Wednesday, July 28, 2010

On Being Read

Here's the thing: I think about you, my readers, probably far more than I care to admit. Late at night, quite often, when I wonder if I'd get to sleep faster if I told you about what's going on in my head. Even when all that's going on in my head is the horrendous feedback loop of wondering what's going on in my head. I wonder where and how you read me, and why. In an office, on the bus on your iPhone, in a college computer lab, on a rickety laptop on the couch as you growl with frustration at your slow connection (that's usually how I do it). Or as you watch football, as you drink, as you grin and grimace, as you pick your nose, as you go through someone else's blogroll out of sheer boredom. As you confusedly land here by googling song lyrics I've nicked for my post titles, as you follow someone else's twitter link and then stop and wonder if life isn't a mite too short to be on Twitter if this is where it brings you. And I'm fascinated by the very notion of being read in far-flung parts of the globe, and constantly wonder what it is that I might write that tickles someone's fancy in Laos just as it turns someone off in Laois. If some of you are just hoping that I'll pick another fight, or that I'll write a little more about love, as love happens to me.

I'll think of you, dear readers, even on Thursday as I get married to the loveliest creature I've ever encountered. Or at least in the immediate aftermath. And on Saturday, when we do it again more publicly. I'll think about how I'm marrying one of you; how we first recognised a kindred spirit through each other's words. How a few more of you will be there to celebrate with us as friends.

How I'll tell you all about it (and the job interview sandwiched on the Friday in between) when I have words that are good enough, if there are any. How good it is to have been read, then seen, then loved.

Photo taken, like most good photos, by the wonderful Annie Atkins

26 comment(s):

Annie said...

Hurrah! Lots of love to you both

(from the other Annie) x

Catherine said...

I was just telling my family all about the two of you and how you met and the whole table went "awwww". Which is pretty much what I'm going to be doing all day Saturday.

Hope you have an incredible day tomorrow x

Some Birds said...

Congratulations from a reader...Lovely post.

Kitty Catastrophe said...

Feck ya Andrew, I'm welling up after reading that. And I'm just back from Toy Story 3, so I certainly didn't need to go crying again so soon! Best of luck with everything tomorrow and Saturday, you deadly pair. x

(And if you're still wondering about readers, I'm slouched on the couch with my laptop and a stolen internet connection while the Bear watches Time Team.)

Radge said...

All the very best (and with the interview too). A fine last post as an unmarried man.

Andrew said...

Annie S - Cheers, you're a wonderful Annie too.

Conan - A smiley? How uncharacteristic. Mind you, I think you said what you wanted to on the previous post, and thanks a million for that.

Catherine - I just hope I don't spend all of saturday milling around the place going "aww for us, aww for us." That would be embarrassing.

Some Birds - Cheers. And thanks for commenting. i've seen you quietly following me for a while now and I knew I'd draw you out eventually.

Kitty Cat - Thanks, you're a dote. we're just back from Toy Story, we both managed not to weep. saving it all for the next few days, i reckon.

Radge - Thanks. Oddly enough, i reckon it's quite a good time to have an interview, as the minor distraction of getting hitched means I won't spend the day before fretting about it.
It'll all be posts about cutlery sets and the Late Late show from here on in.

Conor said...

Congratulations, you lucky bastard. I've followed the pair of blogs, and the romance, with a smile, and admired the brilliant, brilliant way you both write about it.

Good luck.

(you're read in Limerick by the way)

Jennikybooky said...

Ah lads, I don't be able for the two of ye. Have a lovely day tomorrow and an even lovelier life together. I fully intend to shoehorn myself into it when the wind blows me back to Dublin x

Jennikybooky said...

Ah lads, I don't be able for the two of ye. Have a lovely day tomorrow and an even lovelier life together. I fully intend to shoehorn myself into it when the wind blows me back to Dublin x

Janelle said...

shucks. deep man. deep. make it good. hurrah. xxx j

Annie said...

awwwwww

when bloggers meet

John Braine said...

Have a fantastic day! I hereby dedicate this song to the two of you.

notRuairi said...

Best of luck buddy!

MJ said...

Sometimes I read you Google Reader. Sometimes I use my own link from the blog. Sometimes I just pop Chancing my... into Google. Thanks for all the fish Andrew, and the very-very best-best wishes to you both today. Special private committment ceremonies ROCK! Much love guys. xx

PS enjoy the party too ;)

Some Birds said...

I'm a quiet follower! Although I couldn't tell you how I got here in the first place, I'm happy that I did. Cheers and all the best.

Katherine said...

Hurray, you're married now! Enjoy the celebrations and very well done. K

Unknown said...

Hope you've a great shindig today (and fingers crossed re the interview!)

Jo said...

Whenever you check this, Andrew, such congratulations to you both. I hope you had beautiful days and all the rest of them as lovely, and less full of organisational stress!

That doesn't sound like much, but I got married, I know what the organisational stress is like!

That photo is perfect, how lovely, what a wonderful match you make :)

It's 10.26 on Saturday, how nice to think of you dancing now.

White Rabbit said...

Well Andrew that was only lovely. Congratulations to you both :)

Tessa said...

I'm reading this on the back of a sailboat in Waupoos, a tiny hamlet in Prince Edward County on Lake Ontario. And your and Rosie's blogs are appointment viewing for me. Wouldn't miss either of them for the world.

I hope you and Rosie have a long and happy life together, filled with music, laughter ... and blogging.

Annie said...

Ah, I'm so late but congrats to the pair of ye! You're so beautifully suited. And that photo is just lovely with you looking all mushy at your lady... aww god I better stop before I get even cheesier.

Congrats again! :D

From the other, other Annie.

Martin said...

Ah this was a lovely read.

Well done, and all the best.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to both of you, I hope things went well today!
And you're being read in a college computer lab while I'm supposed to be studying for an exam tomorrow!

Andrew said...

Hi everyone, thanks for all the lovely comments. We had two brilliant days for the weddings, and a lovely, relaxing honeymoon.
I'll post something new once this reverie eases a little and I find something to complain about again.

Jo said...

Well, at least you have a mother in law now: blog fodder :)

Elisabet said...

A late congratulation!
Hope you had a fantastic day and I can't wait to see you and your lovely wife in Sweden soon:)

Loads of love!
Elisabet