. Every once in a while we would deviate from the poetic format, as deviates are wont to do, and write prose about various subjects. An example of this occurred in September of 2011, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, when Suzanne wrote a moving piece entitled, Small Moments – A 9/11 Tribute, which received a large number of hits and many great comments – it is still to this day, probably the most visited blog in our archives. We eventually noticed that our number of blog hits and comments would increase when we scrapped the iambic pentameter and just wrote prose, not like pros, but prose nonetheless. While we immediately noticed the increase in interest when we scraped the poetry format, it took us until March of the next year to officially change our content and format to what it is currently. And since we weren’t rhyming any more we changed our name – not to Morning News Without Verse, but to ‘From A Bird’s Eye View’, a name borrowed from a newspaper column our mother wrote for the Novato Advance back when our dad was owner, editor and publisher of that paper in the 1940 and 50s.
We continued to post a blog twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, until July 2012. Then, either sensing that we were running out of ideas or audience, or both, we switched to our current schedule of every Monday morning. Whether the deadline was everyday, twice a week or once a week, I am happy to report that we have not missed a scheduled posting since starting this back in August 2011; I guess that’s due in part to our father’s newspaper blood coursing through our veins, where missing a deadline just isn’t an option.
Over these past four years we have published over 300 blogs, which have generated over 25,000 ‘views’ and nearly 1,000 comments (A special thank you to those who comment and let us know that our words don’t just fly off into cyber space). Our biggest day came last December when 388 people clicked on Suzanne’s ‘A TRIBUTE TO MY FIRST BEST FRIEND’ about her friend Leslie Sherman. And if you Google ‘From a Bird’s Eye View blog’, you will find about 530 results over 12 pages – we are fortunate enough to be found . . . on the first page!!!
I’ve been lucky enough to visit a lot of remarkable places and meet a number of interesting people; and I am thankful for staying awake in English class long enough to understand how to put a sentence together without dangling a modifier . . . most of the time. But the best part of all this is working with my sister, Suzanne. While our styles are a bit different, we enjoy reading and editing each other’s posts prior to publishing (OK, she edits mine a whole lot more than I edit hers!), discussing subject matter, travel schedules and just plain catching up with each other on a much more regular basis than before we started writing together.
So as we try to avoid breaking our arms from patting ourselves on the back, we’d mostly like to thank you loyal ‘bird watchers’ for tuning in. As you know, we have written about everything from the ridiculous to the sublime (mostly me the ridiculous and Suzanne the sublime), so thank you for tolerating the expression of our thoughts, opinions and experiences.
How long can we do this? As long as you keep reading, we’ll keep writing.
Thanks to both of you, Bob and Suzanne for your great and informative blogs. I look forward to Mondays!
Thank you Sue – great connecting with you and hope you continue to enjoy our efforts!
I don’t often comment, but keep ’em coming!
Thanks Steve, appreciate your following along with us wherever we go!
Keep em coming! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Jeff!!!
It’s always great to read your blog posts and enjoy your travels with you….both of you!!!!!!! Keep them coming!!!!! I love them!!!!!
Thank you Caro! for your comments; always amusing!
I don’t comment often, however, I look forward to and enjoy your blog every week. Keep it up. It is a bright Monday morning when I open your blog and enjoy. Thanks again
Great to hear from you Cheri – thanks for your comment and thanks for being a loyal follower!
Wow 4 years. It doesn’t seem that long ago. You two do a great job. I am inspired by you but can’t seem to find the time to do mine.
Thanks Jeff – I love your blog and I’m sure when you’re semi-retired you’ll be writing more; I’m sure you can’t wait!
Ditto to all of the above….thanks for sharing your talent!
Thank you Pam for ALL your comments – we really appreciate them . . . and you!
A Terrible Poem in Tribute
I guess I missed your posts in rhyme,
I didn’t know you then, in time
Now I’m a fan of all your posts,
It’s what I read with Monday toast.
Thanks Todd for your clever response and your faithful readership!
As long as you both keep writing, I will be happily reading ! Truly enjoy your blogs! 💛
Thank you Janet for ALL your comments – much appreciated!
Bob even though I don’t usually post a comment – I always start my Mondays off reading the posts so please keep them coming. I’ve laughed and cried and even been along for the ride on a few occasions………
Thanks Jaaj – always good to have you along!
I enjoy the posts and look very forward to reading them. And we are thankful we still can emote. Have a wonderful week. Pls., you must never think your “bird watchers” get bored!!! You can make me laugh, think, yes, think, and sometimes become tearful, full of emotions
Glad you’re enjoying ‘bird watching’ – thank you for all you comments!
Congrats to both of you. I love your writings Keep it up!! Your blog is so fresh and witty!
Thanks Blaine, always great to hear from you!
love your posts, and just plain love keeping up with you
Thank you so much Denise!
I am going to get you to over 2,000 comments. I love reading your blog especially now that we live so far away. It makes the miles seem shorter. I have enjoyed getting to know Suzanne too!!
Love, Sharon Hendrix
Thanks Sharon, always good to hear from you!
Keep it up, Bob and Suzanne. I enjoy the posts…dave
Thanks Dave!