So, BlogHer. New York.

I should probably start off this recap by telling you that I attended exactly zero panels at the conference, so what I learned at BlogHer was a bit less academic, if blogging can really be called that at all. The complete lack of attendance was brought to you by the change in time zones, overnight flights and my need to sleep. Plus, friends who peer pressured me into doing things like going to New York deli/bakeries and um, sitting in their hotel room.

Thankfully I’m a student so my ticket was cheap. Next year I will probably try harder. Maybe.

What I did do in New York, at BlogHer, was absolutely awesome. I know that all 2000+ of the attendees will have walked away with something different and many will not be as pleased as I was, as I am, with this weekend. But this is just my version, a small sliver of what I walked away from this weekend with.

In New York I made new friends, I saw and bonded with old ones.

I met people I’ve long admired, I came to admire many others.

I went to parties where I laughed more than I have all year.

I hugged friends and quietly cried when I left them.

I remembered how important this community of women (and a few men) really is to me.

I was re-invigorated in my writing, I was inspired to push myself to write more. More truthfully, more honestly, more freely, with more humor and more tears.

I was reminded of some of the ugliness of blogging and I was awakened to more of the beauty too.

I danced on a bed with some of my dearest friends in real life.

I gave a foot massage to another.

I had a conversation with someone I’ve never met that I can honestly say may have changed a big part of my life.

I met a Canadian who brought me maple syrup from her homeland. And said aboot.

I got blisters walking to a dinner at an awesome restaurant with a really fantastic group of writers, friends.

I got spit up and coffee on my pants, courtesy of one of my favorite kids. And then I got new pants because I’d only packed the one pair.

I had an opportunity presented to me, one that I can’t even share with you yet.

With the exception of accidentally blurting out (to her face) that the last time I’d met a pretty awesome blogger was when she was drunk at BlogHer last year and making a terrible (apology worthy) first impression with another, I have no regrets this weekend. Except that I didn’t get to meet everyone. That I couldn’t take more of it in. That it had to end.

I guess I do have regrets, but they’re the best kind.

There are more stories yet to be told. More silliness and seriousness unshared. I’m still taking it all in, still savoring these memories like the rare beauty that they are. Parcelling them out because I want to cling to them just a little bit longer. I hope you’ll be patient with me as I let you into this past weekend. These memories and lessons that I learned. The love I felt and shared.

And moments like this one, which need no explanation at all.

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