My good blogging friend Joanna Young came all the way from Edinburgh to be at SOBCon08, and happily, she added a few more miles to her trip to visit me in Geneva. (Hometown background courtesy of Robert Hruzek.)
It was incredible to actually meet her after two-plus years of virtual friendship. A phrase like “virtual friendship” sounds weird and newfangled, but really, there’s nothing all that new about blogging conversation. In the old days, we had pen pals. You’d put hours of thought into a letter to your pen pal. You wanted to speak from the heart and give voice to the ideas and feelings that really mattered to you. In fact, “pen pals” was a bit of a misnomer — people would forge deep relationships with their correspondents that lasted a lifetime, though they never met.
Blogging conversation, at its best, is like that. Thoughtful and genuine. When you can actually meet your pen pal, it’s icing on the cake.
That’s a very good analogy Brad. I really enjoyed meeting you too, and getting the chance to see you in your home town.
I was chatting about the trip to Geneva last night and Wendy Piersall (emom) overheard me… turns out she lives in West Chicago. She found it funny that she’d meet a nearby blogger through someone who lives thousands of miles away!
I love the way blogging helps us to see how big and small the world is at the same time.
Looking forward to seeing you again later
Joanna
Joanna, never met Wendy, but know who she is. Did not realize she lived out this way. BTW, I really like those pics you took of the skyline.
Wow, I can’t believe we finally all met in person! It’s great to be here in Chicago with so many friends!
Sounds like ya’ll are having a wonderful time. Enjoy!
Thanks, Lillie – wish you were here!! Bob, it was incredible getting together. I hope you, Director Tom, and Steve Sherlock take a picture swapping your hats. Have a great day at SOBCon.
Brad, Joanna, Robert, I’m so disappointed that I missed the party! I love how the blogosphere truly gives us an opportunity to be part of a community. Next gathering, I’m there and popcorn’s on me!
Hi Karen, hope we don’t have to wait til the next SOBCon.
It is great when you get the change to meet a “virtual” friend in reality, someone with whom you’ve been communicating with electrnically. I’ve had the chance to do this a couple times, and it’s amazing how different people are in reality, beyond their digitial self.
Hi Scotland Guy, Fun, isn’t it, to meet bloggers? There’s getting to be more opportunities with all the conventions and so forth.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..A Hat Tip to Blogs I Read in Silence