Reflections

By Eilene Lyon

Happy New Year and welcome to 2021!!

Well, I’m pretty sure we’re all happy to say “adios” “adieu” and “farewell” to 2020. But it wasn’t an entirely bad year – I had the company of my fellow bloggers to cheer me along the way.

This is the third anniversary for the Myricopia blog! Over the past three years, I’ve completed 155 of the 156 “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” prompts (one remains a WIP). I’ve decided not to commit to completing a fourth year, though I may still use the prompts from time to time.

I’d like to do some stories this coming year on The Putterer’s family. He’s the “last of the line” so to speak. Neither he nor his sister have children. They have zero maternal cousins. Of their three paternal cousins, only one had children and has a single grandchild. If I don’t tell the stories, who will?

The Slide Years feature has run its course, though I have a couple ideas for similar themes. One will showcase items I consider “artifacts.” And I will delve further into the family photo archives.

It wouldn’t be a reflection if I didn’t take a look at how the blog has fared over the past few years. I’ve completed 351 blog posts, including this one, generating over 32,000 views. Given my propensity for long works (average this year: 775 words [including footnotes]), I must commend my readers for their stamina.

My all-time number one post, receiving over 300 total views is John Annable – United Empire Loyalist. Though it was published in April 2018, it still receives hits regularly, thanks to search engines. Someone in Canada shared it on Facebook last month and racked up 139 views for December!

This year’s most “successful” post was The Successful Farmer, with 267 views. When Amy Johnson Crow plugs one of my posts in her weekly email the boost is discernable.

While I intend to continue the blog this year, I will be taking a break for a while. I want to recommit to some other writing and genealogy projects. I don’t know exactly when I’ll return, but I do plan to drop in to visit you with reads and comments.

Have a wonderful year!!