On June 25, 2009 I clicked the word “publish” and made the first post on to Up Up And A Gay. For me, that feeling was amazing. I graduated the Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2005 with a degree in Mass Media Communication and I hadn’t used it until that moment. Sure, writing a blog post isn’t exactly applying the journalistic skills I learned in news writing class or editing skills that I learned in my film-making class, but making that first post opened the doors for me to re-embrace my true passion. Communication.

This blog started after having a long discussion with my friend, Sebastian. It was one of those conversations which included the phrases “its time for a change,” “I need a new job,” “what am I doing with my life,” and, lastly, “where do I go from here?” It was his suggestion that I bring myself back to writing and communications in general and let things fall into place. After I made him promise that he’d push me and not let me procrastinate, I came here to WordPress.com and started “Plane&Simple.” Yep, that’s right, I started a blog before this. However, I wasn’t feeling it.

The name of a blog has to be fun, catchy, witty, something to bring people back — and Plane&Simple wasn’t doing it. Though, in the brief week that I had P&S I gained my first trusty follower, Sara Keagle of TheFlyingPinto.com. She had been blogging for quite a while before myself and took me under her wing (pun intended!) while I got myself started. However, the name of my blog was such a downer on my enthusiasm to write, that I stopped writing all together. Until one trusty day at Target when Sebastian once again came to the rescue and blurted out “Up Up and A Gay!” – and there it was. The new name, for my new blog,  and my new beginning.

I started UpUp&AGay, and quickly Sara found her way to my new location. She added me on Twitter and before I knew it, flight attendants and passengers alike were adding me and I officially threw the blog into the “social media” world. I’m still in awe of the outcome.

In just six months, UpUp&AGay has grown from one post with a new ambition to 62 posts with 328 comments in 14 categories containing 175 tags, and — the most impressive of them all, UpUp&AGay has been viewed 23,741 times as I write this post. I can’t believe it.

I can’t believe that something I’ve written, worked on, lived through and published has been viewed by over 20,000 people. These people, you, my readers, are some of smartest, most opinionated, funny, caring, friendly, pink boa wearing, airline loving, unique and motivating people I’ve ever met. I am honored that you all choose to read my blog and choose to come back time and time again to do so.

Not only did this blog open the door for me to write again, but it also opened the realm of possibilities within my Mass Media Communication degree. I’ve made, edited and produced (though only 3!) UPtv eposides and just completed the taping of the premiere episode of The Crew Lounge podcast with a GREAT group of people (Sara, Brad, Patti and Edith). None of this would be possible without this blog, and you.

Because of your readership and support, I’ve begun to spread my wings and try to pursue a career in journalism. Not to worry, I don’t plan on grounding myself just yet; breaking into that field isn’t easy and I’m not going to give up on everything I worked for to pursue a dream. But, I do know it takes time, I do know it’s possible, and I do know I have a full year ahead to strive toward my ambitions and goals.

So, as 2009 comes to a close, thank you. Thank you for reading this blog, thank you for following me on Twitter, and thank you for your comments, suggestions and your complaints. They’ve helped me grow and helped me to prepare for the year ahead.

Happy New Year!
Bobby Laurie