My final Blathering post

Oh, you thought I was done gabbing about my fun weekend escape to Sacramento, didn't you? Well, it would seem you thought wrong! Hey, if food gets an entire post devoted to it, some of the coolest ladies I've ever met deserve at least the same.

I wish there was a real way to do this post justice without 1) making the entire Internet roll its eyes in unison and 2) using plenty of adverbs and adjectives and EXCLAMATION! POINTS! And, look, you're rolling your eyes again.

We all blog because we enjoy the outlet, we enjoy the community, we really enjoy putting something somewhat vulnerable and personal into the abyss of CSS code and hearing back, "Yes, I feel the exact same way." It's downright cool to meet someone who lives in Sacramento or Vermont or even the same small Texas town you live in solely because of a wireless connection and a URL address. It's beautiful to have your son go through something pretty scary and be met with resounding support from people who care about your kid. That's ... that's really something.

It's also really something to sit around a moonlit tablescape with a dozen or more bloggers, most of whom you've never met, throwing back wine like its water and realizing, Yeah, it's pretty warm out right now, but I have goosebumps. And I'm laughing so hard, I can't breathe.

The Blathering was magical, and not because we all clicked and became instant friends -- although that was cool, yes -- but because we all walked through Elizabeth's front door feeling welcome and wanted. We didn't feel silly about being there or like we walked in on someone else's inside joke. We felt like we were all invited, no matter how many comments we bring in on our blog or how many Twitter followers we've racked up. There were no pretensions. We were ourselves and it was enough. Yes, it was magical.

Saturday night we had a fancy dinner, then drinks and then a stop in a gay bar. Now, we all come from different walks of life and we all properly warned each other that some ladies were raging liberals and some were, um, not raging liberals, but each woman got out on that dance floor and shook their ass to Michael Jackson's "Bad" and no one felt self-conscious or silly or judged. We all threw our arms up together, and we danced like we were friends.

By then, we all were.

Let me show you:

The day I got home, I was already thinking about where we'd meet up next year. The day I got home, I texted and twittered and e-mailed and missed those women.

We will be meeting up next year, oh yes, and I hope you'll come, too. I can promise, we're all excited to meet you.

Comments

[Rachel]

What a fun get-together!! I love blogging, and it is such a great outlet. I love that you posted about your trip! :)

[Liz]

Howdy hey...found my way here from Emily's blog and I have to say...could you BE more awesome?!?

Funny, biting wit, fiercely devoted spouse and mother and smart dog owner...great mix of optimism/realism...and the kicker- blog named after a wideawake song?!

If you were a man, or I happened to be a lesbian, my husband might have something to worry about! (well, if I happened to be a lesbian, I suppose my husband would already HAVE something to worry about, but you get my point)

I love, love, love wideawake...saw them at mixfest a few years ago and was big time hooked. I've had SLP, bigger than ourselves, and everyday rockstar on my mp3 player for years and I play them so often it's a wonder I've not burned the thing up.

So, to recap...YOU are awesome. Your baby is S Freaking Cute. You have KILLER taste in music:

[Camels & Chocolate]

Oh, if I had a penny for every time Moose stole the show on the dance floor (devil horns and all...or are they cat ears?), I'd be one rich miser.

[She Likes Purple]

Devil horns, Kristin! And, my god, no one could wear them better.

[Kristie]

And now I'm sad because it's been almost TWO WEEKS since the dancing and the wine drinking and I wanna do it again. Maybe we could make it a monthly get together? Wouldn't my wallet HATE that!?

[maggie]

I watched those 42 seconds in FEAR. But it turned out okay. I now approve for all audiences.

[Elizabeth]

I can't bring myself to watch it!
But I do miss all of you so much. And I am already planning next year.

[Amy --- Just A Titch]

I miss you guys so much, it's disgusting. I was lucky enough to hang with Elizabeth last night, and that was awesome, but a small part of me kept hoping that it was a big surprise and all of YOU would just be waiting there, too, with big glasses of wine and devil horns. It was a magical weekend. CAN'T WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR.

[Sara @ Belle Plaine]

I already told Maggie this, but I am SO in for next year. I tried so hard to convince my husband this was a worthy cause this year but you know, money, blah blah, mortgage, blah blah. But next year? Game on.

[Danielle]

I am really praying I can meet some of those wonderful ladies next year. So glad you guys had such a great time! And great food! And dancing to MJ! And EXCLAMATION POINTS!!! (don't you hate extra punctuation? LOL)

[barbetti]

Well, I am pretty embarrassed to see my so-called dancing in that video. There is a reason that Steve and I have NEVER danced together. NOT ONCE. Not even at our WEDDING.

[Manda]

My LAWD Amber is a good dancer! It wasn't just the bright lights and the booze! Ha ha!
I missed that weekend A LOT this week. SIGH.