Worlds colliding. 

It’s an expression we use to describe what happens when parts of our lives, once divided, come together in a dramatic way.  I can’t think of a better way to describe the past week. 

Those who know me well know I stay busy in my “real” day-to-day life, but that I also spend a great deal of time “online”.  I would hazard a guess that many have no idea what that really means.

But I do.  I know that the connections and friendships I’ve been making online the last year and a half are real, even if they have so far only existed through a bunch of computer wires.  I have written before about the truth online, and I stand by what I wrote.  You get what you give…in real life and online.

So.  The time came to shine a real life light on my online world.  A conference in NYC called BlogHer ’10 would bring together people I was working for, and with; people who had published my writing, people with whom I had talked, laughed, ranted and shared.  What would it be like?  (Amazing.)  Would the connections hold?  (Yes, they would.)  Would meeting in person make a difference?  (Yes, it did.)  I would find out.  I took a deep breath and bought a ticket, booked my flight.

It was the craziest, most amazing thing, every time I met someone that previously I had only known online.  Eyes meeting, recognition dawning and that live greeting and hug, hearing a person’s voice I’d never heard anywhere except in my head as I read their writing…amazing. 

The irony is that for all we do online, there is no replacement for the moment you meet in person.  Yet, every person I hugged this weekend I met online.  My mind is still going in circles. 

I have so much more to write about the conference, New York City, the people, and of course…photos to come.  Soon, soon!

Cheers!

PS:  By the way, I’m not done yet.  I have a need-to-hug list, and I haven’t met everyone on it yet.  Some of you are still out there, you know who you are!