I feel very, very guilty.
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Okay … at least a little bit guilty. I felt guilty as soon as the first congratulations comment posted yesterday to the “news” that we’d been acquired by TravelChannel.com. In the past 24 hours, my e-mailbox has been flooded with a steady stream of congratulations and well wishes.
Sadly, Vagabondish is not in fact being acquired by The Travel Channel. Would that it were. No, it was all part of my secret April Fool’s Day plan.
I worked quite diligently to ensure that the news appeared as official as possible. Yet, I did throw a few ridiculous points into the announcement with the hope that someone might catch on to my little ruse. Namely:
- That I’d written and edited for a number of media outlets, “including National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Traveler, Outside, the Washington Post, Tiger Beat …” Yes, Tiger Beat. That pinnacle of teen pop culture. Kudos to Dave for catching on to this in the comments section.
- I listed The Travel Channel’s executive director of new media (not even sure if this position exists) as A. F. Ulsdé.
- I described the acquisition as “the biggest no-brainer in the history of earth.” – an odd turn of phrase used by a mortgage company in a radio commercial that’s been playing ad nauseum here in the U.S.
- My excitement at being able to travel the globe to “begin fervently spreading the word of pro-Americanism around the world!” I thought for sure someone would call me out on this and how ridiculous it sounds.
- And finally … my rather silly offer of a “free snow globe from a local tzotchke shop in the country of [your] choice – any country at all, except North Korea”. I received numerous requests from readers asking for their free snow globe. To all who contacted me and believed in Vagabondish, as soon as I leave on my own RTW trip, rest assured that you will all receive your free globe!
Evidently I was far too subtle and our readers are far too kind. I really want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contacted me and commented on yesterday’s post. I’m both overwhelmed and surprised by the groundswell of support. I was contacted by folks who’ve been reading this blog for months – and some since the very beginning – and just now felt compelled to wish us well.
Perhaps this photo of a guilty – yet remorseful – puppy will assuage your feelings of being cheated?
© KM Photography
Rest assured that we would never maliciously lie to our readers. Alas, April Fool’s Day is that one day every year that a little white lie, all in the name of fun, can’t hurt that much. Can it? =)
Happy April Fool’s!
-Mike