Thankful for Connections

I started blogging about 5 1/2 years ago. At first, I was pretty much talking to myself and I read only a few other blogs. I slowly gained more readers, mostly local people that I either already knew or that I found through the blogs I read. And what ended up happening, over about a two year period was that I got to know, meet and befriend a bunch of people in Nashville/Middle Tennessee that I would have never known had it not been for blogging*.

It was a lot like Internet dating. You would read someone's blog for weeks or months or even longer, form an online relationship with them and when you finally got to meet in person, it was as if you'd never not known each other. And through those relationships, some really neat things started happening.

About 2 1/2 years ago, I met Alli. Alli had started a website and I began writing for it, then she brought me on as a editor. The website spawned a conference called BlissDom and I got the opportunity to meet bloggers from around the country. In March of '09, I got to host an IRL (in real life) blog party where a very talented and beautiful singer/songwriter came to my house to perform for the guests! In September of '09 I attended another blogging conference. This past summer, I got to go to Los Angeles for a movie press junket and I met Zac Efron!

Alli's famous picture pose

There have been all sorts of fun, unexpected things that have come out of this blogging "hobby". And the best part has been the people.

When I started with Blissfully Domestic, Robin was also an editor and I got to meet her at the very first BlissDom. Robin lives in Chattanooga but the last time we saw each other was in Asheville, NC (because that's how we roll!) Tomorrow, I get to hang with Robin in her 'hood for a fun, blogger event hosted by Therapon. (Robin became involved with Therapon because of a connection she made through blogging for (in)courage!) I will travel to Chattanooga with Tori, another local blogger who has become a friend. At the event, I get to hang with Jessie, who used to live in Nashville but is now a Chatty girl.

Me and Robin at Type-A Mom conference

I'm so very thankful for all the connections I've made over the past few years; for the relationships that have been formed and the opportunities that have come my way.

*The one drawback to these kinds of posts is that I can't identify everyone I've ever met through blogging, it would take all day for me to list and link them. Rest assured, I have great affection for you all. And even as generalized as this post has been in it's recounting of history, I have been overwhelmed with many memories. Laissez les bons temps rouler!