We here at Out of Stepper would like to extend our heartiest thanks to everyone who has come to and supported this site. We couldn’t do it without you.

Thanks to all of you, our website is doing quite well this year as compared to last year. Last year we averaged 17 hits per day. This year so far we are averaging 80 hits per day. That is a 458% rise over last year. In the month of November we averaged 122 hits, and this month so far, we are averaging 154 hits per day. On Alexa, an online website tracker, Out of Stepper is ranked 5,088,747 out of the estimated 165,000,000 websites out on the Internet. Just a couple of months ago, we were ranked at 11,000,000. That is pretty good for a little unadvertised website like this one.

We could not have achieved any of this success without our loyal fans and great visitors. Thank you for supporting Out of Stepper specifically and independent blogging in general.

I would also like to thank everyone who has written poems, stories, articles, etc. for the site. It is these other folks who bring the diversity to the site. Without them, this site would be just the ranting of one crazy old man.

- J Stepper

As another year prepares to take its final bow, it is time to reflect, ponder, assess and appreciate where and who we are – and how we came to be here. Every day matters on the journey, the adventure that is “life”. And it is not just advancing years that make me aware of this. The balance of losses and gains takes skill and faith to maintain- I am sad to have lost my oldest, dearest friend; and I rejoice to have found a new and happier “me”, since shaking loose from the chains resembling “Marley’s”.

I am learning to hold those I cherish close, but not in a stranglehold. This I will surely relearn repeatedly – but I’m determined to not be discouraged by the “one step forward, two steps back” educational method, where “progress” seems a contradictory term some days. Better to choose to struggle and keep looking ahead, then to allow fear to keep me rooted – and too focused on what’s past.

I wish to thank my ever-patient friend, Jeff, for his generosity and gentle spirit. I call him “Professor”, for he has indeed offered me “anything I want” from his storehouse of knowledge and experience in various orbits. Although I often feel we’ve come from different planets, I’ve begun to see we share more in common than I realized a year ago. Without him, I wouldn’t have my very own blog – which has opened doors into a vast wide world I would have never sought. And it all began when he encouraged me to publish my work here at Out of Stepper. He keeps telling me he sees “bigger things in my future” – words that are slowly becoming less scary, more exciting.

And I must thank all the readers who visit at Out of Stepper – the experience of writing would be less satisfying without our fellow travelers. I hope that you are touched by the gifts of individuality here, where diversity is welcomed and respected – and celebrated. “Ideas” may be one of the last remaining “free” and valuable commodities. Why not share them?

To all of you, I wish the blessings of the season – my prayers go with you into the New Year.

- Caddo Veil

Outofstepper is a unique and eclectic web site that has a wide spectrum of articles, poems, research, fiction, non-fiction, organic and original content. It is a site to express your freedom of speech and creativity. I appreciate the opportunity to have a creative outlet, which just fosters more creativity. We need to exercise our minds and get exposed to other viewpoints. Outofstepper does this. I appreciate everybody who has read my poems. It gives me comfort to know that someone may profit, reflect or find comfort in those musings. Even if it is a mysterious anonymous relationship…it is still a connection. The world needs more connections and I am happy to do my small part. Thank you for “listening”.

- ericjstepper

Thank all of you loyal readers of Out-of-Stepper. This site is such a wonderful outlet for one’s opinions, creative endeavors, and it is gratifying that people are reading them. And responding. It makes for a great exchange of ideas, entertainment. Thank you.

- kayssurf

A big year-end “thanks” to all the fans of OutOfStepper!! Some of you come for the politics, some of you come for the humor and some of you come for both! That is what is so great about this site – there is something for everyone!

Please continue your support and also spread the word about the site! We all look forward to a new year of more stories, poems, politics and laughter!

- Karin