Taking one dimension and adding two more created a roller coaster of giddy, irreverent, joyous and cantankerous feelings over the past three days and as I sat exhausted, dehydrated and yes, lonely in the early morning airport hours all I could think was how lucky I am.
I met amazing women this weekend, women I cried with, shared incredibly important memories with, flirted with, and connected with. I had the honor of wandering the streets of Chicago with three extraordinary women and we all fell into a bit of magic along the way. Palms were read and truths were spilled onto the sidewalk. I had the immense joy of sitting around a bar with most of Mommy Bloggers Toronto and I might attest that a room had never felt so bright. I got to hug and connect with old and new friends and realize there was never quite enough time to feel like it was enough. I spent a balmy outdoor night learning more about a wild woman's heart. And I shared a room and much of the weekend with two of the most beautiful women in the world who welcomed me with open arms and open hearts from the moment we said hello.
I know there will be a lot of Blogher posts floating around this week and I sit here slightly torn about how to express the joy without shutting the door on those who couldn't come. I realized that not talking about it would be doing such an injustice to the women I met and talking about it too much would do the same to the ones I hope I get to meet in the future. But it's an example of what exists through blogging. Opening our eyes and hearts to those we'd never run across otherwise and how much I'd be missing out on if not for all of you.
That didn't mean there weren't rough moments; awkward passings and a stumbling of words. Of not knowing how to react in large groups or how to jump through the veil of small talk into the deep emotions we so freely toss around while safely behind our computers. But even in those moments I learned about myself and the romanticizing I've done about how easy it would be to blur those borders and I decided I am okay with that too.
But mostly I felt like I'd have loved to have the weekend last just a bit longer. But what joy was on the other end of my arrival, toddler legs around my waist and a gorgeous hunk of a man who not only kept my child alive but cleaned the house and grocery shopped to boot.