All of this talk about Phoenixes and new beginnings has set me thinking. Things need to change to remain fresh, and hopefully good.
Things can’t stay the same. They have to evolve… adapt… update.
And that is just what I’m doing.
The first thing to go is a biggie.
Hanging up my Cape
Well, figuratively speaking anyway, as I never actually wore a cape. Aquatom1968 has been my blogging persona since I started blogging back in the old sepia coloured days of 2010. Back then, I started blogging as a little experiment, just to see how things went. I wanted an online persona that was different to the real me, one that I could hide behind. And, being a fan of superheroes, that character simply had to be one.
In the two (almost three!) years that I’ve been on WordPress, I’ve met some pretty amazing people who use the blogging platform along the way. I’ve laughed and been saddened, been inspired and had a thirst for more, and enjoyed every moment of it… even the times when I felt down and felt like packing it all in (blogging that is, not, erm, everything!). I persevered, and am glad that I did.
Thank You and Goodbye
Being the nature of the internet, people come and go. Real lives take over, time becomes precious, and blogging takes a back seat. I understand that.
I feel there’s something in the blogging air at the moment that is keeping a lot of us away, for one reason or another, at present. I understand that too.
But for those who visit me frequently, occasionally, or have visited in the past and since moved on, on behalf of Aquatom1968, I’d like to say a big thank you to each and every one of you for helping to make this particular journey of my virtual existence a thoroughly enjoyable one.
Aquatom1968 waves a fond farewell as he flies off into the distance.*
Borne of the Phoenix
Yes, the first big change is my name. When I started blogging, I was simply Aquatom1968, and a few months later I added the Tom and the brackets. And that is how I remained. A few months ago, I revealed to the world that I am in the process of writing a book. I’ve always been in the process of writing a book, but just never got around to starting it. Nothing much has changed there, but I want to get my author’s name out there into the world, and stop hiding behind my superhero persona. TL Merriman is my serious author’s name, Tomliam Merriman is my general day to day one. Liam is my middle name, so that can go back to being in the middle, leaving the original name, Tom, and the surname.
See, the more things change, the more they stay the same!
The downside of changing my name means that all of my comments on your blogs will need to be authorised or moderated or okayed or whatever the phrase is to start off with once again – and I apologise for causing you extra work! It should only be for the next first time that I comment…
The Future
Obviously, changing my name goes further than just that. My about page will need to be updated, and I will seriously look at changing both the appearance and name of my blog. Not just yet, though. One step at a time.
I’ll continue writing as before, with my mishmash of posts that seem to have no rhyme nor reason to them, or the order in which I post. I still want this place to be an escape from reality… an odd breath of fresh air, if you like. Hopefully the air is fresh and not stale…
I’ll still participate in the Illustration Friday, post the random views from my Mansion’s windows, scribble down my One Minute Rambles, explore the mysteries of the Universe, time and the mind, try to complete my 101 things challenge, post the odd rhyme or two; the occasional doodle and my tales: both of the ongoing kind, the one-offs and the rather random experiences I come across from time to time. Oh, and I’ll work out how to use Google Plus.
Yes, I’m venturing back into social media, and have set up an account there in my name. I’ll use the account properly once I’ve worked out what it is I’m actually doing, so if you circle me or click me or Google me or whatever it is that you do there, I’ll do the same to you once I’ve found the right button… thank you in advance for doing all those things to me, if you do…
The Now
This is where we are now. Where the action is. The best place to be.
I’m a future writer living in the present day. The present day is where I / we can feel good. The only time of our lives where we can actually FEEL GOOD!
I’m happy for you to be here with me now, as I’m going through this transformation. I hope it’s going to be exciting. I’m sure it is going to be fun!
*Aquatom1968 will still appear occasionally in my Superhero Diaries series, so he hasn’t gone completely from Blogland.
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