11/13/12

The Blathering 2012

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I was reading one of the many stellar blog posts over at Swistle. As I scrolled through the comments, I found myself struck by one in particular because it was exactly what I was going to say, only better written. I clicked over to her blog and read for awhile and she started reading my blog and lo, an internet friendship was begun.

I think after a weekend in New Orleans sharing a bedroom where we chatted about breast engorgement in the wee hours of the morning, we can now officially drop the "internet" off that statement. We are now just plain old friends.

(Well she's vibrant and fresh-faced, I'll take the mantle of plain and old.)
I signed up for The Blathering, which is a yearly social event with a bunch of blogging and twittering ladies, basically because Marie Green was going. And Hillary and Michele. And a whole bunch of other women who I couldn't claim to know but whose writing I've read for a long time. One night on Twitter, people were talking about it and it sounded like it would be a fun way to meet a lot of bloggers. (If you were the type of person who is extroverted enough to meet 60 strangers. Which I am NOT.)

I signed up on a whim and almost immediately regretted it. A sour feeling in my stomach deepened as the trip approached. What was I thinking, going to a large group social weekend where I knew no one and most of these ladies already knew each other? Would I spend the weekend awkwardly lurking on the sidelines of the conversations of old friends or sitting alone in my hotel room reading a book?

Some wonderful ladies and me, NOT sitting alone in a hotel room or lurking on the sidelines. (Too much.)
I am so relieved to report that I had a blast. Everyone I met (though I will admit I didn't meet everyone. So! Many! Great! Ladies!) was so friendly and fun. New Orleans was stinky and sticky but full of history and color and delicious fried food. It was the perfect backdrop for our weekend.


We walked ourselves sore and ate ourselves ill and talked ourselves hoarse. And if the amount of facial hair removal that was needed on Monday morning was any indication, I felt perfectly comfortable with these ladies.


It was pretty darn perfect.

You know how you read someone's blog and you think you know them? Or want to know them?

Well, you kinda do. And you definitely do.

(PS. Next year's Blathering is in Charleston South Carolina. Sounds pretty great, yes?)

16 comments:

Mama Bub said...

It was so genuinely great to meet you. I'm already planning the sweet talking to get myself to Charleston next year!

Jen said...

It was lovely meeting you!!! You are adorable & delightful :)

Michelle said...

I am so happy I finally got to meet you. You are just as lovely in person as you are on the blog.

Sarah said...

Is it seriously in Charleston?! Cuz, see, my big sister lives there and I NEVER make it down to visit her and you know, I could totally kill two birds with one stone next year! I am THERE. NEXT YEAR IN CHARLESTON, people!
I'm really glad you had fun and didn't hide in your room, also. :)

twisterfish said...

I have decided that I am going next year. Can't wait!

clueless but hopeful mama said...

Sarah and twisterfish - you're both coming next year? OOooooh that makes it extra enticing! SO FUN!

Gina said...

Sounds like so much fun (and full of delicious food too!). But also scary - meeting lots of new people.

I will have to think about going some year when I don't have an up all night nursing baby.

Heather said...

It was lovely to meet you!

Jessica said...

You were one of my favorite people I met this weekend. I loved hanging out with you!

Sara said...

Hiiiiii! It was so lovely to meet you (and yes, I have been reading you for a while...did I not mention that? No? Ahem.) Anyhow, now that the stalker thing is off the table, we didn't have enough time to get to know each other but it was great fun chatting.

Until Charleston...

Jennie said...

You were one of my absolute favorite new "meets" and I just wish we could have talked all night. I really loved our conversation and it reminded me so much why I love the Blathering, smart women talking about real things.

I hope you'll come back next year.

XO

momof3 said...

I am so proud of you for going! What a great story!!!

maggie said...

I seriously could have hung out with you and Sarah all weekend and I'm still a little disappointed that I DIDN'T. I would LOVE to see you next year!

Arwen said...

Jenna, I really loved meeting you! You're so friendly and fun to talk to. I knew I wouldn't get to spend lots of time with everyone but I was seriously bummed that you were at the other end of my table Saturday night. :-/ Next year!

k said...

Meeting you was a treasure and I hope we will have more time to talk in person next year.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I was SO glad that I got to meet you and that we had a few moments to hang out. You were such a bright spot in the weekend and I hope you make it to Charleston next year so we can talk about your dancing and you can fill me in on your little gals! :)

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