So long, and thanks for all the hits.

Today, almost a year and a half after it began, the Parade of Delusion officially comes to an end. What began as a way to communicate with my friends and family back home, evolved into something so much more - a place to write thoughts, post funny stories, share photos, talk about what was going on in the world and in my life. And I am grateful for that, and grateful too for all the readers who have shared in this journey with me. Since I began tracking hits, over 15,000 people have visited this corner of the world wide web. I've done my best to provide all of you with stories worth telling, stories that Mrs. Kennedy so graciously calls "good and true and full of fun." I am humbled by your collective response.

My blog has always been unfiltered. A quick check through the archives will provide any interested party with my full name, my email, pictures of my family, my friends, and the names of some of my former employers. I think stories are somehow less true when told behind a mask, and so, from the outset, I chose to put my information out there front and center. I see now that this was a grave error, because it gave me a sense of invulnerabilty which I fear I may have passed on to the one I care most about.

Sarah, my girlfriend, began blogging shortly after meeting me. She, too, had caught the bug. Unlike me, however, she chose to remain anonymous - or rather, to remain as anonymous as possible. Yesterday, she left a comment on Jen and Tonic, sharing some of her own experiences of having a manic-depressive family member. Some individuals took exception to her post, thinking she was too mean. While I will say that Sarah has one of the kindest, most caring souls of anyone I know - I will refrain from debating the finer points of her comments. Mostly because I don't give a shit, but also because I can't win. People will think what they want to think, and that's ok.

What's not ok is to take something from the INTERNET and use it to hurt someone in real life. Blogger Styrofoam Kitty did some detective work (admittedly not much) and was able to find all of Sarah's personal information, which she then posted online for all to read. Someone, perhaps Kitty herself, then sent it to Sarah's boss. And she was fired. Escorted out by security. For all intents and purposes, her life has been destroyed. And over what? A blog comment.

And the SICKNESS that would lead someone to do that makes me ill.

What makes me particularly nauseous is that I know both Jen and Tonic and Styrofoam Kitty have read this blog, because both are regular Fussy readers and my post "The Juice is Loose" was so kindly linked to by Mrs. Kennedy back in January. I made you laugh and you hurt the one I love. Congratulations. It feels as if I've been punched in the stomach.

I can no longer provide entertainment for people who are so depraved they would use blogs to intentionally hurt another person. I can no longer take the chance that I will get hurt myself.

And so I sign off. I have no delusions of my own importance. At best, I was worth 5 minutes of your day, and while I tried as hard as possible to make those 5 minutes worth it, I doubt very much that I'll be missed. In the event that someone does miss me, however, I've decided to leave my archive up. May you all find as much joy in reading my stories as I did in writing them.
And if I ever see some of you in person, the first round is on me.

Peace be with you.