Thursday, May 29, 2008

Visible Invisible Friends

Although I haven't been writing about it, because of all the sick-kid-birthday-party-going-back -to-work drama around here, the Festival of Homiletics is still very much on my mind. It was, of course, great (although, I must say, not great enough to go to every year, especially when it's a gazillion miles away in Hotlanta).

The coolest part was getting to meet all you formerly invisible friends. Now, you'd think, wouldn't you, that - since we CAN over the internet - that we'd put our very best selves out here. I mean, who would know if we were exagerrating our good bits just a little?

But to a woman, the invisible (now visible) friends that I met in Minneapolis were actually COOLER than their blogs would have us believe.

Take Inner Dorothy or Cheesehead, for example. You might not guess that in real life, they are like the epitomes (um, how DO you pluralize that?) of glamor. They both have great hair AND kind personalities. I mean, how often do you find both of those in one person?

St. Casserole, for another example, does NOT, as you might erroneously think from her blog name, wear those sweatshirts with the fake little collars and the cardinals appliqued on them. Instead, she walks around in these gorgeous flowy outfits, looking like Meryl Streep going on safari.

Peacebang, for another example, is not only a TV star. She's also a great chick to have a beer and a conversation with.

And, Magdalene, for even another example, is like just as super smart and as totally warm (and how often do you experience THAT in the same person?) in person as you'd think from her blog, but even MORE so.

I really enjoyed dinner with the revgals (oh! the abundance of a couple dozen of us all in one room!). J and I sat near Backwoods Rev and Pink Shoes and She Rev. Even if I dont read their blogs regularly, I felt in a funny way like I knew them -- it was sort of like having dinner with friends.

Well, it's probably not a good idea to name some bloggers, because there is the risk, I guess, of leaving out some others (like Diane or By the Sea or Little Mary or Singing Owl or...). But whether you read your name or not, I'm just so grateful for each of you, and so impressed.

Thanks for becoming visible.

7 comments:

more cows than people said...

soooo jealous.

i am glad that you an irl friend of mine got to meet a few other irl friends of mine because you all rock totally.

Diane M. Roth said...

I enjoyed people too, and felt bad that I didn't get to connect with more of you.

Great to meet you in the real world, Juniper!

Jules said...

I have to say that you are the very, very first person to ever refer to me as "glamorous". That tickles me, somehow.

I was so excited to see you that (I don't know if you noticed or not, but) I was in the middle of a conversation with a famous preacher (one of our presenters) when I saw you in the corner of my eye and dropped the famous preacher like a hot rock to give you a hug!

I've since e-mailed the famous preacher an apology, but I'm so glad I spotted, then hugged you!

Magdalene6127 said...

Well, I just don't know what to say, except, right back at you Juniper! It was a blast.

YOU GOT TO MEET PEACEBANG! I kept hoping Little Mary and I would run into her, because Little Mary was dressed in this rockin' outfits. Alas!

And, gentle readers, Juniper is even more thoughtful, gentle and enthusiastic irl than on the blog... which seems impossible, I know, but there it is!

It was great.

Diane M. Roth said...

I would second that statement, mags.

Sue said...

Glamorous? Moi?

Juniper, that's so sweet! I was so very delighted to meet you. You're right though - there is a certain intimacy with bloggers that doesn't happen with perfect strangers. When you have read about someone's life, you feel like you know them, at least a bit. It makes the real life thing even more special.

Diane M. Roth said...

hey, I tagged you for a meme over at my place. for when you have the time.