Subscribe to Our Feed!
I am no stranger to the Internet, to blogging. Deep into my ninth year of blogging, I am constantly reminded of how the relationships I have formed online are so precious to me. Or, rather, let’s just call them friendships — that’s what they are.
I was lovingly teased a few times over the weekend about loving my real life friends — two of whom I turned into bloggers and were in attendance with me — more than my online friends. The conference and time with so many of those that I genuinely considered friends taught me, or rather, reminded me that friends are friends. End of discussion.
When my grandfather died this past January, I called three real-life friends in tears. But I also posted my grief online. For weeks, I received phone calls and emails from both groups, checking on me to see how I was, if my family needed anything or to offer a kind word or story. When I am dealing with heavy adoption related topics, I actually turn to my online friends first, fully recognizing that the lack of face-to-face allows me to be more honest while simultaneously allowing them to kick me in the seat of the pants a little more directly than if we were sitting in the same room. My friends, no matter their location, rejoice with me in the good in my life and weep with me when it all comes crashing down.
The truth is that my heart is unable to recognize if I met you in Kindergarten or in college, at the hospital after one of my children was born or at the coffee shop a few weeks later, on one blog or website or another online medium. If you have offered a piece of yourself to me, if you have shared in my joys and my failures, if I have shared in yours, we are friends.
Over the weekend, I finally met a large number of friends face-to-face. I have known some of them for only months, others for close to a decade. I got to spend time with still others that I don’t get to see nearly enough. I had conversations that were just as deep as those I have with the friends who are able to show up at my house when I’m too sick or overwhelmed to get out of my pajamas. I met other firefighter wives that I didn’t yet know about yet. I met new people, new friends, most of whom I haven’t yet had a chance to read their words on their blogs, but a friendship was formed.
However brief the encounter — like the one I had in the elevator with someone I have quietly adored for years or walking back from a party with another and giggling in a drug store — they all mattered. Deeply. In fact, as we were heading to check out of the hotel, I said some final goodbyes. As I walked away, I had to fight back the tears. You don’t cry when you are leaving people who don’t qualify in your heart as a friend.
I learned a lot at BlogHer, I did. The sessions that I attended inspired me, made me cry and laugh in the same breath and challenged me to consider things differently. I learned that we are powerful. I learned not to wear cute flats, however comfortable, on a three mile photowalk because your hips will fall off the next day. I learned that I can run a 5K. I learned that’s it’s totally possible to drive in NYC. But what I’m taking away from this year’s BlogHer is more than brand interaction and private parties — though I enjoyed both. It’s more than tips to grow your blog or how to nurture your own voice — though I learned a lot. It’s more than new followers and new blogs to read — great stuff, too. For me, BlogHer ’10 was about friendships, new and old and even those yet to come.
In short, which I never am except in height, thank you for being my friend. (Cue song.)
[If you are not in this collage, please don't take it as a slight. Any more photos made them too small to see. All of my photos will be uploaded to my flickr set tonight.]
16 Responses to “Friends: My BlogHer ’10 Refresher Course”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
My name is Jenna, aka FireMom. I blog here, 
You did that on purpose, didn’t you? (sniff. sniff.)
Also… *sparkle*.
Denise´s last [type] ..Jenny on the Spot blogher10 karaoke
Twitter: firemom
says:
Yeah, basically, this post is totally your fault.
I think I took two of those pictures! I’m glad to see they came out nice since your camera scares the crap out of me…big and complicated thing that guys named Barbara kneel on (your reaction was golden!).
Somer´s last [type] ..The Required Conference Post
Twitter: firemom
says:
Seriously. Who kneels on a camera? Only dudes named Barbara.
So glad to have met you too. I’ve added you to my feed reader…
JustLinda´s last [type] ..Lessons Learned at BlogHer ‘10
Twitter: firemom
says:
Hooray! Really, it was so great to meet you! YAY!
Yes to everything you said about friendships online and off. The two best parts of my weekend were meeting face to face with women I had only known on-line. As soon as we started talking, everything in me was singing “friend!” It didn’t matter that I had only typed to them before. After all that typing, the talking was easy.
Megan´s last [type] ..2-51 am
This was a gorgeous post. Well done.
“The truth is that my heart is unable to recognize if I met you in Kindergarten or in college, at the hospital after one of my children was born or at the coffee shop a few weeks later, on one blog or website or another online medium.”
LOVE.
Melisa with one s´s last [type] ..Thankfully- Pictures Are Worth Lots of Words
Twitter: FourAgainstTwo
says:
Weep weep. Cry cry. A great post. Thank you for “forcing” me to start a blog and becoming a part of the blogosphere. BlogHer10 was the best tie I have had in a long time!
Mandy W.´s last [type] ..NYC Was Fab!
I know I had been waiting for a long time! Good to finially “see” you!
Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy´s last [type] ..Claud Attends the Adoptee Rights Protest Louisville Kentucky 2010
I like it when things are Denise’s fault. It gives me a break.
*sparkle* and *sniff*
sassymonkey´s last [type] ..More
I can honestly say some of my most honest friendships are online. There are things I can ‘say’ at 3am that i can’t bring myself to face in the light of day, and my friends online tend to get those emails, instead of hearing it over coffee. Bonus that my little group of local friends all started online, and made meeting them for the first time face to face a lot easier for an guarded introvert like me.
I’m so glad you were reminded how many people truly love you (and not just who you are online), and even if I wasn’t there, I am glad to be counted among them. xoxo
Ivymae´s last [type] ..Memos from the little desk
Meeting you (FINALLY!) was most definitely the highlight of BlogHer, for me, this year!!!!
It was so wonderful to meet you! I’ll be reading!
xo
Pocklock´s last [type] ..Level II
Sounds like you had a great time – hope to make the next one!
Cate O’Malley´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday
Twitter: firemom
says:
A) I’d love to meet you if you do as I am such a fan of your blog!
B) You’re not going to BlogHer Food? You should!