A year-and-a-half ago, I was ecstatic because I reached my one hundredth column. I could not believe that it took me two years and nine months to get from one to one hundred, but despite several job changes, long breaks between columns that sometimes lasted for months – and bosses that were very opposed to it and tried their best to squash it – the column made it to one hundred after traveling with me for almost three years down a very bumpy road.

Six months ago, I was even more ecstatic that I had reached my two hundredth column. While it took me nearly three years to write the first hundred – it only took me a few days shy of a year to write the second hundred. This was due to a number of reasons. For one, the columns were now published on my own website, so I had no one to answer to – and no one to try and stop the column. And second, I had so much happen to me in the year 2000 that it seemed that every time I finished writing a column – I had another one in my head that I wanted to write. I figured that if it took me only a year to write the second hundred – then it should take me the same amount of time, give or take a month, to write the third hundred.

I am happy to admit I was wrong. Instead of taking me a year to write columns two hundred and one to three hundred – it took me only one hundred and eighty two days.

So here I am, more ecstatic then I was when I wrote my one hundredth or two hundredth column because I have done what first took me nearly three years and then took me just under a year in less then two hundred days.

Since the first column was published on March 12, 1997, I was very proud of this column. I was proud because since that first column, I have done what many people – including my own mother – have told me not to do – share a fair amount of my personal life with my readers – most of which I have never even met. From my feelings, either good or bad, to my hopes and dreams – to my gains and losses – I have been pouring my heart out to all who chose to read my column, whether I have made their acquaintance or not. And to be honest – I love to do it.

In a strange way, writing my columns is somewhat therapeutic for me. Whenever I have a good event take place in my life, or the latest pathetic stunt by the media sparks my interest – or I experience a very sad event in my life – my columns serve as my way of spreading the good news – venting my anger – or crying tears through the words I write. So while I do have readers and always enjoy the feedback I get from them – nothing compares to the feeling these columns bring me.

It brings me such a tremendous amount of enjoyment to write these columns – which is evident considering the fact that with each hundred I have written – it has taken me less and less time. With each new column I post on my website, I get such an overwhelming and indescribable thrill knowing that I have one more column under my belt. I think anyone who is a writer gets the same feeling of accomplishment whenever they publish a completed work. And for me, whether my columns are read by one person or a million people – I get enjoyment nonetheless simply because someone is taking the time to read what I have written.

So to each and every person that has ever taken the time to read even just one of my columns, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me some of your valuable time. Granted, my columns are therapeutic to me and I write them mostly for my own personal reasons – but the joy I get from the feedback I receive from readers – whether positive or negative – is always welcomed, enjoyed – and appreciated.

To anyone who has appeared in one of these columns, either by name or just by inference, thank you for being a part of my life and giving me something to write about. Whether you have appeared in a column in a positive or negative fashion – you have contributed to my life in some way – or at least done something that has been worthy enough to document – so thank you.

And as for the future of this column, if I have my way – this column will travel with me down the road of life as long as I do. Without sounding egotistical – while my life may not be the most amazing life ever lived on this planet – it is at least one that is worthy to write about. And as long as I live this amazingly unpredictable yet wonderfully blessed existence – there will always be columns to write.

And just think – if I did this hundred in only six months – how long with the next hundred take me?