Thursday, January 11, 2007

200 Posts Later and Still Searching For Perfection

According to Blogger’s little login dashboard thingy, today is my 200th post. Since I just woke up and am feeling several feet under the weather, I had a lot of trouble coming up with something appropriate for this numerical occasion. After all, when our country turned 200, there was a parade of tall sailing ships and fireworks. Of course I do not have the resources for such extravagant luxuries, so I’m forced to post this…

As I began thinking of the last 199 posts (sadly, I could recall very few as being memorable), I found myself also thinking forward to tomorrow’s post, the next 50, the next 100, etc. I then wondered about that day (very long from now, of course) when I will post my last entry. Now, I’m not anal, but I do like to plan ahead, so I figured that I would just go ahead and write my final post now in lieu of something special for this 200th post and then put it in the can to be on the safe side. Has anyone else out there wondered about their final post? For my dignity, I’m surely hoping so.

It’s hard to predict why a certain post would be my last, but there are a few possible scenarios. The most obvious is that my wife would awake one morning to discover me sprawled out unconscious over my keyboard because I OD’d on blogging. Perhaps Lucy and Ethel discover how to hide my computer from me and I'm forced to quit blogging cold turkey. Another is that I finally created ‘the ultimate post’ – my Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper, or Mona Lisa, if you will. How will I know that I’ve finally reached my blogging perfection where it would make no use to try and top it? Easy, it’ll be the post where I finally and successfully combine the wit of Fred Willard and William Shatner, the humor of Johnny Carson, Bob Newhart and David Letterman, the music of the Beatles, the great story crafting of War and Peace and Willy Nelson’s Poncho and Lefty, the island imagery of Jimmy Buffett and the great taste that buttered lobster leaves in your mouth all into glorious written form. Obviously, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

Will the final post be funny? Will it provoke deep thought or longing for a simpler time? Will it be sad? Should I thank all my blogging friends or apologize to my family for all the hours I’ve spent at my computer? Should I do one of those looking back things where I dredge up past posts? Maybe I should invite a guest writer? Perhaps I could leave my readers wanting more. I guess I could quote Lou Gehrig and say how I’m the luckiest man on the face of the earth. If I’m fortunate enough, there might even be someone reading that final post so I’d like to make it ‘worthwhile’ for them, if you get my point.

I’ve got it, the perfect ending to my blogging career whenever that happens. I will spell out the word goodbye with rocks and photograph it from the air. Then, at the very end of my final post, I’ll wake up in bed with Suzanne Pleshette and realize that every single blog post and comment I’ve ever made or read had all been a dream.

So there you have it, my final blog post for safe keeping whenever it’s needed. Boy, do I feel glad that little piece of business is all wrapped up. Now we should all huddle together for a group hug, turn out the lights and shuffle off the stage…

21 comments:

Pickled Olives said...

You really have put thought into this.The idea breifly passed me (while reading this) about my last post.

I really can't plan for this kind of stuff. What if I spent all kinds of energy planning this out - then got hit by a truck (god forbid) and was paralyzed, only to never post again - until I got one of those eye movement keyboards or something. But by then, everyone would have moved on...See, I just can't plan ahead like that.

Billy said...

You are such a cornball, but I love it! Congrats on #200.

*~*Cece*~* said...

Hey happy 200th post...aversiry???

mist1 said...

I think about my final post all the time. I have the picture picked out.

Odat said...

omg..i'm laughing at pickledolives' comments....
any hoo....Congrats on your Bicentennial post..(is that right?)
I was there btw for the tall ships parade up the Hudson River...but I digree..this is about you today...hehehe...Actually I've never even given a thought to my last post. Knowing me, I'd just stop...with no warning...no goodbyes...no group hugs...nuttin.
Maybe just one last "Peace".
So, keep on blogging there michael...you nut!
Peace

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Ya ain't well, are ya?

While I haven't ever considered what my final post would be, it has crossed my mind more than once to hope Flip has the presence to post something to let you all know I've gone to Blogger's Heaven, or Hell, depending.

He says I'm morbid. I say he's in denial. I think I'll go see what post I'm up to now.

And, oh yeah, I hope you'll be around a good while longer.

Michael C said...

Pickled Olives: Maybe blogger can invent an auto disclaimer when we don't post for a few weeks that says something like 'hey, this person may be dead, check back every few days or so...'

Abbagirl74: Thank you, it's been a blast!

Cece: Thanks!

Mist1: I've gotta know what the picture will be since you too have planned ahead.

Odat: Just make sure you let us know when you are going to miss a few posts due to vacation so we don't think you've gone to the great blogging beyond!

HeartsinSanFrancisco: It might not hurt to give Flip a little draft of something...
;-)

Jo said...

You forgot to mention the "cool" of Sinatra, which you have in spades, so I think you will keep on posting. Happy 200th post...!

Cheers,
Josie

Violet said...

I'm hopeless at goodbyes, so I'd imagine that my last post would be after several posts discussing whether to end it all (the blog, that is), followed by a "goodbye" post, followed by frequent re-visits to reply to the thousands - nay, millions - of readers who'll leave neverending comments begging me to stay on.

ShadowFalcon said...

Congratulation on 200! please don't stop blogging just yet though.

Michael C said...

Josie: Yes, Sinatra would figure into my ultimate post. Boy to get all of those ingredients together is sure going to be tough ;-)

Violet: You be like Cher and actually end of doing several 'last' or 'good-bye' posts ;-)

ShadowFalcon: Thanks, I can see many more years of doing this!

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

"Leave them wanting more..." that's a quote from someone but I can't remember who. Anyway, when M*A*S*H ended, I still wanted more. I'm sure your last post will do the same. For now, congrats for reaching 200.

Mimi Lenox said...

Great post! Congratulations. And please come back tomorrow to play the Saturday Comeback Challenge. Mims

Dan said...

You are a nut! This had me laughing out loud. It's so bad to see you go (just saying that for the future).

Incidentally when you said "the wit of Fred Willard and William Shatner, the humor of Johnny Carson, Bob Newhart and David Letterman, the music of the Beatles, the great story crafting of War and Peace and Willy Nelson’s Poncho and Lefty, the island imagery of Jimmy Buffet"

I was fine up to Buffet. Now I'm hungry.

James Burnett said...

Congrats on the big 200. You did put a lot of thought into that final post. Let's hope it doesn't come for a long time.

BTW, I enjoy what I read here - regularly. So I added you to my blogroll.

Again, kudos on your longevity.

High Power Rocketry said...

No way! I just hit my 200th post also!

Michael C said...

Lone Grey Squirrel: Leave them wanting more should be a motto. You can take it if you want.

Mimi: Thanks for the congrats. I'll be playing the comeback challenge again. I hope I score more than the 2 points I did last time ;-)

Dan: Sorry my final post made you hungry. Sadly, everything I do makes me hungry!

James: Thanks for stopping by and the congrats. Thanks even more for adding me to your links. I've added you to mine!

R2K: Well, a great big congrats to you, too!!

Lizza said...

Wow, congrats on post #200! And what a great post it is. I had a jolly good time reading it. The idea of writing my last post never even entered my mind; you've given me food for thought. :-)

Anonymous said...

It is Buffett with two T's and I will continue reading as long as you post...................keep up the great work as a smile appears on my face everyday when I do!

Michael C said...

Lizza: Thanks. I'll be excited to see any ideas you come up with for a final post...just not excited to actually see your final post ;-)

Anon: Thanks, I usually mess his last name up. I guess now would be a good time to go and correct it.

Donna. W said...

Blogs are like old soldiers: they don't die, they simply fade away. I should know, I've seen it happen several times.