I'm Not Afraid, Either

When I discovered, lo so many months ago, that there would be a BlogFest in Virginia, well.

My heart just did little pitty pats.

Although my sense of geography isn't stellar, I was able to realize that there was potential for much visitin' with some of my favorite bloggers ever. She would be at the LoveFest (she did not disappoint) but she and she would be in the general vicinity.

Or at at least it looked like it on GoogleMaps.

I cannot tell you why I find it so exciting to put a face to the people who live in my computer. But I do. I think it maybe because I sound like such a dork in e-mails; maybe if you were to meet me in person I would have the opportunity to show you that I'm an endearing dork.

Truth be told, I have spend the better part of this morning trying to figure this quirk out (the meeting part, not the dorkdom)- and still can't really wrap my head around it. Maybe, like a lot of other things, it's just better left inarticulated.

After some furious back-and-forth emailing, I was able to wrangle a face-to-face meeting with the fantastically sassy and altogether lovely Not Afraid To Use It. We (OK, just me...) will forever refer to this meeting as the Great Panera Summit of Ought Nine (See what I mean? Dork Alert!).

NATUI and I have been blends (blog + friend = blend) since I first started writing. I'm not quite sure how our paths crossed, but man oh man, I'm sure glad they did. She and I share a similar sense of humor which can readily be shorthanded (i.e. merely having to say the line from a movie -no further explanantion required), and she is quite possibly one of the most intelligent, introspective, decent people I have ever had the privelege to know.

Reading her posts, something immediately resonated with me. She is a mom of two small children, stuck in the back of beyond, knowing no one in her community.

I have been that mom. I got it. I was the mom who gave up her 'career' (such as it was), who spoke candidly, who didn't fit in, who wasn't ready to bow to the clique, who was perceived as the uppity city girl. It was the loneliest damn year of my life.

When I started to read her musings, I loved the fact that she was - indeed - not afraid to use that keen mind of hers, consequences be damned. All I wanted to do was to give her a big hug and tell her that it would all eventually shake itself out. Without too much comprimise or conformity.

Having traveled cross-country with my erstwhile companion and press secretary, I knew that I couldn't pass up the chance to meet, even if it meant giving up part of my BlogFest itinerary and driving 4 hours to meet (as would she).

So it came to be.

Representing Canada: BvonB.
Representing BFN: NATUI.

Check it out on Wikipedia: The Great Panera Summit of Ought Nine (Really!).
(not.)

Not only was I fortunate enough to meet her and her charming husband, I was honored to be mesmerized by her two beautiful children, LittleBird:

as delicate and ethereal as a fairy princess...

and LittleMan:
Their demeanor, their openness, their sweetness is heartwarmingly delicious, and a real testament to the loving upbringing they are experiencing and to how genius their mom is. If I could have bottled those moments we shared snuggled together, I could make a fortune. Instead, I'll just have to be satisfied with waiting for that drawing that LittleBird promised me, and with always being reminded of LittleMan whenever I wear my 'Woggle Goggles'. Sigh.

You didn't need my hug, NATUI. I can see for myself that you are strong and resilient and all-around kickass.

You are doing just fine. I'm not afraid to say it.