As I was driving out of Baltimore at dusk on Saturday, “A Face in the Crowd” was the first song to come on Pandora shuffle.
In another place, another town
You were just a face in the crowd
You were just a face in the crowd
Out in the street walking around
A face in the crowd
Out of a dream, out of the sky
Into my heart, into my life
And you were just a face in the crowd
You were just a face in the crowd
Out in the street, thinking out loud
A face in the crowd”
As I’m writing this, it’s my classic favorite – “Safe and Sound” and I needed this. I really needed this. My mind and heart are all a-flutter tonight. And I’m really, really tired. I had been looking for a song title to describe my mood on Saturday, and sadly, all I came up with at first was “Achy Breaky Heart” – which is not necessarily true or even the whole story of how I felt/feel.
Maybe just a little.. A little achy, breaky heart. Isn’t that always the way? The push and pull of people in and out of your life, your computer, your life again, back into your computer, but now firmly lodged in your sight-line and your memories and your heart. Never the same, but maybe the same? The push and pull in your mind and your heart, and the imprints of hugs.
It’s the perfect song for me. “A Face in the Crowd.” It’s funny how our lives intersect and how we find ourselves together. It’s funny how I left one kid in western Mass, took one to New Jersey, left for Baltimore, kept earth-shattering company for two days, came back a night early to sneak into bed with Scarlet (who missed ME more than the rest..curious), and wound up going to a theme park and riding a ferris wheel with Scarlet and the family today. Not to mention we went into a haunted house, in June, and talked to Santa in his barn, in June, and all around watched my mom scream her head off on roller coasters, get completely soaked in a wading pool/pirate ship. We had a nice conversation when we were suspended on the top of the ferris wheel – Scarlet and me. She said, “I’m scared. Up here.” I said, “I’m not scared. Up here. And it’s one of the few places I’m not scared sometimes.” And she reached for my hand, as we glided to the ground and then she went around being not scared.
And all I can do now is tell you my story, in 13 stories, actually. These stories make up the heart and soul of my experience at BlogU. There are notes. There are lessons. There are strategies and more. Mostly, it’s about what’s in my heart and all of the things that will not change. Sometimes you have to change to realize all of the ways you want to stay the same too.
- Kristi was the first friend I saw. I lugged my suitcase up two fights of stairs and smiled at many unfamiliar and vaguely familiar women. I was breathless but it wasn’t from being out of shape. Or it wasn’t just from being out of shape..I walked through the door and locked eyes with Kristi. It was a lot of hugging and gazing and being like, “Wait, yeah, you, yeah…look the same..first person I saw..so glad it was you..you’re cute..this is cool.” I’m glad it was her. I thought I might want to vomit.
But I didn’t. I didn’t vomit or want to vomit.
- After Kristi helped me to shakily and spazzily get officially registered, I dropped my stuff in my room. Then I ran to Dana and Lisa’s room and knocked on the door. A familiar and unfamiliar, and yet unfamiliar and familiar voice rang out, “Come in!” I went in. It was like walking into the dorm room of two lifelong friends. It was like nothing. It was me. It was them. We hugged.
I was giddy.
- Tricia was commuting to the conference and I didn’t have a chance to meet her until the cocktail party on Friday night. I was with Iva for a lot of the day/night and she helped me to get dressed for the party. As we were walking into the gym, I saw a figure in a red dress in the distance. I was wearing red too. I’m nearsighted. I said to Iva, “I wonder if that’s my friend.” I’m nearsighted. The figure in red said, “Hi!” I said, “Tricia?” She said, “Tamara?” It really was her! Two ladies in red.
..but she’s not wearing red in this photo.
- All weekend long, there were free cookies, candy, cupcakes and more but I had very little appetite for sweets the whole time.
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On the first night, a group of us went outside to talk and it was such a connecting talk and it made me feel all warm and glowy inside. It cemented my decision that being there was a wonderful decision..
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..and yet after nerves and a prison cot of a bed kept me up nearly all night Friday night, I almost left. I thought I couldn’t go through with any of it. And I’d just run home. But I didn’t. And all of your words resonated in my head. And I wanted to be there and be better for all of you.
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We kept running into a photographer when we wanted group shots. She used both my phone and my camera. I owe her one, someday.
- For the first night, I felt like the experience was so giddy and surreal. I was able to overcome most of it by the next day, but only because the feelings of comfort and friendship had taken over.
- Stephanie and I shared a joke that had me sloshing my drink (just spa water) and laughing so hard my face hurt. It involved an internet troll, a rude reply eight months later to a rude statement, and use of the word “penis” on twitter.
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At midnight on the first night, I realized my blinds were stuck all the way to the high ceiling. I wandered the halls until I found a kind soul and she went and found four more kind souls, and somehow five people came back to my room to help me and we started talking, and two were on my bed, one in a corner, and one almost accidentally stole my phone. It was a party.
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During one of the classes, Scarlet got hold of my mom’s phone and was sending me icons of toilets. Repeatedly.
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Hearing Tara’s commentary on the food there.
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On the first day, I hung out a lot with my friend Iva. On the second day we had different classes so I didn’t see her at all. I was feeling a bit down that night that we hadn’t connected that much and that I was just the man behind the curtain in “Wizard of Oz” and maybe she thought I was a total dork in real life. And then I saw her to say goodbye and she complimented me and told me she had gotten me something – a beautiful, delicate moose necklace. And we hugged and I’ve been on the verge of tears (happy tears) since. Thank you. You have no idea what this (you) have meant to me.
Those were my fears. Lost connections. Losing what we have, or stopping it from growing. Yet being together was like..old friends. I want to be a writer. I am a writer, but that’s with or without blogging. I want to be a photographer. I am a photographer, but that’s with or without blogging. This is something else entirely. I make my money in other ways but this is a vehicle for so many things I hold dear – photography, writing, a little bit of money, a whole lot of love and ambition, memory-keeping, and perhaps the most unexpected part of it all – friendship. So surprising. So powerful. I just can’t see that changing.
Wow, to write a post like that while being tired? You HAD to be a Blog U, I’m sure it would not have been the same without you. However, I want to see a picture of the prom 😉
Well, thank you! I was…half asleep. And I still am. I just checked it for typos and it seems ok but I totally didn’t care and hit the “publish” button anyway lat night! Eeek!
I missed prom… I wanted to get home so I wouldn’t drive eight hours on Sunday. It was worth. Drove nearly four hours to crawl into bed next to Scarlet and surprise her at my parent’s house. Her reaction the next morning made me cry.
Oh Tamara!!! So much. So so much. I bet it will really take you days to sort through the emotions that swelled up and in and all around during the last 48 hours!! (Can you believe it’s only really been about that?) I’m just sad that I wasn’t in this post… it would have gone something like this:
“And so I just couldn’t sleep at all, so I started to roam the halls, and around the corner THERE she was!! Roaming the halls TOOOOO!!!! Chris Carter looked a bit confused, dazed and overwhelmed and said she was going outside to have a smoke. (yes- I do) She couldn’t sleep at all, was just too buzzed from over-stimulation and over-emotion. So we walked together- and went outside, where we ended up talking ALL NIGHT LONG until the sun came UP!!!! And now I have this bond that somehow solidified everything that was sent through the waves of the web. We talked about EVERYTHING. No editing, polishing, no holding back. Raw, beautiful, real, laughter, tears and life. We had our ‘moment’- in the night. And it was good. Really really good. But she did say she would have LOVED to have Ilene with us too. I suppose since she hasn’t had the chance to meet her yet and in-person bond with her, that would have been twice the gift to her. But everything in it’s perfect time, she said. And we had ours.”
I wish. <3
My first reaction was… YOU SMOKE???
No, it was really that I love that you wrote your own version of our story. And I so wish.. it had happened, but maybe it will happen. Although I won’t be sleepless when we do meet from laying on a prison cot of a bed. I will be sleepless with excitement and the sound of the North Carolina tides.
That’s right. Beach house!
And btw- I’m a bit pissed that I wasn’t first. Damn burrito. 😉
haha!! I know you elaborated on the burrito later…
Burritos are worth it.
And also? I’m a bit jealous that you got to hang with Tricia and AND she gave you a gorgeous thoughtful gift… A BIT jealous. I had NO IDEA she was going!!! (I’m thinking we would have gone back inside and found her room and woke her up and dragged her outside too.)
Again.. I know where this is heading.. Iva! It was Iva!
Wonderful, wonderful experience! It’s so nice to see you all together in one photo, really. And I can see real friendship.
And I laughed at Scarlet sending you icons of toilets! Hahaha! Such a cute little girl. Glad to know BlogU was a success! 😉
She was adorable about it. I kept writing back and I know my mom was telling her what I was writing so I wrote some pretty ridiculous things.
It’s good to know that some things never change – I do still goof off in class a lot.
This was SO much fun! I felt like I have known all of you for a lifetime. I say next time we skip the conference and just head to a posh hotel for girl time!
With lots of protein, right? You know we’re on. Your emails, tweets and comment made my day because I so hoped that it was all as good for other people as it was for me. And I mean the connections and friendships.. and not.. the Lucky Charms or hard muffins for breakfast.
Isn’t it amazing – that life breathed life into the names/ faces/ words you’re already so familiar with?
Glad you had this crazy breathtaking experience.
Yes, and I love the way you worded that.
And it was so breathtaking. Every second of it.
Definitely a bit jealous that I couldn’t be there, but I too had an interesting weekend complete with weddings, soccer and a brand new puppy, too. This Monday morning, I am definitely tired and a bit happily nervous about our new family member, but still sounds like great weekend was had and so happy that you did get to do, but like I have said before we will totally get to meet very soon 🙂
Oh, my! Can’t wait to get to your post then. I’m so behind. My Bloglovin is up to 90 today. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that happen. And I won’t mark them all as unread, because what if I miss something! Something like a new puppy!
And another blogging friend had a baby over the weekend!
Whoa!
I can’t even imagine and get stressed when I see over 20. Seriously though do not stress yourself out and just do what you can, because seriously 90 is way too much and I am not sure I could ever read more then 30 in one sitting That is pushing it) let alone 90. And yay to babies and puppies and more 🙂
ha, don’t worry. 90 is way too much and I will not be commenting on 90 blogs. Holy cow, now. Just the good ones. You know. The ones with puppies.
Lol, and you know I love you so much!! 🙂
I haven’t quite been able to put it into words yet. It was like I have know all of you forever, yet something new and nerve-wracking all at the same time. This morning, I am exhausted – emotionally, mentally, physically. I adored meeting all of you and hanging out and just being together – in person – all at once. I am pretty sad that, realistically, it probably won’t happen again for a long time.
I hear you. I feel so all over the place. And still.. so tired. Like barely keeping awake during the day, although it is gloomy and humid today so we’re all feeling a bit down about that.
I miss you all, which is strange because we only met once, but it certainly didn’t feel that way.
Sounds like so much fun!! Reminds me of the days when I used to go to professional conferences and trainings. And what a special treat for Scarlet to wake up to your face. Way to go, mom.
I’ve been on a few business trips but nothing more than this.
Maybe one day we can go to a conference together! I’m hoping for closer ones. Baltimore wasn’t so bad, actually, but I’m so tired today that it hurts.
And waking up to seeing her wake up to me? One of my top ten motherhood moments. I miss it.
Sounds like you had an amazing time and those photos prove nothing less. I chuckled at Scarlet sending your toilet icons – that’s too funny.
What’s bad is that I kept writing back and I felt like the class goof-off… ten years later and I still can’t keep a straight face in a classroom setting.
Oh well.
It was a photography class and.. well.. it was a lesson I didn’t need to listen to at the current moment.
This is an awesome post. I so wish I could have been there! The way you wrote this helped me feel the emotions though! I love all the pictures and Scarlet sending you toilets, priceless! I’m glad you had a great time!
I think you would have fit in really well. There were a ton of very funny, witty, unique bloggers.
And we could have had lunch together! Ah, some day.
Someday!
Wow, so much happened this past weekend! It’s probably still soaking in. I have to say I wish I could’ve gone to BlogU instead of BlogHer. I would have been able to meet more bloggers that I actually “know” including you! I left BlogHer early and took the train home to be with my family, who I missed like crazy and I was only a few miles away!
I do want to go to BlogHer someday.. maybe when they come back east next year or so. I think I’d have been overwhelmed, though. This was smaller and overwhelming!
One day, we shall all meet at BlogHer. This, I know.
So jealous!!! I so wish I had been there and hope we can ‘meet’ sometime soon! And once all the emotions of the weekend settle down, I would love to hear some what you learned re: blogging too. It sounds like such an amazing experience!
Oh, I bet we will! I’m all in for east coast conferences and there is that one in Philly I told you about, which is possible! I’m hoping BlogHer will be back east next year. Last year was Chicago. This year is San Jose. Wouldn’t NYC make sense next year? Or Boston!!
Oh how I love perfect seamless blogger meetups! I feel like I should write a book (or at the very least a novel) on how amazing it all is to meet your blogger friends in person…I am digging the crowns on you and Michelle too!! 🙂
ha! The crowns! Michelle is the best. I would have written more about her above but I think it’s just implied that I adore her. And I had already met her.
I know I’ll meet you! Let’s hope for BlogHer to be east coast next year! NYC or Boston!
You are a writer and a photographer with or without the blog, and you are a friend too. With or without the blog. MY friend. I have no need to write a post about the weekend now; I’m just going to adopt yours as my own:)
This might be my favorite comment, but don’t tell the others.
I was sad to leave the prom but I had so many personal reasons at the time (sister getting surgery and my only chance to see her before it, Scarlet, long drive, etc.). Anyway the goodbye was too rushed for my liking, but nothing would have been enough!
I was totally there, but was hiding in the bushes. Majorly introverted. Couldn’t rack up the courage for a photobomb. I lurves all the pics, though. xo
hahaha!! Is that like the Bushman in San Francisco? One died but I think the original is still there. They hide in the bushes and scare people who innocently walk by. I think that would be fun to do with bloggers.
This is an incredible post. You are definitely a writer. And there’s no doubt about your photography. I feel the same way. I am many things with or without my blog, but my blog – gives me a different world to be all those things and more. I am so jealous – I really wanted to go to BlogU but it just wasn’t in the cards this time. Maybe next year. They are so refreshing in so many ways – most especially, the friendships and the connections. But the rejuvenation of creative juices and ideas and the knowledge… that is so cool too! Thanks for sharing your memories. And I love that Scarlett was sending you pics of toilets!!! LOL>
There will be other conferences for sure. I kept thinking I’d love to hand-pick my own conference, or create my own. And it would have ALL of you. But of course, life would happen. Money troubles, illnesses, fears, etc. So it would never really be EVERYONE ever, but I am happy to know I’ll probably meet all of you someday – just at random and different times. So far, so good!
I know… I know… it’s getting nuts. But when I said I was going to do what I was going to do- well I follow through on things I say I am going to do! 🙂
SO here I am. lol
Ate 3/4 of the frozen pizza. Gonna regret THAT tomorrow! Hadn’t eaten all day. Thought I had time and it ran out. Until around midnight. lol
I’m actually going to turn my computer off. I wish you had some clock that could time how long I had your post open!!! I bet I would win the longest ever having a post open award.
Night love.
Hope you made it through your rainy Monday…and are FAST asleep. And don’t have a massive rock of pizza in your belly.
haha! Welcome back. Just when I think this fun is over, it’s not.
I’m sorry about the pizza still in your stomach. Go for a long walk!
I was definitely fast asleep when you wrote this. I’m still recovering from my weekend.
Okay- soooo… my FOURTH comment. Good LORD.
I was lying up in bed after I read your post and commented THREE times… and you know how you get that JOLT of electricity when you realize something you did wrong? I got that. Because? It HIT me that it wasn’t TRICIA that gave you that necklace but IVY!! Geesh. I blame it on the Chipotle burrito I had eaten ten minutes before. Stupid burrito.
And? I don’t even know Ivy. So off I go to meet her! (Was too tired to last night… after the heavy burrito and all.)
Chris, you have singlehandedly made my day, and a rainy Monday during the last week of school and after a blogging conference weekend.. is a tough day to make.
You’re going to hate this but it wasn’t Tricia. And it wasn’t Ivy. It was Iva!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I am laughing so hard I am crying!!!! Mother of LOVE what is WRONG WITH ME??!!!! I don’t know Iva/Ivy/Ivahoochie- and apparently, I am completely CLUELESS and wasting your precious comment system by my ignorance and hilariously foolish ways!!!
Still laughing…. BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I’m calling her Ivahoochie from now on. (Don’t tell her that though… wouldn’t be a good first impression,now would it?)
Wait! Is she a mom? Lets go with Ivahoochiemama!!! There. That’s better.
She is a mom. A hot mama. Not sure she’d love her nickname, though! Just not sure! Although if she knows how amazing and adorable you are, maybe it will be ok.
Ya know what? I LEFT THIS OPEN ALL DAY!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!! Walked in the door and am doing another quick check on my laptop, and I just realized the tab from this morning is open… GOD HELP ME! I need to get it TOGETHER! I will take a shower and put some make up on and even do my hair, before I go over to meet her. Maybe she’ll like me then. 😉 Off I go until late tonight… where I’ll go for another burrito or something like that. Maybe I’ll just leave this link open til then.
Yeah. Gonna do it.
Definitely, definitely leave it open. And eat more burritos, please! I like what it does to you.
It’s FROZEN PIZZA tonight!!! Just put it in the oven… but it’s been a long day, so guess where I’m going? Outside to….. you guessed it! (I know- it’s awful, but it’s my thang. Been my thang since my horrible teenage years… stuck with me. It’s my best and most FAVORITE prayer and reflection and processing time EVER. So smoke. I do. Be back after the pizza!!!lol)
*Link still open*
🙂
I’ve never smoked a cigarette before, but I’ve done a lot of damage to frozen pizzas everywhere!
And….. your post is STILL UP!!! LOLOLOL!!!! Just sat down at my laptop again. Had to just say hi, cause this is too fun/funny/fun/funny!!
Okay- enough of this, yes? SORRY but not really. Bounce RATE IS A ROCKIN’ BABY!!!
<3 YOU!
How fun! I’m glad it all went well! I still hope to go to a conference someday. I’ll also be really nervous. I can be pretty shy at first.
And it excites me that they have cookies and cupcakes.
I’m shy at times, and anxious more at times! We would have had fun, though.
The cookies and cupcakes were endless, though. Isn’t that reason enough to go?
I love this line: “Sometimes you have to change to realize all of the ways you want to stay the same too.”
Thanks, James! It just reminded me when I was there that even though I want to improve in so many ways, there are things I don’t want to change about myself and my blog too.
Oh I love this! Thank you for sharing your fears and almost-leaving, and smiles- I love your pose & face in the second to last picture! It’s perfect. I know I’ve made a similar face in situations similar to this one 🙂
I would have been just as scared, I think. So far, I’ve been to a one-day conference where I had the guts (ha!) to hang out with one person (the woman I was sitting next to) and leave semi-early, and I am registered for a much larger one (the largest travel blogging conference?), coming up in September, and I think I’m just feeling the excitement of the destination (Mexico!), and not oh-my-god-what-do-i-think-i’m-doing fear that will inevitably set in a few days before I leave. We’ll see!
(I love that shot of your mom and Scarlet!)
It’s funny because we were waiting for the rest of our group to show up and I was just daydreaming and making funny faces because the photographer is like me and starts shooting before the action, or before the pose.
Wow, your conference sounds AMAZING! I can’t even imagine. And I’m trying to brave myself up for the BBC – Philly conference in September!
Oh how wonderful! What a fabulous opportunity to connect! I have always wanted to go to a blogging conference… maybe sometime soon. It’s funny because I was just emailing one of my blogging friends and we were talking about what it would be like if we met one another. I know exactly what I would do if I would meet any of my dear blogging friends (you included)… I would probably burst into tears.
These connections made through blogging are so deep. It’s amazing and beautiful.
Thanks for sharing. I look froward to hearing more (hopefully) about your experience.
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
Burst into tears! Seriously. It was crazy. And I’ve met quite a few right now and they were all ones I was dying to meet. Even ones I didn’t know I was dying to meet had such an impact on me. It’s like meeting celebrities. And of course, they’re always taller or shorter or with different voices than you expected. That always throws me.
I want to do many more conferences now.
Amazing. I feel like I was there by reading this. I love your honesty and openness. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Also, your blog is beautiful and completely you.
Thank you! I was just looking at it and wondering what it needed to be differently. I guess I like it as is too. The conference was fascinating, really. I think I got the bug where I want to go to others now!
For me, this was the most laid back conference I have been to…the one that I got to really hang out with my friends and not worry about anything else. It felt good to do that. It was fun, and thank you a million times over for helping me out with my picture! Many hugs!
I loved it. It was funny because since I met you once, I felt like if everyone else felt like an old friend at first meeting, then you were a really old friend. Not old in age. Old like we knew each other 20 years ago. Which we didn’t!
Anyway, the photos were fun. I would have put that into my stories above because it was totally fun but I didn’t know if you wanted me to do that, and then everyone would have been asking to see a photo! And.. I’ve been half asleep since I got home. Not good for photo editing!
How fun and nerve wracking all that the same time. Yo perfectly explained the perfect mesh of the two. So glad you had a nice time and have the memories, pictures and the toilet icons to remember it all by. Can’t wait to get all of your notes and goodies from the event!
Fun and nerve-wracking! Exactly!
It’s a mesh. It’s a push and pull. Queasy and hungry all at the same time.
Oh, those notes! I haven’t even begun to look at them but I did learn a lot.
Sounds like you had a great time at BlogU! If it were me, I’d probably be starstruck and start hugging each blogger I adore! LOL
haha! Well me too and I’d be hugging you.
I was starstruck! So many celebrities in one sitting. The best was when someone recognized me too.
Looks like you guys had a good time. I’ve had moments too where I get to nervous to go to an event by myself. I’m glad you had the courage to go.
I’m scared of riding ferris wheels and any type of ride where my feet are hanging out , like swing rides. My son wants to ride a ferris wheel, but I won’t be riding with him.
It’s funny because ferris wheels are my favorite – they don’t give me a shred of anxiety. It’s all the others that do.
I was very scared to do this. I’m not an introvert, but not really an extrovert either. I think I’m a true ambivert and I thrive on solitude and social time..I just don’t always know which mood I’ll be in!
Everything is in slow motion today – I spent allllll yesterday freakin’ recovering – I crashed Saturday night and Sunday I was rendered useless! Lol No tears!! It’s happiness and we WILL meet again; whether at another conference or if I go up there or if you come down here or we meet in the middle. Twas fun but learned a LOT and creating those infographics took all my energy yesterday so Im recovering again today. 🙂 It was EPIC though! Definitely needs to happen again.. Now I am in the process of creating a pinterest account since everyone and their momma swears by it. Glad you had a magical time and now when I read your posts I hear your voice and THAT is neat. 😀 Happy Monday lovely Tamara! -Iva
I’m still recovering. It’s bad. I never really rested or relaxed and I journeyed a lot. I can’t understand why my family won’t let me just eat and sleep all day! The punks.
Ok, no tears. But there might be tears. I think I’m going to Bloggy Boot Camp – Philly in September. I’ll be nervous/excited for that one too.
It was definitely EPIC. Thanks for reading and being a friend.
And knowing my voice! Weird! And I know yours!
Same here – I took a 2 hour nap today and it was everything I thought it would be. Heavenly! LOL Family doesn’t get it but wait until Des is in Kindergarten and all kids are out of the house – I mean do you realize what that means for your sanity? I was thinking about that one but I’m going to Las Vegas in September sooooo there goes my budget for the year. Anytime, always here whether blog related or not – Yes, it’s weird in an awesome way 🙂 It changes how you read things once you know their voice doesn’t it? Lol It’s more – personal.
I only got a 20 minute nap in, but it was awesome.
I’m still recovering, three days in.
Totally weird and awesome. It kinda changes everything, and nothing. Like.. we still sound the same as we used to, but we met and everything did kinda change!
Ah, I’m making no sense. More sleep!
More sleep is always good 🙂 There are times for deprivation and times to play catch up. Well it changes everything in terms of your perception of the blogger and how you perceive their words; but it changes nothing because things go back to normal, we keep living the way we did before since that’s how life goes. It’s the little changes though 🙂
I am SO envious you went to BlogU. I would have loved to meet you and hear the bloggers speak! My boyfriend’s mom got married over the weekend, otherwise I would have totally been there. You look BEAUTIFUL in red, btw.
There will be a sequel, I’m sure! And many more conferences. Let me know if you’re ever going to one.
And thank you about red! It’s my favorite color to red and I love it so much, I named my daughter Scarlet!
I read this with chills. I came to your page today because I knew there would be a blog U post and I could not wait to read your thoughts on it. And I know that familiar yet unfamiliar feeling – from BBC and from Blog Her and from meeting you and Steph last year at Michelle’s house. Bloggers share little pieces of our soul and when we get to meet those we’ve shared our soul with, it’s just magical. I miss blogging. You know, The Fierce Diva blogging – the Hippie chick blogging? I enjoy it but TFDGTL was for love and only love. I could ramble on here all day. I can’t wait to hear more. This may warrant a phone call. xo.
Aw! That was my first time – with you three. And it changed me so much. It showed me that like meeting celebrities, you don’t really know what you’re going to get, but sometimes it can lead to in person friendships. It’s that next level. It’s amazing.
It leads to granola too.
When is the next time I can see you in person? I already cannot wait for that moment! Connecting virtually and then in person is an experience like no other!
There is a Bloggy Boot Camp by the SITS Girls in Philly in early September. I just became a community lead for them and I do love what they do and I’m highly considering it. Highly! It would be awesome to see you then! Other than that, I don’t think you’re that far from my parent’s house.
And I think we talked about the Hershey conference and how it’s sold out. Boo!
It’s exactly what you said above. Connecting here and then meeting in person and taking a fun class together? That was awesome! It was actually one of the stories that made up BlogU which I’d add to my sequel which is more about what we learned. (if I ever write it)
Wish I could have been there! Looks like you had an amazing experience… and how could you not with these terrific women? Now I need a post on what you learned that I need to know…. since I missed it:( And what… no longing for free treats? Really? Can’t relate….
ha…usually I can’t relate either. I was just so nervous and queasy for some of it. And it was sugar overkill after awhile. I started craving some meat and veggies fiercely.
Luckily, they delivered that too!
It looks like you guys had so much fun! It is making me regret not going to a blog conference this year… but I will be patient and wait til my baby is a little older! I loved seeing your group photos of so many bloggers that I read in one spot together.
Yes! I would never have gone last year. Des was just too young and I was nervous. It went really well because he was with Cassidy all weekend. I think with another sitter, I wouldn’t have been feeling it!
First of all, what’s up with Chris Carter smoking and taking over the comments on this post?! Second of all, I’m wicked jealous. It’s so amazing to meet other bloggers. Kinda like meeting celebrities, but they are instant friends! So glad you had a wonderful weekend.
hah! I know. The smoking was more shocking than the commenting. I quite dig that.
Hope to see you at a New England conference, even if I have to build one myself!
Well, I wouldn’t change my weekend experience for anything but hopefully next time i can go to one of these. I don’t really even care if there are classes/sessions (is that bad?) – I just ant to meet y’all!!!
I can see why you wouldn’t want to change your awesome weekend!
I don’t think it’s bad to not care about classes! I just really wanted to meet people too. I’d have skipped the classes if it meant meeting less people, but luckily it allowed me to meet MORE!
How unbelievably cool to see many of my faves in one place! I echo above! so Jealous! Darn I just remembered I need to get Hayden to work on that that letter to Scarlet! So my brain is partially off! Making note now! 🙂
Yes! It’s ok because Scarlet just sent her penpal a letter.. like three weeks later. Boo! It’s ok, though. She can’t even write. She just dictates.
Can’t wait to get a letter from the cutie!
It still kills me that we were so close! But, you know, I had family things that had to be done (T’s dance recital…but is that really more important than a blog conference?) Sounds like it was a great time. Do you think you’ll try to go again next year, or are you going to party hop the conference circuit?
Aw! We were close!
Well I’m really thinking SITS Bloggy Boot Camp in Philly in early September. I’ve heard their conferences are really affirming. So there’s that!
And of course I’d go back. It would be my sophomore year, baby! #BlogU15?
I haven’t been to a blogging conference yet, so I’m excited to go to one. Sounds like you had so much fun! I hope to hear about all you learned and you have your memories to capture it all!
I’ll share some notes for sure – in due time! (I have to find them all first..oops)
I definitely want to try other conferences – bigger ones, smaller ones, niche ones, ones just to meet friends..
I loved this, Tamera! I think the most powerful and alluring component of blogging, for me, is the connections made, the friendships. It’s that part that makes everything else seem all the more real and worthwhile. I’m glad you enjoyed Blog U and took so much from the experience! I was this close to attending Blog U! Darn. I would have loved to have met you in real life!
Oh, darn! Maybe next year.
It’s definitely the biggest allure – and way over celebrities. I just wanted to meet my friends!
Canada needs more Blog Conventions!! Or maybe I just don’t know about them. The only one I ever attended… it was THIS. So this. and more. And I met the most absolutely beautiful soul of a person and I still feel so connected and blessed to have met her. even though we haven’t seen each other since. So happy you had this experience!
Well if they do exist, which I hope, I’d come to a Canadian Blog Conference! Smarties for everyone!
That sounds like a lovely soul. There is some sadness too because realistically, when are we ever going to all hang out again?
Maybe someday.
This sounds like such a wonderful experience to have. I don’t really know what Blog U is, I guess I should google it and I am sure a will, just not now. But in any case when you follow a blog over a little or longer while you get to know the writer in a way and may feel like real life friends, I know I do. I like my little bunch of virtual friends almost as much as I love my real world friends. They are all part of ME 🙂 I’m very glad for you that you went to the meeting and it worked out so well and even better.
Well it was a blogging conference – a small and intimate one and the whole theme was getting schooled! It was like University for Blogging. Very fun.
Wow. See? Here you are, doing it again. I wanted to write a post tonight but couldn’t or didn’t or shouldn’t have. I can’t believe still that I got to welcome you first, right there, while your suitcase fell into the crotch of somebody I never had the chance to meet. I love that we met in person. You were just as wonderful and amazing and fabulous in Real Life as you are here. And I totally get why you went home. Here’s to Halloween and Santa in June. Big. Here’s to you and to us and to blog connections and to life and living and breathing and to saying EF YOU to prison mattresses.
People have questioned how I wrote that after an all nighter, 16 cumulative hours of driving, a theme park, and the high of meeting all of you.
I said it was the high of meeting all of you.
That poor woman! I hit her crotch and she was still so nice to me!
Here’s to prison mattresses, the Jersey shore, and everything good in between.
Wow, sounds like an amazing, exciting few days! I saw some familiar faces in those pics! I’m glad you stayed and didn’t want to vomit and laughed so hard your face hurt, those are always the best. I definitely need to go to one of these things, everyone always seems to have a blast.
I think you’d love it! I don’t even know where the closest one to you would be but they have them everywhere, even in other countries.
Bloggers know how to party.
I am so happy for you that you were able to have this experience, and I have been looking forward to reading your post on it. There is something so crazy and wonderful about finally meeting in person people you have connected with online, although I also find it a bit sad as well as you can connect with these great people and those times together in real life can be so sparse. I am glad you stuck it out, and that you came back to a Scarlet who had missed you. By the way, I’m pretty sure I had been to the Land of Make Believe as a child….
It is so sad. It’s what Lisa said about how it’s hard to imagine the next time it will happen, realistically. Although there is a BlogU15, I’m sure!
It was my first time at Land of Make Believe! And I’ve lived near(ish) there for years.
1. “Never the same, but maybe the same?” I love that. You’re right. When you meet with someone you’ve admired through their blog, in real life, it’s surreal. And make up some of the best memories. Always will. And when you are part of something like this, it does change you.
2. Kristi’s a good candidate for the first one to meet. That’s a good welcome. I’d have taken that. I was so there in spirit. It was so severe that I’m sure I ate only two slices of pizza on Friday, I longed so badly. (Oh, and Grace’s crusts).
3. Know what the pictures remind me of? Seeing all those baseball stars from different eras on the same field in “Field of Dreams.” Or, maybe more aptly, seeing all the cartoon characters from different eras in the same scene in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”
Can I be Jessica Rabbit?? It’s not quite right.. but it’s more right than say… Tweety Bird. Right? Right???
17 times more right, in fact. You’re more Jessica than Tweety.
Whew!! I know it was probably close – somewhere in the middle but leaning towards Jessica.
Sounds like you really had a good time connecting with friends and confidants–fantastic!
I really did! I miss it so much but I’m so distracted over here with birthday/graduation prep. It’s all very big in my heart.
Seems like a lot of memorable moments and friendships formed and solidified. Glad it was a good time!
It was really such a head and heart experience. I’m so glad I had it.
I’m cracking up at your prison cot..lol I think nights are the most difficult, when you’re alone and nothing but your own head to talk you into/out of everything. I’m so glad you had so many friends there! That’s how I imagined it being. Iva sounds amazing! I love these pictures…I’m so incredibly jealous, of both your highs and your lows because either way, YOU DID IT! And you still had time for cuddles with Scarlet, theme park excursions and Santa in June. Whoa girl, you did it all. But how was your reunion with Des?! And Cassidy?!
A prison cot. With no covers. None! And the a/c was stuck on. And I could hear people walking up and down the halls ALL NIGHT LONG! Oh my god. How did I do that in college? It could have been age, but I think it was just that we had no choice so we learned to tune out noise. It’s survival. Here, we had choices. I could have bolted. I could have not come at all.
I’m so glad I stayed..
I love love love this recap and without even reading it fully, I wrote some very similar things (surprise!). But my favorite thing of all? Is that when I read the words you spoke to Scarlet about not being scared, I heard them in my head in your actual voice 🙂
I can’t wait to get to your post today!! I wish I had written more. Done more. Taken more photos. There’s always next year, I suppose.
And that is a great favorite thing! I admit it’s so different to read comments/blogs now that I can picture you! A good weird!
sounds like you had a great time 🙂
I did! It was just a crazy experience – exhausting and enlightening.
What a lovely recap! Sounds like a life changing experience!
Truly life changing. In so many ways. And it’s hard to really think about because I have so much going on in life right now, but all good things.
So glad that you had such a good time. I LOVE blog conferences for many reasons, but the number one is the chance to connect with other bloggers (even though the material can be fantastic). I enjoyed seeing your tweets and photos from BlogU. I am glad you had a good time! I am going to my first BlogHer conference this year and I am a little nervous about it being overwhelming.
I so wish I could go to BlogHer! Maybe next year. It’s on my birthday this year and near my favorite city so I thought it was perfect but I have too much going on this summer.
I can’t wait to hear about it!
So there are two reasons why I love reading this. One is that I love how you have breathed life into friends and familiar faces that I have yet to meet in person. And isn’t it such an amazing feeling to meet in person? And connect on that level as if you’ve known each other for so long? The other reason is that this makes me a little giddy. I’m heading to my HS reunion this weekend but first hanging out with some blog friends – one whom I have briefly met and the other I have not met – and I’m excited to just sit and talk with them. And then there’s that whole feeling of walking into my reunion which I imagine much like you described arriving at BlogU. Next time, take me with you? 🙂
Oh, anytime!! Anytime! I’m still waiting for BlogHer to be on the east coast. Maybe next year. Maybe NYC. Maybe Boston. Maybe you and me?
This was perfect. Beautifully written and I’m so happy that we were able to achieve our goal of really, truly connecting women with each other.
It was so awesome. You’ve got so many people talking about next year and I can’t wait to dig into the notes I took and apply them.
And so many new FB friendships!
looks like you had fun! i love conferences – the energy, food, etc.! I imagine a blog conference would have such elements as well. 🙂 PS – love that photo with the roller coaster!
I really want to go to more now! I have the blog conference sickness.
Wow, it sounds like a great time! I’ve never been to a blogging conference, but it would be so cool to meet the people behind the blogs 🙂
It’s super awesome. I found that the ones I’m closer to were pretty spot on to how I thought. The others looked/behaved totally different!
I guess the consistent reading and vlogs really do help.
I’m so glad you decided to stay, and be able to share your awesome conference experience with us! I’m looking forward to attending my first conference, and in thinking about it, I get nervous. I’m sure I’ll be anxious and maybe even want to leave like you, but I know at the end of the day I will be able to learn so much to better my blog. You’re a really trooper for staying on top of posting, all while having such a full and tiring weekend! You go girl! 🙂
I am surprised I’ve been able to still post. I thought for sure I’d be taking it easy all week, but I think I really needed to get all of this out.
Clearly!
I am up way past my bedtime but I had to read the whole post and all of the comments. I have been somewhat stunned into silence, I think, from this past weekend. It was amazing for many reasons and I’m still thinking it all through. Meeting everyone and seeing you again…I cannot put it better than you have here. It’s breathing life into something that seems real, but now I know it’s really real. My mind is a sieve or I’d quote back to you the many things you said that stopped me in my tracks and made me laugh hysterically. Fortunately for me – I can hear your voice as I read this post and it’s a little bit magical. The whole experience was a little bit magical.
PS – If I get brave enough on twitter – or get another troll, I’ll tag you. Haters gon’ hate, the least we can do is laugh at them.
It was so magical. And I’d love to hear if you remember anything I said that was funny. We were around so many funny bloggers and my blog isn’t really that funny. Maybe sometimes.
I think you now know how vulgar I am in real life!
Really hard to sort out these feelings, even days later.
I still laugh at the twitter joke. Every day.
Love this post and so super happy that you got to meet so many precious blogging friends!!! Sounded as good as I would imagine! I thought this would be the year I would attempt to get to a conference – but so far I’ve just blogged less and less and feel disconnected:( But – summer is here, lots to look forward to and will live vicariously through your awesome tales!
I thought I’d be going to many conferences this year! Now I think one, maybe two if I can swing it. It’s a bit like a fever, though. I just want to meet more of my friends in person and learn a lot too.
I love that you connect with people so easily and completely. It is entirely the opposite of me. There is some envy there. On my part. I do think it’s pretty funny that Scarlet was sending you toilet icons. Maybe she was concerned you might vomit. LOL
I’m a lot in real life like I am here. I can be anxious and even shy on occasion. These connections keep me going.
The toilet icons were keeping it real!
Wow Dana was there too! Yay! Was that your first time meeting her in person? How fun was all of this to have connected with all of these people? So happy you got to have this experience, Tamara!
You weren’t the only one who couldn’t sleep Friday night! We were all so anxious and excited and nervous and everything else. I’m so glad you stayed, and truly adore this wrap-up of your experience.
That looks so exciting! I used to look at other people’s pictures from blog conferences and just shrug, but this time, looking at yours, I get all excited because I know those people!!