I promised my regular readers an update on my status by now. I'm being treated for my illness and am recovering. I'm still dealing with aftereffects, feeling "fuzzy" mentally and finding it difficult to focus. I'm told that's normal. Fortunately my son and numerous other friends and relatives have been very helpful and supportive.
About that kickstand...
The trouble is that TOP, as Ken Tanaka once memorably said, is a "bicycle business"…stop pedaling, and it falls over. It's difficult to step away and trust that I'm not wrecking the enterprise. I'm still not feeling well enough to get back to posting and moderating quite yet, but hopefully it will only be a short while longer.
So are you enjoying the "rerun" posts, or are they just old songs you don't need to hear again? If people seem to be liking them, I'll put more work into posting more until I gear up again.
Anyway, not to worry. I'm doing everything I should to get good treatment, and, in the immortal words of MacArthur, I shall return!
Votre bloggeur,
Mike
It's always good to have you drop in for coffee, Mike, even when you're feeling under the weather. And if you're revisiting the past in your conversations, that's fine too. (Fear not, you are still far from falling into your anecdotage.)
I hope you're well soon.
Posted by: David Miller | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 02:36 PM
I hope you continue to recover, even if it seems like it's taking forever. I, for one, enjoy the reruns and hope you will continue them as you are able and feel like it. I think most of us will still be here when you return. I know I will. There's nothing else anything like TOP to switch to anyway.
Posted by: Duncan | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 02:45 PM
In addition to get well soon, thanks for the curating effort made in selecting reruns. Today's item on editing is one of those which bears repeating -- if not annually, at least on some sort of cycle, and not the kind you have to keep pedaling for fear of falling off.
Your back catalog of items this good is probably so deep that a set number of days each month devoted to re-posts would be doing your newer readers as well as yourself a favor. Take time to breathe. It helps.
Posted by: Michael Matthews | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 03:38 PM
Still the best place on the web, reruns or not, which says a lot about the longevity of your writing. I'm sure I've read everything you've written on but had completely forgotten some of these pieces.
Wishing you the very best from London,
Posted by: Bahi | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 04:04 PM
There's no need to hurry or worry. The reruns are very entertaining.
Posted by: Ernie Van Veen | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 04:18 PM
Mike,
Your full recovery is the most important thing. If posting a rerun here and there doesn't imperil that, then keep 'em coming. Good content doesn't spoil over time.
Posted by: Ed Grossman | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 04:21 PM
Mike;
TOP is a class act edited & run by a class guy. Very few bloggers would ever admit their opinion was ever wrong - much less work at learning, sharpening the instrument, trying new ideas. You do - and your writing is solid, dependable and human.
I've been kind'a fuzzy and semi focused when it comes to business for a while now - but perfectly clear when passions like photography & vintage cars are the subject. I think it's called selective ennui.
Get well, stay well, and thrive. You're a man of quality, and worth the wait.
Warm regards
Gabe
Posted by: Gabe Bandy | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 04:39 PM
Take care of yourself and get well. We do miss you but the re-runs are interesting, for me anyway. Patiently waiting for you to be back in full form.
Posted by: Daniel Stevenson | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 05:30 PM
I'm fine with the reruns (my memory is getting so bad that they might as well be new anyway). Just focus on your health and do what you have to do to recover.
Posted by: Rick Popham | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 05:42 PM
Get well soon Mike: we're not going anywhere anytime soon. Enjoying the reruns meantime
Posted by: HughOfBardfield | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 05:46 PM
Adding another voice, I hope you feel better soon. And, thank you for continuing to share despite the illness. Good writing and valuable ideals always merit more than one reading. Unlike the pages of a good book digital media removes from view as much as it bring into view. These reposts help us to re enjoy the content you have created over the years.
Posted by: Alex Vesey | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 07:03 PM
As everyone else is saying, and I agree. Your health is first. That's your # 1 priority. I enjoy the reruns so don't feel guilty about running them. Take your time and come back healthy.
Posted by: Stanley Ulbrych | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 07:51 PM
Best wishes, Mike, hoping your recovery is a speedy one. The vintage posts are still good reads. I can't imagine not making daily visits to TOP.
Posted by: Tom Hassler | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 07:57 PM
Don't worry about your enterprise "falling over". Your blog is one of the bright spots on the internet for me--I won't be going away.
Posted by: Patrick | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 08:42 PM
Hi Mike,
Get well soon. Enjoy reading your reruns.
Best wishes.
Posted by: Armand | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 08:49 PM
Count me as one of the folks volunteering to hold up the bike until the rider gets back on...
Posted by: JohnMFlores | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 09:15 PM
Get better soon, Mike. The reruns are great! You have nothing to fear.
Posted by: Dillan | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 10:36 PM
Please get well soon, take some time off -- we'll all still be here.
Posted by: Gary | Friday, 24 January 2014 at 11:36 PM
Mike,
I loved all your reruns, even though I remembered having read them... Perhaps you should rerun more and spend more time to ... well... "refresh" yourself :)
Bulent
Posted by: Bulent Celasun | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 03:49 AM
Mike,
Very much enjoying the "kickstand" articles — many of which I hadn't seen before.
Please don't feel in any way rushed to return to work. TOP is better served by your good health.
Warmest regards,
Edgar
Posted by: Edgar Matias | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 04:07 AM
Mike
Rest up completely and get better in your own good time.
Best wishes Greg
Posted by: gregory clements | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 05:16 AM
You may have a bicycle business, but you have got up a good head of steam, which means you can coast for quite a while before you fall over.
Get well mate.
Posted by: Arg | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 07:35 AM
Get well soon, Mike! I really enjoy your site, including the reruns. Be well.
Posted by: Jack Flannery | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 07:42 AM
Hope you feel better soon.
I haven't read all your old stuff, so I'm fine with the reruns.
Posted by: BigHank53 | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 07:52 AM
Hey Mike,
I'm a new reader and have just purchased my first fairly decent entry level DSLR. I just wanted to chime in a wish you well.
Here's to a speedy recovery. All the best.
Posted by: Jack | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 07:58 AM
just get well, everything else can wait,
Posted by: Eric Auer | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 08:23 AM
Mike,
Take care of yourself, meanwhile I will echo what many have said here, I am enjoying the reruns. You might want to consider running an "oldie" once a month once you get better.
Be well,
Alberto
Posted by: Alberto | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 09:52 AM
Very much enjoy reading TOP, even the reruns. Take all the time you need. And for one diehard reader there is this:
<http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=11346886147&searchurl=an%3D%2522Mike%2BJohnston%2522%26amp%3Bbi%3D0%26amp%3Bbsi%3D150%26amp%3Bbx%3Doff%26amp%3Bds%3D50%26amp%3Brecentlyadded%3Dall%26amp%3Bsortby%3D17%26amp%3Bx%3D83%26amp%3By%3D11>
Best wishes for your speedy recovery!
Posted by: Marshall Smith | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 10:02 AM
Loving the re-runs!
In fact, you might have re-run Editing 101 especially for me, since I'm in the process of re-evaluating all my images from past years.
I needed Editing 101, it's really helping.
Get well!
cheers, j.
Posted by: J. | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 11:57 AM
Mike, I love the reruns, but really miss your daily thoughts and insight. Please take care, and get well soon. Your column is a daily ritual with me and always look forward to reading it.
Posted by: albert erickson | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 02:05 PM
Dear Mike,
Get well soon. Miss you, and am enjoying the 'reruns' greatly.
Simon
Posted by: Simon Griffee | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 04:18 PM
We're getting the pleasure of a carefully selected edition of your classics. That is a treat in and of itself, and you worked hard to have created such an extensive back catalogue. Your audience really has nothing to complain about :)
Actually, you could even make it a weekly feature to post a classic post, and maybe lighten your workload a little that way.
Here's the post that first led me to TOP, and that I'd like to suggest for a re-run:
http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.de/2006/06/great-photographers-on-internet.html
Don't you worry, we'll be here when you feel better. Don't rush it. Wishing you all the best!
Posted by: Judith Wallerius | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 06:33 PM
Re-runs? maybe "Classics", "Greatest hits", "TOP Tens" might better describe them?
Definitely appreciate the chance to revisit them anyway.
Dave.
Posted by: David Elden | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 07:03 PM
I wouldn't worry too much about the kickstand. There's no competition out in the interwebs for your particular offerings as far as I know.
Posted by: V. Roma | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 08:10 PM
Good prose is like good wine: a few years in the cellar improves it. I have plenty of books that I re-read occasionally because they're good enough to be enjoyed more than once.
Posted by: Mandeno Moments | Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 09:15 PM
Hello Mike,
Thank you for the reruns. They are all fun to read and I like especially your post on editing. May be you have more posts or reruns on that topic?
Wishing you a speedy recovery! :]
Posted by: yip | Sunday, 26 January 2014 at 08:06 AM
No worries lots to read about, Lots of fruit and veg and everything else in moderation unless its Photography or Love...
Posted by: Dave Packer | Sunday, 26 January 2014 at 11:33 AM
Just an idea.
But why don't you make reruns a standing feature of TOP?
Lots of articles are just so good they are worth reading more than once.
To give yourself a break let Saturdays be the rerun day and Sunday is completely without posting.
Unless some emergency of course.
Posted by: Johan Grahn | Monday, 27 January 2014 at 06:15 AM