Pssst. Guess Who I Met This Summer?
Before sharing, I should mention that certain family members (cough, ahem, my mum and son) often nag ask me why I keep blogging. Why, when I’m thrashing my way through 10 years of store journals and diaries gathering chapter ideas for the book about the life-changing experiences encountered working alongside mum at her Frankie Robinson Antiques shop, do I make time for Just TypiKel?
Because of you. And you. And you. And …
Guess Who I Met This Summer
Yes. I actually met the lovely and talented Dana, the self-described “slightly obsessive, moderately snarky, and occasionally witty list maker” of the blog Kiss My List. An avid reader, she sums up books brilliantly and writes beauts like this:
“Humor is all around us, and I love making people smile with a witty anecdote, wry observations, or random silliness. If you close the tab after reading and you have a smile on your face, I consider it a win.”
This Spring she reached out and asked if I did indeed live in Vancouver, on Canada’s west coast. Because, guess what? SHE WAS VISITING IT THIS SUMMER!
While I don’t live in Vancouver, I do live a mere 20 minutes from it. We made a pact to meet up on July 6th.
Of course, I hate to be late. So does she, according to her blog. I pulled up in front of the appointed spot five minutes early. She wasn’t there. I waited. Huh. I peeked at my phone; nothing. Then, I checked the address. Of course, I’m at the WRONG hotel. Just TypiKel. I quickly texted her.
She flew up. I knew it was her the second I clapped eyes on her. That smile. She beams happiness.
As we drove to the Sylvia Hotel (a gem on the edge of sparkling English Bay beach, and where, incidentally, I met my late husband) she told me what they’d done so far. The highlights: A hike at Lynn Canyon and a bike ride around Vancouver.
Excuse me? They’d been here a mere two nights and they’d done what?
Having worked summers at the Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau while at university, I am well apprised of the top spots to visit. Lynn Canyon isn’t one of them. Its isolated swinging suspension bridge and hiking trails are frequented by locals, those in the know. Visitors go to the commercial Capilano Suspension bridge where you have to pay to enter.
And that bike ride around Stanley Park? Folks love to ride around it. However, Dana and company rode around it twice and then went on to the Olympic Village (created for the athletes of the 2010 Winter Olympics) and Granville Island. To put this in perspective, the one-way version that includes a once around Stanley Park, is 13.7 miles long.
I loved the fact that it was important to her to get the most out of my native city and that she’d researched all of this prior to leaving home.
She then went on to lift up her pant leg to show me a war wound. Her right calf was sporting a pretty hefty purple bruise.
“My shoelaces got tangled in the bike chain …”
I knew we’d get along just fine.
And we did. The time sped by. We chatted about her daughter heading off to college, her son, her husband, my two, our pets, the challenges and delights of an empty nest …
We also talked about why we blog. Our mutual reason? The people we’ve met through it. In that regard, she’s leagues ahead of me. Familiar names tripped off her tongue. Not only does she follow most of the same bloggers as me, but she’s friends with many of them.
In my case? If I didn’t blog, I’d never have met: Susan of Every Moment
Apologies to Susan for the blurriness of the pic.
My fellow Listen To Your Mother Seattle cast mates
Ouch. My pants … what was I thinking?
Nor Mo of Mocadeaux and Katie of Preppy Empty Nester.
Yes, I’d NEVER have met these wonderful women from Maryland, Chicago, Seattle, Massachusetts, and Montana, if I didn’t blog, Mum and H. In short, these incredible and enriching friendships simply wouldn’t exist …
This post, Guess Who I Met This Summer, has been inspired by the Finish the Sentence Friday prompt of “This Summer …” Check out the other posts over at Kristi’s Finding Ninee. While I’ve yet to meet her, Dana has. Apparently they meet up regularly for laughs over lunch …
Enough about me and my teaser of a Guess Who I met this Summer. I’m curious about you. Who was the last person you met for the first time? Have you met some special folks through blogging? Better yet, are you desperate to learn what was in our empty glasses? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
50 Responses
Wow! It is so much fun to catch up with your online writer cum friend!
Dana is a wonderful writer and ‘am sure a beautiful soul just like you. It must have been wonderful to catch up.
*Sighs* *Hopeful* to meet some of you someday 🙂
It really was wonderful to meet her, Ruchira. She’s a delight.
OMG Dana didn’t even tell me she was going to meet you but I guess she’s more sneaky that way than I realized 🙂
DID SHE MEET YOUR MOM??? Then I’d be super jealous and have been angry with her for not telling me beforehand to I could send some new purple sparkly pants (or something). I love your LTYM photo, which I’ve mentioned before and love that you and Dana met. Next time, I so very hope that it’s my turn!!!
Ha! Nope, we didn’t do a Francine meet up, Kristi. No worries. And yes, it would be SO very grand to meet you. Love to do lunch with you and Dana. How fun would that be? Pimms Cups all around.
Kelly! I am smiling from ear to ear right now. When I write my vacation post I am linking to this – what a great recap. And thank you for your lovely words; you were as warm and real as I knew you would be. Thank you for coming to meet me, for the (two) Pimm’s cups, and for a few hours of fabulous conversation. And if you’re ever in my neck of the woods, the drinks are on me!
I cannot thank YOU enough for reaching out to me, Dana. It was such a treat to meet you. I have loved following the rest of your journey on FB and am delighted that you got to both Pagliaci’s and the BC Museum. Bet you’ve got some really great tips on what to do in Seattle. Looking forward to your vacation post immensely.
So glad that you had a chance to meet another blogging pal . It must be great to put a face to a name ! You have done so well this year meeting these lovely ladies !
It is really cool to put a face to a name, Jane. Better yet, to hear their voices and to see how they talk as they write. So neat. Thank you again so very much for popping in and both reading and leaving a comment. Hope you’re thriving up at B.
I have so many blogging friends that I long to meet one day although location wise it may be tricky. Loved reading this piece 🙂
Thank you, Julie. Hi! I hope you get a chance to meet up with some of your blogging pals one day. What is so special, is that you feel as if you’ve always known them. It’s rather uncanny actually.
Love this post! My husband is somewhat sure that every blogger I “know” is a serial killer. Makes it hard to convince him of the necessity to meet some of them. And yet Dawn from Tales From the Motherland was willing to meet me and go with me and the kids to pick up out farm share last summer when she was in New England, which included picking our own peas with my four kids. (“Honey, she can’t kill us at the farm. It’s *organic*.” Ha!) If I’m ever near Vancouver, I’m coming by. I have no idea what a Pimm’a cup is, but I wAnt one.
Oh, Jen, once again you’ve got me grinning ear to ear. I get the “serial killer” belief. I am SO leery of posting pics online after a chat with my tech savvy pal. Meeting up in real life is a HUGE leap of faith. One blogging pal told me of a meet up where her friend’s hubs hid in a bush until he was convinced the meet up was genuine and healthy. As for popping out to the farm share? Man alive, I’d be up for that. I’ll have to time a summer visit …
So fun! Did I tell you that when I went on my no-whales-to-be-seen whale watching trip out of Friday Harbor, WA, we crossed into Canadian waters? Chad and I think we could see Richmond or Delta from the boat. I was waving at you, did you see me?
So THAT’S why it was so windy for a few seconds last week … Yes, I did sense the waving! Didn’t see you, as I was so busy reading all of your lovely posts on FB. Dang. I’ll wager you did see both Richmond and Delta. Now, you simply MUST bring the kids here to see your former home, next summer. We must meet up, my American cousin.
When we were in Vancouver in 2010 a chance conversation with a woman on a sea taxi led us to Lynn Valley Park. I didn’t know until now that it was such an undiscovered gem.
What? That’s the coolest, Kathy. I am delighted you’ve been there as well. It is the shyer, quieter one compared to its very popular cousin The Capilano Suspension bridge.
So great that you got to meet up. And wow to that bike ride. I’ve met a number of fellow local bloggers as I’ve been to two conferences and that’s been great. I haven’t ventured much further out from local though. I do agree it is a wonderful way to connect with others though – and certainly one of the main reasons I blog too.
Hi! Thanks for reading and leaving a comment, Louise. I really enjoyed your post. It is wonderful to meet up with bloggers, ‘eh? I am always struck by the uncanny fact that it seems as if we’ve known each other a long time.
Well, you have known each other a long time! But I do admit the first time a “blog friend” ran up to me in real life at an event and said “You’re Louise! – I’m Lian!” it was a little odd. But very quickly not – because we do know each other from our writings.
And I’m so glad you liked my post. I’m clearly not the only one with a checkered golf past 🙂
Grinning here over the concept of our checkered golf pasts ….
Creating relationships and building community via blogging is the best!
You are on fire! ?
Aw thanks, Wend. What a lovely comment. It is really such a door opener, blogging. Now if one could actually make a dime or two doing it … well that would be the icing on Nanny’s chocolate bundt cake, no? Can you still taste that beaut? I sure can.
This is awesome! I just met Herchel from Gym. Craft. Laundry over the week. And Nellie from Brooklyn Active Mama!
I met Dana two years ago in June for BlogU. It was a pretty instant, “Yes, this connection is strong in person too!”
And I love Stanley Park! If I ever go back, I’ll let you know!
Ooohhh yes, please, do let me know when you’re back in Vancouver, Tamara! Love how you’re meeting folks as well and the fact that you’ve met Dana, too. Fun.
Great post, Kelly. I agree, I have met so many wonderful bloggers and readers thru my blog. I even found my long lost sister!!?
Thanks, Sis. We’ll have to have a family reunion soon.
Meeting you and our pal Katie Clooney IRL has definitely been one of the highpoints of my blogging career. Dana is on my wishlist for future meet ups. Vicki (Life in My Empty Nest) and I have vowed to meet before she moves from Michigan to FL. Like you, the people I’ve met, even virtually, are the reason I love blogging so much.
Oh Mo, now I’m thinking we need another reunion. Any plans on going back to the west coast?
It is such a wonderful feeling when you have the opportunity to meet up with someone IRL for the first time! I had this experience a few years ago with a friend who I’d met in a trying to conceive group. We’d wound up having our first children, both daughters only two hours apart–he in California, me in New York. When I had to go to San Fransisco for a medical conference she came to spend an afternoon with me! It was so wonderful!
Oh that is wonderful, Hillary. Wow. I hope that you two can hook up again soon. And what are the chances that you had your children two hours apart? Golly. Kind of meant, I’d say.
YEA! I love this perk about writing to the open world, too!
Also, I did LTYM this spring too! I’ll have to look your up.
Yea Friends!
Thanks Mardra. My LTYM adventure was 2015 and sadly the audio isn’t great … Ah well. Glad you experienced it! I’ll go check it out.
How WONDERFUL to go down memory lane with the fellow bloggers you have met!
Vancouver is one of my very favorite places I have visited. Last time I was there was the summer of 2013 and I started blogging 2014. For sure, next time I head that way, I’ll have to look you up. You always make me laugh incredibly so. THANK YOU!
Oh how unfortunate we didn’t “know” each other in 2013, Elda. Yes, next time you come this way let me know! Love to hook up. That would be really cool.
I met a bunch of people at the ConVergence convention in early July; unfortunately I am terrible with names and it is yet to be seen which if any I will be corresponding with frequently.
Oh that will be interesting to see what connections you maintain from the convention, Scott. That’s kind of an added bonus to conventions, I think.
That’s exactly it Kelly! I am so busy with my design and VA business my husband says why do you keep up with TDAC? Because it’s me and my friends. I couldn’t give it up either. Besides, if we ever do finish our books we’ll need to talk them into buying. haha
Yes, WHEN we finish our books, Rena. Please keep blogging. I love reading your posts.
How fun Kelly – it’s so great to extend online relationships with IRL meetings isn’t it?! Keep blogging and keep connecting – the world needs to see more of your laughter and kind heart.
Thanks, Deborah. You always lift my spirits with your positive encouragement. Hopefully we’ll meet IRl! I’d love that.
You and Dana met in Vancouver, how cool is that? So glad the two of you had a wonderful time!
I agree, the connections you make as a blogger are awesome.
PS: why would anyone question our motives to blog???
Exactly. Why would anyone question our motives to blog? Ooohhh, now there’s an idea for a blog post …
I can’t imagine my life without the wonderful people I’ve met through blogging! You and I will meet soon – the next time I can get myself up to Vancouver!
YES! I’d so love to meet you, Lana. It would be such a hoot. Please let me know when you’re next up and we’ll get together. I look forward to it!
It’s like you won the ultimate blog giveaway and the prize was meeting them all. So cool. I’d love to do that someday, again. I met a blogger or two in real life, a while back.
Yes! The Ultimate blog giveaway with a meet up as the prize. So true, Eli. Be such a hoot to meet up with you one day, too!
I love REAL LIFE meeting of blog friends! Someday you and I will get to hug too! We’ve been together for 6 or 7 years now!
Naomi – I think back to those days of the Momoir Project and smile. It opened up my writing world and the possibility of meeting so many wonderful people. How can it be 6 or 7 years ago, now? Golly time flies. Yes, you and I WILL meet up for a hug! I hope it is sooner than soon.
Kelly! I just LOVE that you got to hook up with Dana!! Oh it’s just so much fun to see other friends (I consider many bloggers friends, because of course!) get to connect in the realz. SO cool she went your way and I’m not surprised AT ALL that they accomplished what they did. Dana is a go getter, that one. 😉
I FINALLY met one of my closest friends, I found on this world wide web… Ilene from “Fierce Diva”- she doesn’t blog anymore, but we have kept in touch with utter devotion. She makes a MEAN granola now too- and pours her heart into her small business she alone started up. Oh, it was the highlight of my summer! Just BLISS.
I hope someday you and I can meet too, Kelly. I’d just love that. XO
Yes, it was wonderful meeting up with Dana, Chris. Just as you’d imagine. Grinning here over the fact that Ilene shared her granola with you. How fun is that? How wonderful that you’ve stayed in touch. Here’s hoping we do meet up one day, you and I. I’m off to read your email that you sent. So excited for your new book! Very inspiring.