Dream Catchers

When I started this blog earlier this year there really was no master plan for it.  It wasn't specifically targeted as a work-related blog, or a scientific blog, or even a personal blog.  Well, maybe all blogs now are personal blogs in a way, but the original idea for this one was that it be a mirror of things that have captured my attention.  In that so far it's succeeded.  But lately something else has touched me, and that is the wide variety of visitors that have somehow stumbled upon these pages.

Enter the Dreamcatcher at left.  The Dreamcatcher is largely an American Indian object, and originated in the Ojibwa (or Ojibwe, Chippewa) Nation during the Pan Indian movement of the 1960's and 1970's.  Eventually they were adopted by a number of native American Indian nations.

The Ojibwa believe that a dreamcatcher changes a person's dreams.  According to Konrad J. Kaweczynski, "Only good dreams would be allowed to filter through… Bad dreams would stay in the net, disappearing with the light of day."  Good dreams would pass through and slide down the feathers to the sleeper.

The diversity of traffic that has somehow managed to find these pages reminds me of the Dreamcatcher.  Despite a complete lack of promotion many of you have still found your way through to this little spot on the internet, and those visits I can't help but interpret as good dreams that have made the slide down the feathers.  Among you are many from the USA of course, but also many from Greece, Japan, Malaysia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, Latvia, the Netherlands, Brazil, Indonesia, and Myanmar [Burma].  This is nothing short of amazing to me. 

I'd love to know how many of you found your way here, what you found interesting (if anything), what might have brought you back if you're a return visitor, and of course who you are and where you're from.  Please feel free to leave a comment of any sort on your next visit, and if you don't want it published, feel free to say so in your note and it will remain private.  Just know that I welcome you all and would be most interested in a simple, "Hello!", if you have time. 

The wonder of this internet we share is exactly these chances to meet and interact with people from places on the planet we may never be able to visit in person.  It's a shame to waste opportunities like these when we get them.  Please don't waste your next one.  :)