8/3/10

BlogHer '10: Tutus, Parties, Fame? and Perspective

Today I need to go pick up my tutu.

It has black netting and with a neon bright color underneath. The color is a surprise.

I will run through Central Park with my tutu on this coming Friday for the BlogHer 5k, raising money and awareness for Tutus for Tanner, a let's-kick-muscular-dystrophy's-ass organization. I'm really excited. Also. I plan to run like Phoebe in that episode of Friends, where she runs through Central Park with such wild abandon, flailing all over the place. And then Ellie, who will be with me, will have to play the part of Rachel in that episode and give my Free Limb style of running a chance. And then people will take pictures of us and I will crop them and put only a flailing Ellie's photograph on this here blog after chopping myself out of the picture. {evil laugh}

I have no time to be writing this. Just so you know. The list of things to do before I fly out tomorrow is growing and here I am, not working on the list but just telling you about it. This is how I roll, folks.

There is just so much to do and say, so much to think about. What matters most to me is not what shoes I wear or what parties I'm invited to. What matters to me is the fact that I get to see the faces of my friends. So many pen-pal-like friends that I would have never known if not for this crazy mixed up blogging world. What matters to me is that Maggie and I made this Serenity Suite thing happen, and now people have a place to go for a reprieve from the party madness, to sit in the quiet and talk, and then return to the squeeing droves rejuvenated.

It's an honor to have been nominated and then a finalist (thank you for voting!) for a BlogLuxe Award, but I will be totally fine with not winning it, should that be the case. I truly feel that those of you who have stuck with me for nearly three years and those of you who are new to this place are my shiny award. You rock the blog party.

It is an honor to be meeting with a literary agent to try to make this book thing happen, but if the book thing falls through at some point, I will still be content. The journey of writing is another layer to my story and I will always have the healing balm that writing brings, even if I never hold an actual finished and published book of my own in my hot little hands.

It's an honor to have been asked to interview for Project Mom Casting, and I will be myself and hopefully articulate my story well all while attempting to not make the weird faces I have a tendency to make while thinking, but I will truly be okay with it if I'm not chosen. My story will be here in my home and heart and shared with my family, and we all know that's what really matters.

I'm so excited to be seeing the Broadway show Fela! tomorrow night with a group of lovely bloggers who are also arriving in The NYC early. A big thank you to Kristen Howerton for making that happen.

I'll attend some private parties this year, but not because I think I'm somehow important. I'm a guest, mostly riding the coat tails of friends, and I'm okay with that, too. I refuse to see any of the gifts I've received through blogging as some sort of fame or notoriety. I mean, ask the first person on the street you see today if they read blogs and they will say NO. Sometimes bloggers need to remember that, but that doesn't mean that I'm belittling this creative venue. I love it here in BlogLand, I really really do. I'm simply making the point that our little subculture is exactly that, a world all its own that's mostly unknown. We can revel in this beautiful world if only we stay grounded.

So friends, if you're going to BlogHer this year and you feel small and insecure and you're having those moments of Oh my, what have I done I think I will just stay home and sit in the corner of my very own comfortable couch and ignore #BlogHer10 twitter banter while eating caramel corn and weeping while watching Where The Red Fern Grows with my bunny slippers on...

Please remember that we all have Rhinos. (Click on 'Rhinos' if you're getting nervous. I want to make you feel better.) Yes, big rhinos...every single one of us. Let's kick the rhinos out of the way and have a good time while remembering that we're truly all the same, shall we?

The bigger picture always helps. If you strip away all frivolity and stop focusing on popularity, readerships, awards and private parties, you are left with friendship. And won't it feel so good to finally see those faces?


Peace, and see you there!

P.S. My hours in The Serenity Suite (Room 4307) go something like this, if you'd like to come by to say hello, I'd LOVE to meet you-and even your rhinos:

Thursday evening: 9-ish
Friday: 1:30-3pm, 7pm-8pm, 9-10pm
Saturday: 6-7pm (I will be in and out throughout the day as well, randomly.)

16 clicked right here to comment:

Alexandra said...

Wow. Did not know you were being interviewed for Momcasting! What a thrill! Good luck, and I hope the process will be so fun.

This is an exciting project... Congratulations!

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

I'll miss seeing you (especially the Phoebe run- I can not WAIT to see pictures...) but I know we'll see each other again. Blogher is a perfect reality check that we're all just regular people, a let down for some, but a great relief to others. :)

Steph

Hyacynth said...

So glad you will have an interview for Mom Casting!
And so glad I read this ... We are all just people, regardless of how "big" or "small" we are in the blog world. Funny how you referred to this as the bigger picture ... I'm struggling to write about this sort of thing -- how small we really are-- for my Bigger Picture Moment this week. You said it so well.
Safe travels filled with wonderful conversation to you.

Tessa said...

Fela! is AMAZING!.....sorry but that caught my eye more than blogher. I'm still kind of lost and confused in this big blog world. I love NYC, friends, and authenticity. Hope you have an amazing time, can't wait to read about it.

Cameron said...

Have FUN, Mama! :) So excited for you. :)

Ellie said...

Wow! Lots of news tucked in this here post.

Congrats on your interview with Momcasting, and being a finalist for the Blogluxe award! You so deserve all the recognition, precisely because you have such an amazing perspective on all the recognition. You know I'll be cheering you on all the way (at BlogHer, I'll be cheering into your ear, as I'll likely be glued. to. your. side).

I'm so grateful to have your wise, grounded presence both in the real world and at BlogHer.

Did you ever read about the scientists who did an experiment with monkeys? They put one baby monkey in a cage with a wire mother, nothing cozy - just wire. They put another monkey in a cage with a wire mother, but this one was covered in nice, plush terry cloth. The monkey with the terry cloth Mom thrived, felt brave enough to explore its world. The other monkey just clung hopelessly to the cold, hard, wire mother, too afraid to venture very far.

You, my friend, are my terry cloth monkey.

-Ellie

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

So much to be glad about. You must be overflowing.

Anonymous said...

Today I had a pedicure in preparation, (thank you mom for the gift cert!), and the woman who did it, I have known for years. She was asking me about New York, and I can honestly say she had no idea what a blog is. A refreshing perspective really, a call to reality that I think I needed. I love this place, your place, my place and the place of so many woman (and some men) I've connected with. I'm going to BlogHer for professional reasons outside of my own blog, but the icing on the cake is the opportunity to meet the wonderful women I've met online. It's been an amazing experience. I love it, it means so much to me. But I need perspective, the perspective you offer here. I never want this to become what I promised myself it wouldn't - despite the tempting allure. (Rambling, much to say on this, much to think about). Thanks for this post Heather!

Unknown said...

I can't wait to hear about it all! So exciting Heather! Enjoy and report back, K?

Aspen Real Life said...

I'll be seeing you at the 5K and in the Serenity Suite.

I'm one of those who doesn't know a soul and will do my best to not let my shyness get in the way.

Looking forward to meeting you and so many other members of our writing cult.

debi9kids said...

What I think I love most about you is how humble you are.
I don't think you have any idea how inspiring you are and maybe that's why it's the case.
Have a wonderful time! (wish i was going so I could meet you!)

Cynthia said...

Have a great time! I was so thrilled to meet you and swap stories at CBC '10. I can't wait to hear the outcome of the awards but you'll be a winner for me no matter what!

TKW said...

Hey sweets! I get in Wed. too--I'll be at the midtown Hilton, so if you have a free minute before Friday, give me a buzz! Otherwise, I'll be in my tutu as well and eager to meet you on Friday, rhinos and all.

Mama-Face said...

I wonder if I was meant to read this as I want so badly to attend a blog conference being held semi nearby this November and I just know I'm too chicken. Some demons just stick with you...

Can't wait to hear about the conference and see the photos. Especially the tutu of course.

jmt said...

Jealous of you last year. Jealous of you this year. :) Good luck with your interview....you are one of the first I found in this crazy blogland, and it would be exciting to get to see you casted. Enjoy your weekend!

victoria winters said...

Man, oh MAN! I wish I had seen this post while at BlogHer. It was my first and I came alone and it was very overwhelming and I felt like the unpopular one in high school. It was, at times, really uncomfortable. Wish we had connected more so that I could form some real friendships! My saving grace was my roommate. Thank God for her. :)

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