It’s funny you should say that the other writers will steer our readers well, since I feel that it was you who steered me right when I began flailing as editor.

When Jamie first asked me to edit Blog Further, I felt I had been given the keys to a big, new shiny car, with all the bells and whistles. And like any first time car owner, I piled all my friends into it and set out for what promised to be a fun and exciting road trip.

There was only one problem: not only had I never steered a blog before, I didn’t even realize steering was necessary. Things were fine as long as the road before us was clear, well marked, and straight. But as is always the case with blogs, we soon encountered what seemed like an innocuous bend in the road. My attempt to navigate that turn, much to my horror, sent us careening toward a pedestrian who just moments ago was admiring our shiny blog and how masterfully I drove it. The pedestrian-reader shouted in justifiable anger, and panicking, I turned the wheel, but overcorrected, sending us toward a muddy ditch and jeopardizing you, Robin, as you sat dumbstruck in the passenger seat— not to mention the rest of the crew huddled in the back wondering why they’d ever agreed in the first place to board this deathtrap. No doubt, my well-intended but inept steering (I must have resembled Toad from Wind in the Willows) would have sent the entire blog into a tailspin… had not you, Robin, place a steadying hand on the wheel.

Robin, you helped me understand my various roles as editor, fellow blogger, and friend, how those roles might complement one another, how they might clash, and how I might have negotiated that bend in the road differently. In doing so, you taught me how to steer our blog more smoothly.

I apologize to you (and our readers) for my poor driving skills. And I thank you for your generosity, patience, and understanding as I endeavor to become better.

Your contrite Toad,
Allen