I am here.  Do you see me?

Let’s call it my “invisibility” handicap or tic.  I have a default position of being invisible.  I think all artists have it in one way or another.

Bloggers, too.  Oh, yes, bloggers should definitely attend the annual Invisibility convention held in an undisclosed location of course.  (The better to be “unseen” in for heaven’s sake)

In fact, the gnarly, knobby blogger types (we know who we are) who kvetch and moan are the Grand Marshals of the annual Invisibility parade, parade route undisclosed, of course.  (We’re invisible, people, how many times must I remind you?)

We need stats to prove we are seen, however.  Which is a problem if we are in an undisclosed location.  We need comments to prove we’re being heard.  Again, if we are hiding, how will they find us?

Friend, Razzbuffnik, pointed out lately that WordPress is counting statistics differently and, consequently, our daily stats may have dropped significantly.  Yep, that would be me.

Here’s a quiz.  Put on your thinking cap, class.

What do a lion’s roar, improvised exploding devices, or any keystroke of a blogger have in common?

Tick. Tock.  Tick. Tock.  Time’s up.

A desire to be heard and seen.

It can be a lethal drive of self expression as in planes flown deliberately into the World Trade Towers on 9/11 or the birthing cry of a newborn.

President Obama is in Cairo today and giving a speech.  As I write this blog post, I know he has given his speech but have not yet heard it.

But, I do know that his speech is being translated simultaneously into more languages than any previous speech by a US President in order to reach as much of the listening world, and specifically, the Muslim world, as possible.

Talk about stats?  He’ll have them.  Comments?  Oh, I think a few billion at minimum.  I’d classify this as a birthing drive to be seen and heard, wouldn’t you?

Now, I can tell you two true things:  his opportunity to speak to the world sends chills up my spine.  And, two–and I say this with rare confidence, as rare as the calm I imagine he has approaching the Cairo podium:  President Obama did not wake up this morning and go through a pre-day Visibility check list that the rest of us, knobby, gnarly bloggers with visibility issues do each morning, rain or shine, at least single ones without dog, cat , geckos or tweety birds.

It is typed out and hanging on my bathroom mirror.  It goes like this:

Awake?                                       √

Alive?                                         √

Here?  Yes, of course, HERE…you goofball.                  √

I am HERE, right?  Yes, H.E.R.E.                          √

Of course.  Pinch my arm.  Ouch!  OK, HERE.                 √

For god’s sake, you annoying goofball.                      √√√

Ok.  Ok.   Brush my teeth.  Now, GO.  For Heaven’s sake…GO!        √

Begin.  Again.                                  √

Ok.                                          √

But.                                        √

But, what?                                    √

I have to drink my coffee first.  There.                      √

I’ll begin with a photograph.                            √

Click.                                          √

And, then, a keystroke.

Click.

There.  I exist.  I am here.  Do you see me?

So far, no one has seen me or commented.

Hopefully, they are all listening to President Obama and will discover me later.

©Pat Coakley 2009

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