MyShingle Turns 15!

“Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks” — Samuel Johnson

Last night at 11:33 pm 15 years ago, I launched MyShingle into the world. I’d worked on my site, all through the summer and fall – late nights, tracking down all of the links that would become the first version of an Online Guide to Starting a Law Practice  and The Bars Reviewed  – only to attract about eight readers that first day and eventually an average of 30. And it didn’t matter at all, because I was head over heels in love with blogging.

Last year’s somber post  notwithstanding, blogging has overall, been one of the “brightest blazes of gladness” of my professional life.” And as Samuel Johnson said, my gladness was kindled by an unexpected spark: my husband. He was the tech enthusiast, after all – introducing me to HTML for my law firm website, then suggesting slashcode as the platform for my blog and helping to set it up. That’s all it took to light the fire that still burns here – still steady, if not as brightly as when it all began.

Most years on my blog’s anniversary, I tip my hat to the  miraculous solo and small firm lawyers  who are the inspiration for this blog, my readers for being the best audience imaginable, my fellow bloggers for the conversation, even when (or especially when) we disagree, and my blog’s sponsors for their financial support. Yet, I’ve never thanked my departed husband who was really the one who made it all happen.

So today, after 15 years, I am dedicating my blog to him. And hoping that for the next 15 years that every so often, I can spark the same bright blaze of gladness for others just as my husband did for me.

For past anniversary posts, see here .