Part of the Phone Calls to Julie Series
Ring… Ring…
WP: Hello, WordPress technical support, this is Julie, how can I help you today?
ME: Hi Julie, this is Steve from Brown Road Chronicles, thank you for taking my call today.
WP: Hi Mr. Warner… you’re welcome, how can I help you today?
ME: I think I’m done.
WP: You think you’re done?
ME: Yes, I think I’m done.
WP: Ummm…. done with what?
ME: I think I’m done with my blog.
WP: Okay… uhhhh…. so can I help you with something today?
ME: Well, I just didn’t know what to do when I was done.
WP: Well Mr. Warner, you can close it down, or you can leave it up so others can still find and read your posts. But why do you think you’re done?
ME: Well, I just haven’t been spending much time writing. Have you read my blog recently?
WP: Yes, I read every time you post. Maybe you’re just in a slump. All bloggers get into a writing slump sometimes.
ME: No, I’ve been in a slump before, I know what that’s like. I think this time I’m really done. I think this blog has served its purpose. It was a good blog and every good blog, just like every good book has to have an ending, right?
WP: Yes, I guess so…
ME: Well, I think it’s time to give this blog its ending. I want to do other things now. Maybe I’ll start another blog, or maybe I’ll keep working on my tyme4rhyme.com site. But right now I’m ready for a break. Plus, there’s only so many poop, fart and sex jokes out there. Remember when I called you about BOOBS? That was funny, right?
WP: I didn’t find it funny at the time, but yes, looking back it’s funny.
ME: You’ll be happy to know, I haven’t checked my stats page in weeks.
WP: That’s good…
ME: You know, Julie, this blog really changed my life. I’ve met a ton of really cool people, some have come and gone. Others, hopefully I can stay in touch with. It taught me the power of blogging and social media. It was therapeutic at times and it once again, reminded me that I can have a creative side to my life. That had been missing for a very long time. On the other hand, sometimes it was a headache worrying about it and constantly trying to come up with something worthy to write about. But I think I’ve said all I need to say here and I’ve always known I didn’t want to be one of those bloggers that just vanished without anyone knowing where they went.
WP: Yes, that happens often… well if you need help closing it down, I can help with that.
ME: No, that’s okay. I think I’ll leave it up for a while so others can still read it. A good book doesn’t go away once the author’s done writing, right?
WP: Yes, you’re right… then you could always come back to it if you wanted to.
ME: Like Brett Favre?
WP: Hahahahaha… yes like Brett Favre.
ME: We’ll, I don’t think so but you never know. It was a good blog, wasn’t it?
WP: Yes it was… is there anything else I can help you with? We’re very busy today and the phones are ringing…
ME: Ummm… uhhhh… no, I don’t think so… I guess this is my last call.
WP: Mr. Warner… I’m going to hang up now.
ME: Ummmm… okay…. uhhh… wait, Julie?
WP: Yes, Mr. Warner?
ME: Thanks for reading my blog.
WP: You’re welcome. I wish you the best.
ME: Okay, goodbye.
WP: Thank you for calling WordPress. Goodbye.
Click
To all my friends: Thank you all for reading and commenting. This was an amazingly fun ride, full of humor and heartbreak, happiness and sadness, seriousness and goofiness all wrapped up in 229 posts plus many more that were never worthy of hitting the PUBLISH button. I couldn’t possibly list all the bloggers that I have interacted with over the last several years. There is a core group of you though, that I feel like I know better than some of the folks in my “real life”. Hopefully you know who you are and its been your friendships and interactions that have made this journey the most worthwhile. If you have not yet found me on Facebook and Twitter (@stevetwarner) and you want to, please look me up.
I will tell you all that ending a blog is not for the faint of heart. But I’ve been considering this for a long while and I think the time is right for me to retire Brown Road Chronicles. I don’t know what I will do next on the writing front. I have recently joined a small writers group of folks in my area that write stories for kids and meets once a month, so I suspect they will keep me on my toes. Maybe there will be another blog in my future. Other than that, we’ll just see what happens next. I promise though, that I will continue to write, continue to pick my guitar and sing songs, continue to raise two beautiful teenagers, continue to love my amazing wife, continue to sit around my fire pit, continue to drink too much wine and continue to own goats!
Best wishes to all of you!
Steve
The Brown Road Chronicles 
I suppose “like” isn’t the right sentiment, but this is a terrific “coda” post. You should write a blog!
Well, good luck in the future, and sorry that this won’t be here any more.
Thanks Byronic! Yes maybe I should write a blog! Maybe again someday. You will always be one of the funniest guys on WP! Keep it up!
I get it, but you’ll be missed! Who will I turn to now when I need to secretly post a blog about finding a bat in my kids’ bathroom?! I wish you all the best in whatever you decide to do next and I’ll follow you on twitter 😀
Lisa, thanks so much for your friendship. One of my VERY FIRST connections here! I suspect lots of folks would be willing to let you share your bat stories… I remember that post well, was very entertaining! Please connect on twitter when you have time!
Thank YOU! I’ve found you on twitter, but I promise not to stalk you in person.
I’m torn about “liking.” I have noticed you’ve been quiet and had hoped it just meant that life with goats was grooving along and that you’d be back when you had something to say, which is always an option.
If you decide to pop in for an update, I’ll be happy to read.
In the meantime, to paraphrase our mutual friend, Mr. Browne,
“But when that last guitar’s been packed away
You know that we still want you to play. . . “
Happy trails, and yippee-ki-yay, my friend.
Hippie, hippie, hippie… will always think of you when I listen to JB songs now. And I’ll always associate “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with you even though it was a last minute song choice. We’ll see you on FB though! 🙂
I read your reply just before packing up to leave the office . . . at 11 p.m. (again) and it literally literally made me misty.
When I got to the dark back roads close to home, I realized I’d spent the whole drive feeling sad, like I’d lost a friend and I just let the tears flow. . .because I’m tired and I’m a girl. Shut up.
I really like and respect you, Steve. I like your humor and your intelligence.I love the way you love your wife and your family and your goats and I’ll never forget the time I signed on in the middle of the night to read something you’d written in the solitude of the wee morning hours. I have to go now. . . I need a Kleenex. Shut up. 😉
Thanks for a very nice sentiment, sorry I made you cry. Remember, think of this only as the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I just haven’t figured out what the next chapter will be yet or where and when it will begin! 🙂
I am so sorry you won’t be blogging. Stay in touch and don’t be a complete stranger. If you decide to come back, we’ll be here to welcome you back!
Hi Susie, thanks for your nice comments. I’ll try to stay in touch as best as I can. Best wished to you! #susiestrong!
Lovely ending. Writers’ group, fire pit, music, family: going for all the right reasons…blogging can be a real drain on time and energy that can be refocused into books – or hey, life away from electronics. Enjoy the dirt roads and much luck for which ever one you decide to travel down
I couldn’t have said this better myself! Thanks!!
Adios.
And best wishes to you Ross!
So the Chronicles are coming to an end, I know what its like with more than one blog, your mind goes’ blank at times.
Good luck to you Steve and all the best to your wife and kids.
Sorry I forgot all about the goats 🙂 I have never eat goat, is it nice 🙂
Yes Harry, Chronicles is coming to an end. I wish you the best with your MANY blogs. Keep up the good work and if I’m ever in Ireland will look you up!
And NO, although I have eaten goat meat before and it tasted good, MY goats are just pets!!!
Happy trails and much success in whatever you pursue next. I totally relate to this (not with regards to my blog, but with regards to my tiny home hobby biz). New beginnings are exciting- very excited for you!
Thank you! Yes hopefully good things come from a little re-focus, we’ll see. But a new beginning is always a good prescription! Thanks for reading!
Aw, I just discovered you a little bit ago. Now you’re closing up shop? I will have to go back and start from the beginning of your blog and read to the end. That could keep me busy for a while.
My blog is on a break right now, as well. But like you explained, I know it is just a break, and that I will get back to it eventually.
Good luck.
That would definitely keep you busy for awhile. I’m sure you’d come across some gems that I’d barely remember writing. Good luck to you as well once you get back at it!
Ah man! Noooo! Don’t go! (you know I had to at least try)
I totally understand, Steve. I don’t like that you’re ending things, but I get you. Blogging really has changed my life in so many ways, too. But all things must end some day.
Thanks for entertaining us all with your heartfelt and funny writing. I wish you nothing but happiness and success with your new writing adventures.
See you around Facebook!
Thanks Darla, you are definitely one that I will stay in touch with! I mean, the whole Maine thing, I can’t lose track of that! Good luck to you, keep making people laugh and remember, I’m not really going anywhere, just ending one chapter and waiting for the next chapter to show its face. 🙂
Steve, I am sad…. I have found you on FB and Twitter and will continue to follow along. Like you I have been wondering if the work I put in is worth what I get out and realized it isn’t about the work it is about the practice of writing… I teach kids to write and they need to see that people actually write, it’s not just a subject in school. If you get a moment check up on Jon Scieszka and his new book Batte Bunnies – it’s a hoot! (and a snort). Take care and I’ll look to see what’s cookin’ on Twitter and Fbook. all the best.
Thanks Clay, keep teaching those kids to write! Make it fun for them because neither of my kids enjoy it and I wish they did. Of course, I didn’t at their age either. As I said, I promise I will continue to write in some format, just wanted to wrap up BRC while I was “still on top” IF you can call it that. I will check out that book and yes, I will keep tabs on all you facebookers!
This makes me very sad..your posts always make me smile, we will miss them…good luck in your future ventures my friend, and I will see ya on Facebook 🙂 xo
Thanks Donna! You were another of my very, very first connections! Thanks for sticking around so long. Your heartfelt and genuine comments were always appreciated. Best wishes to you and yes, see you on FB!
I totally understand, Steve. I’m going to miss your posts. I wish you all the best.
Thanks Cheryl for being such a loyal reader. Best to you too!
Lately I’ve been thinking of making that call myself, Steve. It’s been nice to get to know you through your writing here and your comments on my blog.
All the best to you. Now and always.
Stephanie a.k.a. HonieBriggs
Thanks Stephanie. As I said its not for the faint of heart, kind of like chopping off a piece of your identity, especially when youve been at it awhile. But it’s also quite liberating. A blog is a great creative outlet until the day it starts hampering your creativity. Does that make any sense?
Makes perfect sense, Steve. I couldn’t agree more. My blog began as therapy for me. It became a fun experiment and a way to connect with some talented people – some even in real life – now it is mostly neglected because I just don’t have time to be charming and funny. HA (that’s a joke)
I will miss reading your blog. Good luck to you and enjoy this next chapter in your writing life (yes, slight pun intended). Also, thanks for the advice you gave me about playing my guitar. It has gotten easier and I’m not as shy about playing in front of people as I was before. Take care. -Megan
Thank you Megan! So happy to hear about you guitar progress. That makes me feel good. Keep at it and before you know it you’ll have your own YouTube page! Good luck!
Nooo! That just made me cry! I know I have been a silent reader due to the dreaded iphone typing and difficulty commenting on wordpress with it, but I am very sad to see you go. But, I also totally get it. I have abandoned mine as well. I am so glad we are facebook friends 🙂 I’ll be sure to tune in if you should find yourself in the writing mood again!
Hi Emily, thanks for stopping by and thanks, of course, for reading. Yes, I’m glad we’ve connected on FB as well. Honestly it was a tough decision to close the doors, but the time was right to wrap this up and I knew it was the right choice. If/when the next great project shows its face to me, you’ll definitely know about it! 🙂
Take care; take a break; take a lifetime: people are always here.
I enjoyed reading your stuff and listening to your songs: I hope you will be back … now that I’ve come back … for a while at least.
All the best, good luck, cheerio … but not cheerios … because that’s a breakfast cereal.
Hi Ross, thanks for stopping by! Glad to see you are back after a little bit of a sabbatical. I suspect someday I will be back, just in a different format. Thanks for reading and for all your comments. I appreciate it. Best wishes to you!
Aw! Yet again one of our favorite bloggers bites the dust! Can I unlike our like? Is that rude? It’s not fair! I think we will have to hibernate!!
PS: not funny bout my good friend Brett! The best all time QB.
You know, I thought about you and your kids when I was trying to decide to “close up shop” or not, as you so often commented that your kids would laugh at the stories. It’s those interactions that make the whole thing so special and fun – having an impact on someone, making someone smile or laugh. That’s why folks write I guess. But there will be another writing project at some point. Not sure what yet, but just not BRC. Thanks so much for your nice comment! Remember, all the rhyming stories are at tyme4rhyme.com.
Best wishes with your future plans, Steve. It has been a great ride for you!
I’m sad to hear you have decided to end your blog, but I understand. When some doors close, others open. All the best in your new adventures!
Hi Steve,
Thank you for sharing your journey down the Brown Road with us. I wish you all the best and success with your next project. 🙂
We will miss you around the neighbourhood so I’m glad you’ll leave your posts behind so we can browse down memory lane now and again.
Happy holidays to you and your family!
You just had to do this during my temporary leave of
my sensesabsence, didn’t you? If you ever come back to read this, thank you so much ♥♥ for all your support, and your wonderful sense of humor, your rhymes, your songs, your goats, and those shirts they coughed up that you insisted on wearing from time to time anyway. BRC is forever in my heart, Steve!Hi Anne, thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment! I forget that there are probably still some folks out there that never read this post. I still pop around WP occasionally, glance through my reader, but not too often lately. Every so often I get the itch to start something new, but haven’t found the motivation to get moving – not a bad thing necessarily. I haven’t been writing at all though, the blog kind of forced that issue, so I don’t want to get totally out of the habit. If/when anything begins to sprout, you and all my loyal readers will know anout it! Anyway, I appreciate your kind words and YOUR support too! Good luck with your writing. Regards!
Man buddy, I sure hate to see this post. Thought it was funny until I got to the bottom. It’s tough for me to keep up with so much now that I’m out on the road so that’s why it has taken me so long to find out. Like you have said, you were one of my first connections on here & have loved every minute of it. Maybe just change the theme & header picture & it will draw you back in? Sure gonna miss it when I do get to swing by. Glad you found me on FB though. Wish you all the best & hope you keep going….Jason