by Vera Ezimora

When we were blogging back then, it was all about story-telling. We just used to come online and talk about life. No one knew anything about Google Adwords or Google Analytics. No one paid attention to page views, unique visits and time spent on site.

When I started blogging seven years ago, I did not know any blogger – Nigerian or otherwise – and then one day, I got a comment. I visited her blog and linked to other blogs. And more blogs. And more blogs. There were so many Nigerian bloggers, and we were like a little virtual family. There were bloggers like London Bukki, Taurean Minx, Bab’s House, Azuka, Real Naija Bloke, Afronuts, Guy Horny, Baroque, Overwhelmed Naija Babe, Good Naija Girl, Omohemi Benson, Boorish Male, Temmy Tayo, Diamond Hawk … there were so many! If I did not mention your name, please forgive me. I’m working on seven-year old memory here.

Anyway, every now and then, I read old posts and read their comments, too, and I get so excited when I see those bloggers’ names. Most of us from that virtual era don’t blog anymore. We’ve moved on with our lives. We have gotten married, become parents, relocated, switched careers, something. And I cannot help but wonder how everyone is doing out there. I miss you guys.

When we were blogging back then, it was all about story-telling. We just used to come online and talk about life. No one knew anything about Google Adwords or Google Analytics. No one paid attention to page views, unique visits and time spent on site. It was just for fun. And it was a lot of fun. People read posts and replied them with a whole new post.

These days, there is a race to the front: who will post it first? I am not in anyway implying that this is a bad thing. No, it isn’t really. I’m merely reserving my right to miss my former colleagues. And like I said, I hope everyone is okay. I hope you’re all thriving in your respective lives.

I still keep in touch with some of the bloggers, and every now and then, we go down memory lane and recall certain events. Blogging has afforded me so much. I can now categorically say (and my Oga at the top will not say another one) that my virtual friends are way more than my non virtual friends. I have met so many people online, and though I have not met most of them face to face, I fully intend to do so.

I. Miss. You.

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