If you know me in real life, read this first.

Recently my husband shared the URL for this story with a friend, along with his own account of the story. He did this without my knowledge or consent, not realizing that I am selective about who I share this blog with. Then that friend forwarded the same URL to literally dozens of other people, also not realizing the rest of the blog is meant to be somewhat personal, if not entirely private. The result is that people who know me in real life, possibly you who are reading this now, have access to personal information about me. Nothing you could steal my identity with, but private things that I don't share with just anybody in real life.

I realize this may seem odd, that I am willing for people I only know online, and even perfect strangers, to read my private words, but I am unwilling for many people I know in real life to do the same. I've tried to figure out why this is true. I think it's because people I know have an impression of me in their head, some of which may or may not be true. Some of what you read here might not fit that image. And it's easier for me to share such things with people who do not already have an impression of me. For you, people that I know, to read these things about me, although I'm not necessarily ashamed of these things, it could change your impression of me. This is part personal diary for me, part therapy, and part fun. The first two are definite reasons things I write here are considered private to most of the people I know in real life.

If you are someone who loves me, I know that it doesn't matter if your impression of me changes, but I still would prefer that you not read any more than you already have. And if you feel compelled to tell me you found me here, no matter our relationship, don't be surprised if I am reticent about discussing it further.