life is but a dream

You know how when you go on vacation, real life recedes after a few days?  And then when you're back in your daily reality, the vacation itself feels like a distant dream?

Right.

Four days in New York City, seeing the sights in mad dashes around the city, and being immersed in a community of women (and a few men), 2500 strong, that I've lived on the fringes of for over two years, was a trip.  In a trippy sort of way. 

I got to spend more time with my adored sister, whom I consider the writer in our family, four days after she and my nieces left my home to return to theirs 3000 miles away.  With my sister, I shared a hotel room with a dear friend whom I'm lucky to know and admire in the real world.

I got to meet seriously splendid women (Stacey, Issa, Kari, Caitlin) for chats in hallways and over frozen hot chocolates at lunch.  Others I met in fly-bys that made me wish for more time (Christy, Anna, Kate) and ponder next year in San Diego.  Ladies, I am so grateful for you.

I got to see my art piece beside other stunning photos in the Voices of the Year Art Exhibit and auction (due to go online soon), which will benefit Gulf Coast restoration.  I met and had a book signed by the talented (and adorable) Kate, from whom I recently purchased a print that is one of my prized possessions.

I attended sessions which inspired me, made me laugh, and filled me with gratitude that I have the opportunity to blog about my own little world, while around the globe women are putting their lives at risk to get their messages of freedom and change out to as many as will read it.  The breakfast panel on international activism with a radical, blunt, funny blogger from the middle east, a photo journalist from Sri Lanka, an Afghan woman gently sharing her voice despite the risks of doing so, and a Latin American activist was incredible.  I felt humbled and honoured to listen to their stories.

A few photos from the conference:

If you have trouble viewing the slideshow, go here.

And some from our whirlwind tour of NYC:

If you have trouble viewing the slideshow, go here.

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I started blogging two years ago as a way of joining a community I didn't know I was missing.  One of the people I most wanted to see at Blogher was not able to attend.  Annje and I somehow found each other within the first weeks of us both starting our blogs and over the next year established a true, albeit virtual, friendship.  She sent me an antique tea cup after I broke one of my grandmother's; I sent her a book of which I had two copies.  At different times we angled to meet in San Francisco, Portland, and at Pioneer Woman's ranch (long story).  We still haven't met in person and she is soon to move to Chile, but we are resourceful and if it takes me showing up on her doorstep in Chile, then so be it.  I missed you, pal.

My newer photographic community in the Flickr world, led by my cross-country friend Tammy and culminating in mortal muses, is one that I am also grateful for.

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And now.  I am done.  Literally.  I'm going to bed.  This past week was a marathon, as was this post.
Nighty night.