WordPress provides a way for the owner of a blog to check its “stats.” Of greatest interest to me over all these months has been the number of “hits,” or visitors, this blog gets each day. Since each of our computers has a unique address, 
it only counts your visits here once each day (and it doesn’t count mine at all). On a daily basis, then, there are between 50 and 100 people looking at this blog. For instance, yesterday the blog drew 87 visitors. Are that many people interested in lentils?
This begs a question. Just who are you anyway?
Don’t get me wrong. I love the fact that dozens of people are coming by each day. It’s why I decided to keep writing after having returned from France. But I am very curious who you are, and therefore have a favor to ask.
Tell me who you are. Do so by leaving a comment, okay? Just click on the “comments” link in the lower right of this post and tell me. If you want to remain anonymous, just say something anonymous-like.
By the way, today’s picture is another old one, a self-portrait taken inside the largest cathedral in Nantes. As a connection to today, I wore that same striped shirt today that I’m wearing in this picture. But I chose the picture because it seemed to go well with the question, “Who reads this blog??”
Andy Smallman 
I read this blog!
– Kes
Heh! I read your blog every day but I’m not counted in your visitors because I read it in my RSS feed (unless I get *really* inspired and come here to post a comment :-). So you can add one to the total whenever you’re counting visitors.
I have to say, the picture today makes it look like you have a large, glowing pope-like hat. Not that that’s unattractive. Definitely striking. 😀
I read this blog too. However, you have made a logical faux pas…even though we may read your blog (I do every day) it does not necessarily follow that we are interested in what you say. Lentils, for example, are not my favorite legume and the French are not my favorite people. You, on the other hand, are one of my favorite people and on the off chance you might say something interesting I read your blog. I am quite often disappointed though by the amount of fluff you churn out but I do like the fact that you are a big softy as a Dad and that ou appear to suffer from frequent flashbacks…I think it’s the photos that keep me coming back…love ya, Ed
I read your blog! It has become part of my morning routine at work, since I have been a regular reader during your time in France. I have always enjoyed your outlook on life and your writing style.
Hi! I read this blog, not every day, but I have it in my list of book-marked blogs.
I completely forget how I found my way here originally. I am just a bored office-worker who loves to read about other cultures. Traveling extensively [or living in another country for a year] would be a dream come true! So I check this blog along with several Peace Corps blogs and Rick Steves’ blog.
Thanks for the entertaining entries!
Andy, I found you/your website some time back, due to an article about your classes on kindness (Ode Magazine? Mother Jones? Yes Magazine? someplace), and while I haven’t felt the need for a kindness class, it’s a good reminder.
When I learned about your sabbatical in France, I was interested because (1) what would it be like to live elsewhere for a year; (2) how would you do without speaking the local language; (3) how would you live your days/weeks/months; (4) what kind of a life would you lead while living there; (5) what impact, if any, would you have on that “foreign” community. I’ve traveled a bit, but never been able to stay in one place for a long time, but I’ve often thought about what it might be like to live in the place that I’m visiting. Next year, we’re planning a month in Switzerland, no car, only SwissPass, staying in rooms/apartments, no hotels. It’s not a place I’d choose to live (never, never in snow) but we’ll see what it’s like. My traveling companion/spouse is a person who among other things hitchhiked around the world in 3-1/2 years (another story for another time).
Although I’ve never had children, I seem to share your ideas about education and schooling, and am delighted to read about the school and the students. No doubt the dedication and alternative ways of thinking from you and Melinda make it a great school and a great experience for the students.
Perhaps too long a reply to today’s query from you, but here it is. I’m still reading, usually every day……..
Liz
Hi Andy: I too, have read your blog since you were preparing to leave for France. I felt like I had a virtual vacation through your entries! (thanks, it was a great trip!)
I’ve continued to read since you returned home & I had one of those ‘small world’ sort of experience after reading your post about who reads your blog. This is getting to be a long story…..
Anyway, being interested in the students of PSCS, and seeing Kestrels’ entry right off the bat, I decided to check out her blog. I kept reading & reading, enjoying her views on kindness and as I got to her entry about Demetri Lagos, I had to go back and re read. If we’re talking about the same Demetri, he and his family moved to Edmonds, into the house across the street from our family when I was still in school. (a very long time ago!) Has to be the same person!
I loved the feeling I carried with me after reading Demetri’s interview.
Sue W
Hi Andy,
I’m still reading and very glad you keep posting. It’s been interesting to compare your notes to ours re: counter-culture shock and “home-sickness” for France, and of course wonderful to get all the news about Chloe and her college life.
All is well in Santa Barbara, kids keeping up their French with help from tutors and baby-sitters. Come and visit us, if you can!
v. best,
Veera
Veera!!! We are all thrilled you are still checking in, so much do we want to stay in touch. Perhaps you can come to Seattle??
of course me Andy sometimes in a late.
I read you too, but sometimes not everyday, so I do a whole week at once.
Will you even get this message, or is it too late?
Oh well…
We miss you guys more than we can say.
Please come back. I’ll make you brownies!
– Christine (in Nantes)
Dang! had I known you’d make more brownies, I’m pretty sure we’d never have left! On that missing thing, likewise (with an exponent).
Hi Andy,
I read your post and I’m going to Trader Joe’s for French lentils. if only they carried my favorite French soap.
Ann
I’ve just stumbled across your blog via the Knowing Nantes facebook group. I returned just three weeks ago from basically two years in Nantes and am already missing it so I thought I’d see how you and your family are dealing with your return and see what all y’all saw over there. 🙂