Another A-Z Challenge is in the can, and it’s time to reflect upon the process. I love the challenge. My theme was very well-received this year, and I thank the many repeat visitors who commented throughout the month. (Did I promise you anything for doing that, or did you come because you wanted to? Maybe I better check…)

This was a year that could have easily been derailed. The month began while we were still experiencing our Amtrak Grand Tour — the theme for this year’s challenge. That meant I couldn’t pre-write and schedule many posts.  I could guess, but what if things changed? And, of course, things DID change, so I (and you) got to roll with those changes.

What I didn’t say much about was I’d also scheduled major surgery for the third week of the month, so that made participation on the back end of the month dicey at best. I managed to get everything posted and scheduled before getting a brand spanking new left (Stryker Triathlon) knee on the 21st.

As promised, I visited everyone who visited me and commented. What a diverse set of themes my readers chose to write about this year! I added each of you to a special list I created in The Old Reader (my RSS feed reader), so I’ll be keeping up with you even though the challenge is over.

Due to the travel and surgery prep, I didn’t have much chance to visit people who hadn’t had a chance to find their way to me throughout the challenge.  Maybe next year will be better for that. Or not. I’m planning to have the right knee replaced around the beginning of April. Oh, dear. Did I think that through? Plenty of time to re-evaluate that idea.