Blogging IRL

Over the weekend, a new acquaintance asked me why I blog.

I was a bit surprised by the question, but after I collected myself, I think I rambled off an answer that may or may not have been coherent.

I blog because I am a writer and I love to write. I blog because I want to collect the everyday stories that form a portrait of motherhood. I blog because I don’t want to forget the fleeting, sweet, frustrating, precious moments that fill our days. I blog because I need to vent about the moments I desperately want to forget.

And I blog because on the internet—a place more often populated by trolls and bitter forum-members—I have found a community that makes me feel heard, understood and supported. 

Last week, I got to meet some of these witty, creative, driven, passionate folks in real life. 

Meeting online friends—in person

I spend a lot of time at my computer—that goes along with the territory of making my living as a writer. So it follows that I converse with people by typing, either via email, Facebook, texting or Messenger.

It was a beautiful change of pace, then, to meet up with Ali. Ali is the whip-smart and hilarious mama behind Run, Knit, Love. I never miss her posts. So when she suggested we actually meet—gasp!—in person, I felt a little bit like when the cute, popular boy asks you to dance in middle school.

(Well, what I imagine that to feel like. This awkward wallflower hid in the bathroom during almost every slow song to save the embarrassment of not having someone to spin in slow circles with.)

We met up with our kids in tow at the Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy‘s open gym. Our chatting was interrupted every time I had to hoist Peeper out of the giant foam ball pit or coax her out of harm’s way under the slide, but it felt so good to solidify a connection. Ali and I have tons in common even beyond our roles as mothers, and seeing her—not just her screen-self—felt genuinely good.

The blogging world IRL

I also attended a Valentine’s Day meetup organized by the Portland Bloggers. Kiwi joined me as I chatted up the writers behind many of the blogs I’ve been reading and following for years. Kiwi even got to meet another blog baby, the son of Jenni—the mastermind behind A Well Crafted Party.

IMG_6064Portland Bloggers Valentine's Day meetupPortland Bloggers Valentine's Day meetupI didn’t bring and hand out business cards. I failed to “network.” But I succeeded in meeting new people and reconnecting with those I’d met before.

We spend so much time tapping on keyboards and staring at HD screens that connecting with people face-to-face is a real treat.

The weekend felt so good that I realize I need to meet my online friends IRL more often.

Who’s in?

11 thoughts on “Blogging IRL

  • February 17, 2016 at 10:00 am
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    I would love to see you IRL sometime when I’m visiting Portland or if you visit Eugene 🙂 Also it sounds like you’re doing a pretty awesome job of building community with other bloggers.

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    • February 17, 2016 at 12:32 pm
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      Yes! I’d love that. It would be so fun to get our littles together!

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  • February 17, 2016 at 10:03 am
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    You are too sweet. Let’s meet up again soon!

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  • February 17, 2016 at 10:21 am
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    Blogging meetups are so much fun! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to make one for a while, due to a variety of reasons, but I do keep an eye out in case one does fit into my schedule.

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  • February 17, 2016 at 10:56 am
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    Awww… I miss the Portland Blogging community! That’s definitely something I’m bummed about since moving away!

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    • February 17, 2016 at 12:33 pm
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      We do have something special here! We miss you and your cute munchkin, too, Susannah.

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  • February 17, 2016 at 1:51 pm
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    I was so disappointed to miss the Portland Bloggers brunch, and now I read that there were cute babies too!? Next time!

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  • February 17, 2016 at 7:51 pm
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    So cool that you were able to connect with the other PDX bloggers! There is a collection of long-term travel bloggers in PDX; my partner and I were able to connect with a few of them IRL last summer. It was surprisingly therapeutic. Actually, most things IRL are surprisingly therapeutic these days. 🙂

    Reply

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