Boy, doesn't two years just shoot by when you're having fun?

The first Life Sherpa column appeared on Oct. 30, 2007, in the old "Here & Now" section of the Post-Dispatch, which took the place of the old "Everyday" section, which took the place of, well, never mind. Like Dylan said, "Things have changed."

In that first column, I stated:



"I've always thought it was illogical that most relationship advisers are women, answering questions from women about men. I'll be the first to admit that I don't understand women. I do, however, know guys. It's all I've ever been. And that leads me to one logical conclusion:

'Joe Holleman: Life Sherpa'

I have absolutely no professional credentials for this undertaking, other than being exceptionally wise and perceptive. I am NOT — and have never trained for a single second to be — a doctor, lawyer, accountant, counselor, adviser, psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, priest or rabbi.

I can't identify my spirit animal and I've never had a vision quest, except maybe in 1978. (The guy at the Black Sabbath concert said they were vitamin C pills.)

But what the heck, let's have some fun."



Well, ladies and gentlemen, nothing has changed — as least as far as my professional qualifications go. But, boy howdy, it sure has been some fun. To all those who have come along for the ride, I want to thank you, sincerely.

We've survived changes to the day on which the column runs, nagging advertising flaps that sometimes cover my shining face and a miserably failed campaign for president — though I hear my fundraising effort "Lap Dance for Liberty" is still going strong at several East Side establishments.

We have dealt with some heavy social issues: Husbands who refuse to throw their underwear in the dirty-clothes hamper; women who insist on wanting an answer to the question "Does this make me look fat?"; and people of both sexes who wear too much cologne/perfume.

Personally, I have been enlightened. First, the Life Sherpa honestly had no idea that so many women had no idea that men urinate in the shower. Second, I didn't realize so many people don't know the meaning of the adage "shooting fish in a barrel."

Even better, I have reached one epiphany: Men and women are equally screwed up, but in drastically different ways. Without a doubt, the Life Sherpa is all in favor of the differences.

Because I get this question constantly from readers when I run into them outside of this office, let me state this again: I have never in two years made up a single question that has appeared in a column. They have all been from readers.

Now I'm sure some of those readers figured out the tone of this column and have concocted wild questions simply so I could give humorous answers. That's cool. But I have never simply made up a question so I could answer it. The general public is far too twisted and crazy for me to have to resort to such tactics. That's why I love the general public.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't give a special tip of the ol' Sherpa cap to the battalion of angry folks who have reached out and contacted me. Rest assured, I will never get tired of e-mails and phone calls that start with phrases like "you're an idiot" or "what a moron." (That's not the most popular critical greeting the Life Sherpa has received, but the editors refused to allow me to print that two-word salutation — even in an anniversary column.)

But heck, I love nasty e-mails. I appreciate the readership and can safely say that no reader has ever called me a name that I hadn't been called before I started writing this column.

And after two years, my self-esteem still remains intact. Because no matter what the critics say, I just know I'm funnier than Ralph Nader.