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I’m using this week’s Pour Your Heart Out to tell you how much I love you.
No, really. I do.
When I first started this blog, it was just an outlet for me to rant where I didn’t have to worry about what friends or family would say.
I didn’t blog very often and didn’t really put any thought into it.
I didn’t read other blogs or do anything to get anyone to read mine. Because I didn’t really get blogging.
To me, it was more like an online journal. Free therapy.
But, about 9 or 10 months ago, I started reading other blogs. Following. Commenting. Relating to them.
And that led to people finding my blog. Following. Commenting. Relating to me.
And then I got it. I understood this blogging thing.
Getting to read your blogs and find out how much all of us have in common.
Or being able to better understand our differences.
Putting something out there that I sometimes think, “OMG, I can’t believe I’m admitting to this” and having the overwhelming response be “ME, TOO!” or at least acceptance. You know, except for a few trolls, but we just ignore them.
I love the conversations. The emails back and forth where we get to know each other better. If you’ve never had an email from me after a comment you left, you are no-reply and should fix that.
When I talk about you, I don’t say “Oh, this girl who writes this blog, she told me that….” I say “My friend told me that….”
Because that is the way that it feels.
I’ve had the chance to meet a few of you IRL and it doesn’t feel weird. It feels like you are seeing a good friend again. Not for the first time, but again.
I’m actually headed to meet the fabulous Princess of Sarcasm this afternoon. Even though I didn’t even know her real name until a few days ago. Though she tells me that I’ve known for months. I guess I just have a bad memory. Shell can be bribed with massive amounts of money for this secret information. Okay, not really, because she could out me, too.
But, a while back, I would have thought OMG, I’m going to meet someone that I only know from the internet? That’s insane. Now, though, it just feels normal. Even if I am a little nervous. After all, I’m meeting royalty. And I have really bad roots right now. And I’ll be in a swim suit. And have my children with me, who could decide to royally misbehave, just for fun.
Btw, I only have this morning to visit blogs, so I’ll have to do some catching up tomorrow, since I’ll be off on my royal visit around noon. If you link up and/or comment today, I promise you a visit tomorrow.
And I know you’ll understand.
Because blogging does feel like a community, like friends, like family- the blogfia.
Because of all of you.
So, thank you. Thank you for being a friend….yes, I totally had to go there with the Golden Girls theme song. Oh yes, I did.
I feel the same.
It really does amaze me how much you can relate to people you've never met. I find that the more blogs I follow and read, the more invested I get and then I feel like I NEED to read them to see how everyone is doing. It's a really amazing, unexpected connection.
Your kiddos royally misbehaving in front of royalty! I love it! (:
It's funny that I posted about you all reading my blog today and linked it up. I love this whole "bloggy" thing even if I don't "completely understand" it yet.
Have fun with the princess and much love to you, Shell! 🙂
It really is a community – being a relativeIy new blogger, I was surprised by that.
My husband rolls his eyes at me when I talk about "Sara" or "Salt" or "Shell" – but he doesn't get it, and that's cool, because I know that you all do!
lol everytime im telling my husband what one of you said or something on twitter i always say "my friend" haha!! Its wonderful im more than happy I started this! Have fun with the Princess!!
Aww, Shell thank you for being an awesome friend! You are so sweet and nice and we love you
Awww! I love all my blogging buddies too~ (even when I am a terrible blogger and don't post for weeks) I can come back and catch up and it's like I never left.
Great post =)
This has so surprised me about blogging. When I started, I thought it would be an isolating experience–just me and my computer. Then I discovered the blogging world. It's so incredibly social! I feel I've made a ton of friends over the last couple of months. It's been amazing!
Someday we will meet IRL! 🙂 Have fun and I will chat with you later!
I totally feel the same way! It is crazy. I love finding similarities and not feeling like am I the only who does this or feels like this? Real life friends are great, but sometimes I feel more open to my bloggy friends. Like I can tell them ANYTHING! Thanks for pouring your heart about this!!!
I love your sentiments here, Shell, and I am totally in agreement! I didn't get the whole blogging thing really, when i started. My early posts have very few comments on them; I didn't even know if anyone was reading… and then i started to meet people and make freinds. REAL friends! When my dad had a heart attack they prayed for him, when I was down and out under dpression, they sent me encouraging words 9and more prayers)… I have gotten to meet a couple of them, and YES it feels like we are old freinds. I think of you all as friends; I talk about "my friend such and such"… my hubby gets to hear the stories… there are overseas trips and hookups planned. I LOVE blogging. Not just the writing. The friends. Who would have thought??
PS I've linked up to a post I wrote in February that I came across the other day and I really like it 🙂
Wonderful post. I feel the same way. I often refer to my blogger friends as just "friends". And I celebrate with them, and grieve with them, just as if they were my neighbors.
I actually have a blog-friend coming to stay with me in the fall while she travels the country. I'm really excited about it, it will be my first "blogger meetup."
Awww, I feel the same way about my bloggy friends. I feel like I know some of them better than I do my real friends. We open up to each other and share our deepest thoughts we each other. It's great to have this community of ladies and some men to have in our circle. I can't wait to meet one or some of my IRL one day. Have fun girl. And so what if the boys act crazy or misbehave, that would be real. Boys will be boys.
That is so exciting that you are going to meet one of your bloggy buddies…I wish we were closer and we could all have a meet up at the beach with our kids!
have fun…
Awww! This is so true! I'm a new blogger, and already amazed how many interesting and amazing women I have met in such short period of time, and you're one of them! Thanks for such a great glass. 🙂
I say "my friend" too…sounds better.
I love blog-fia…MUCH better than blogosphere (which I hate).
I can't get your link to the Princess of Sarcasm to work 🙁
I feel the same way. Before this blog, I ran other one but never really got it until I started Life Without Pink. I really started reading other blogs, starting conversations and commenting. That's when it all clicked for me as well. I made some awesome friends that I now look forward to chatting with online.
This is a great post 🙂
Have fun!!! Meeting blog friends is the best! I never expected that part of blogging either…and I don't think some of my real life friends get it, but that's ok!! Hope that you and I get together again IRL!!
I love you too!
Mind your manners today.
:o) Have fun.
Oh I love you…it's true, you are my friend!!!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
It's weirdly disconcerting, but I think you're my twin. My journey has been so much like yours. The folks I've met are astoundingly wonderful people.
You were the #2 stop for me this morning. And that means alot if you remember our talk from last night 🙂
I like this post and from so many other posts like your Can You Change I will draw inspiration from this and do something similar down the line.
Thank you for being someone I can talk to outside of the comment box.
LOL at the Golden Girls reference.
Enjoy your time meeting The Princess. I know her name too…and Buster actually CALLED her once without me knowing. She got about five minutes of conversation on her voicemail. LOL
I got to meet one of "my friends" a few months ago. She went with me on a bus shopping trip to New York City and we had a BLAST!
Oh…and since we both live in NC I would love to get together and met you anytime! :OP
You never really get blogging until you do it. Even though I've never met them in person, I have a lot of bloggers that I consider friends. You included.
Thank you for being a friend! Yes, I will sing that all day now! 🙂
Enjoy your time in the company of royalty! I hope the boys behave.
I understand completely how you feel, and I agree! It's amazing the sense of community and support blogging can bring- it's also amazing how much we come to rely on it. I find I get concerned when some bloggers go on hiatus too long or lost when my schedule pulls me back from blogging a bit. It's amazing and so wonderful the connections blogging brings. I love this post!
I feel the same way Shell. I have met some wonderful friends here in the blogging world.
Agreed… and funny how in some ways, we all probably know each other better than some of the friends we see IRL every day, because we've shared some of our most personal feelings here…things we might not be comfortable sharing in person.
Enjoy your 'playdate' this afternoon!
I feel that way about blogging too.
awwwwww cute story, I feel the same way about blogging, I never knew it would mean so much to me, but being a stay at home mom and this blog being just about the only thing I do for myself, its a nice escape. And it really does feel like a community, friends and family…. "the blogfia" I love it!!!!
Word, sista! I feel much like you about the blogging world, and other online communities. I take ALL my friendships seriously. It's like each of you are an extension of my IRL family.
I'm fairly new to the blog world, but I'm already liking it a whole lot. I've met some awesome people and hope to meet more and make some "real" friendships out of it also.
I hope you have lots of fun at your meet-up this afternoon! I love when I get to meet other bloggers. I was scared the first time, but now I look forward to it!
i'm right there with you
i don't think i ever expected blogging to turn into what it has for me!
have fun today! roots, kids, and all!!
Some of the best friends I have in my life, I met in an online mom's group. Some of us met in person for the first time in 2003, it was one of the best experiences EVER!
I feel the same way. I love all my blog friends and talk about everyone as if I've known them for years. :o)
Have a fun visit! I hope to someday meet some of my "friends" too!
What an awesome thank you note! There are so many people Id love to meet in real life!!!!Not that blogging isn't "real" but ya know!
I hope you have a fabulous day with the Princess!
I hope you have a fun day meeting with royalty=0) I'm sure that you guys are going to have a blast!
xoxo,
Carol
ditto. blogging just… keeps gettin' betta! I love it! I can't believe how far out some of my favorites are spaced out and i feel like we were raised in the same casa!
have a good day!
And we love you too!! 🙂 I am proud to call you my 'Big sis' 🙂
I so had the same kind of revelation just a couple weeks ago–that blogging isn't just for me to write out my thoughts. Its about the community I've found myself in and the people I've met and grown to car about.
BTW – I've only recently just started following your blog, but I love it and I have an award for you over at my place http://bit.ly/bSZj7j
Awwwww!
I feel the same way. 🙂
Don't you love it?
I've met so many people through blogging who I consider to be real friends, although only one or two in real life.
I plan to work on that.
We're also glad to have you!
We love you too Miss Shell! Enjoy your royal visit!
I so agree with you. It is such a special connection with people when you blog and find others with the same problems or circumstances.
Thanks for doing this meme.
Lydia
Amen!
hope you enjoy yourself this afternoon
Blogging IS pretty amazing in SO many ways!
you just put into words exactly how I feel about this whole blogging business…
I'm so excited you are going to meet Princess! will there be pics? HAVE FUN!
This is the first time I participated and I really enjoyed myself. Thanks for hosting this. I feel the same way about blogging and I want to spend more of my time finding other bloggers who are interested in interacting and building friendships. I am off to play with the kids now, but hope to visit some more of these links later today! 🙂
That's so true about blogging. I'm kind of just starting to get into it but there's so many people on here that I just look forward to seeing what they're up to and such. It's a great thing to be a part of.
SO SO true! I've found some awesome blogs and even better women that I call friends through blogging. Blogging is pretty great!
Aaaand "ditto". 🙂 <3
aww, and i love you, too.
you dont know how many times blogging has prevented bloodshed in my household (wait, you do). as i keep saying, just the thought that I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS is already good enough…
thanks, shell, for being a friend 🙂
So so true. I'm glad I found your little piece of the blogosphere.
Love ya' girl! You are SO my friend!
To get to over 1,000 followers in such a short period of time Shell is such a huge achievement and is also testament to the fact that you are a true blogging friend to so many. Enjoy your day with a fellow blogging friend.
That is incredibly sweet and incredibly true. Many of my IRL friends don't get why I blog. But I get it. And that's all that matters!
Great post Shell! I feel the same way about the blog friends I've met. It's wonderful to have the support, even though we may never meet face to face. Honestly, some of my blog friends are more supportive than my real friends…go figure!
And yes….why can't everyone leave a reply email so I can comment back!?
I totally agree with you! I have met so many awesome ladies in the blog world and I have only been blogging for three months! I look forward to meeting more friends 🙂 hope the meeting went well!
Oooo I'm jealous! Have fun and I'm sure I will hear from you when you get back!
I know what you mean. It amazes me how much we all have in common and more amazing how we band together. Great post!
I agree with you. It's so much fun when friends come to visit! Great blog.
Yes! You get it…I love the CONVERSATION of blogging. 🙂 Thanks for the visit yesterday!
Hi Shell sweetie,
I sure have missed reading your blog. I hope you are doing well. I haven't logged in since school was officially out. I will catch up on your blog next week. Give your children a hug for me))))))))))
I fell the same way! Once I "got" blogging I couldnt get enough and know that I have made some lifelong friends
You have such a wonderful and unique blog. I love this pour your heart out…awesome 🙂 I am so new to blogging, trying to figure it all out. Nice to "meet" you, found you over at SITS.
Well, have fun! I thought blogging was ridiculous when I started…I only did it because my agent told me to. I love this little world. My hubby thinks I am crazy.
Love the Golden Girls Reference..Betty White is hot ya know!
Great Post!! We love you too!! Oh your meeting Princess?? JEALOUS… haha actually JEALOUS she's meeting you too!! You gals are great! Hope you have a fab time and blog about it!
Thank you for being MY friend, even though you have to dodge the poop that flies around my blog. The fact that you are willing to wade through the poop is a testament to itself. Haha. I hope you had a wonderful time meeting the Princess of Sarcasm!
awe, how sweet…blogging rocks.
Awe, how sweet. 🙂
I had a similar experience when I started blogging and it took me a while to 'get it' too.
My blog started out a bit more nitchy, (and it still is, to a point) but as with you, I found the 'community' aspect very appealing as well.
Thus, began my 'blogging identity crisis'! HA! I had to take some time to really stop and decide what I wanted my blog to 'be' :purely informational, OR personal?
I've decided, why not BOTH! 🙂 It's mine, after all!
Hope you had a grand ole time meeting your first blogging friend!
~h
I think people who don't blog just don't get it. I refer to my blog buddies as "friends" as well. For all the negative things people can say about the internet, it really is bringing the world together is amazing ways.
BTW – I posted a PYHO post this morning. I always seem to be late to the game. I'll link up next week if that's ok.
Oh, I hope you had a great time with your get together!
The blogging community is amazing, isn't it?
I took my infant to swim and we had so much fun! They looked so cute in their swimsuits. My son kept trying to impersonate Captain fantastic, lol. Great blog, really enjoy reading it. Keep it up