A Mini Blog Tour

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“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real…to be honest…to let our true selves be seen.” – Brene Brown

A few years back I proposed/threatened/promised that I wanted to one day pack my kids and dog into an RV and go on a tour to meet blog buddies. The WordPress community really is so amazing for incredible stories, big hearts and willingness to interact.

While that tour is mostly a fantasy, I’ve been lucky enough to meet so many bloggers through Zoom when we’ve done podcasts. I’ve enjoyed these conversations with people that feel like they are already friends immensely.

On top of that, I’ve been fortunate to meet a number of WordPress friends in person over the years. Playwright Jack Canfora, artist Libby Saylor, Deb (Closer to the Edge blog), and Betsy Kerekes (Writing and Martial Arts blog). Unfortunately, I’ve not yet met my podcast partner and dear friend, Vicki Atkinson (Victoria Ponders blog) in person. But I was lucky enough to meet Vicki’s brilliant and delightful daughter when she came to Seattle.

When the incredible and effervescent Cindy Georgakas (Uniquely Fit blog) said she was coming to the Seattle last weekend, I jumped at the opportunity to spend a few minutes with her as well. My kids, Cooper the dog, and I piled into the car to do a mini blog adventure to meet up with her near where she and her family were staying.

Cindy confessed that her family didn’t think her blogging friends were real. Not only was it fun to prove that notion wrong but it’s also pretty amazing to discover that our blogging friends are pretty much who you’d expect them to be based on their writing.

Jack is witty, Libby is passionate, Deb is whip-smart and charming, Betsy is clever and strong, and Cindy is authentic and inspiring. Seeing that depth in person makes me even more grateful for the realness of this lovely community!

(featured photo taken by Cindy Georgakas)

76 thoughts on “A Mini Blog Tour”

  2. I love this and I have met a few over the years as well! I even. met one when I visited Ireland! I was thinking we should organize a blogfest in some central location in the us maybe a long weekend Friday to Sunday and invited whoever would like to come? just a dream maybe? they used to do this in London I know –

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  5. Like Cindy, my family teases me that my blogging friends aren’t real. My son jokes that I pay Vicki and you to have me on your podcast! “Dad why would they have you on? You’re paying them right?” That’s okay. I got him back good. I joke all the time now that you guys are as real as the fake grades he shows me from college. Ha ha! “Oh, they’re real!” Ha, ha, yea, right! And yes, I agree with Vicki’s comment. You’re a great connector of people Wynne. Really cool. 😊😊

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    1. Ha, ha, ha — that’s a perfect comeback, Brian! We are going to show up in the middle of some trip you all take to show him! 🙂 ❤ Thank you for the amazing comment – and being one of my trusted friends!

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      1. On a related note … I have a piece coming at some point on my real life friends and WP friends. I used to remind my RLF that I had posted a new piece. Now I rarely tell them. But care much more about the comments I get from WP. I never expected how much Ive come to appreciate the WP community!!!

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  7. It would be an awesome thing to meet the bloggers I’ve connected with over the years. Together we’ve experienced so much together. I was reminded of this the day before when I reviewed the comments to an Instagram post about the passing of our dog, there was a blogger friend who I first met in 2011 who left a comment. I’ve been fortunate to have met three of the bloggers I have followed over the years. it is amazing how well we know each other.. maybe one day I’ll make it back to Seattle, or you and your kiddos will venture to Chicagoland.. who knows? Stay well and keep making those days count.

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  11. How awesome for you guys! I think it would be so cool to meet fellow bloggers in person!

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  12. I love that you’ve met so many bloggers. The only one I’ve met in person was LA last June in Manhattan. The experience was like meeting an old friend! Amazing. I did get an invitation from a blogger I follow who lives nearby to join a group for coffee. She said they meet from time to time and they all are bloggers. She thought because of my photos that I lived nearby — which I do!

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      1. I’d love to meet you in person, too. Sometime I’ll be back to the area to see friends and family and we’ll make time to meet! I haven’t been since I lost Mom. LA and I recognized eachother instantly. I do have a photo of me on my blog, and her Gravatar image is perfect!

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  14. I loved you jumped in the car so fast when we got our quick chance to the finish line, Wynne and that you have met some of our other friends, that’s so awesome!

    What a treat to have the chance to shock our families, hang with the bunnies and the infamous Ms. 0 and Mr. D and of course Cooper, not to mention Penny, our newly borrowed adopted dog.. lol!😂 It was a highlight for me and you were so amazing to drive me to meet back up with them.

    Big hugs and so much love. See you in S.F. in June if we can swing it.

    I’m with Brad… we should do a tour someday.

    💓

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    1. I love this comment, Cindy! You summed up the adventure perfectly. And Penny – our hilariously borrowed dog! Ah, so good to meet you, my friend! See you in SF if we can swing it!! 🙂 ❤

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      1. A blog fest would be awesome—one day to meet up and talk about blogging and life while enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. Maybe even take a little tour around the city—all in a very casual environment. How great would that be? Then we could blog about it and post a ton of photos.

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  20. Cindy is a gem. You’ve got some of the best blogging buddies, Wynne. Just think—you’ve got two blogging stars living with you under the same roof.

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  24. How wonderful that you got to meet Cheryl. I’m sure she was exactly as she is on her blog! I’ve been fortunate to meet some blogging friends as well. One in Ireland, one in Liverpool and a couple in Spain. Blogging friends are indeed real.

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  26. Love this, Wynne! I remember your RV pledge and I still hope you can make it happen one day. For me. And especially for you and Vicki to finally meet in person. What an epic post and podcast episode that will be! 🙏💕

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  27. I had often thought a bloggers conference would be a great way to meet some of our online friends….most are too busy writing to do that. Some of us are a bit shy and hide behind our words, and heaven forbid…show up on screen ( my tendency). So, I admire how you strengthen your connections. I do have a conspiracy theorist friend who thinks my likes and comments are mostly AI manufactured…

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  28. So much fun, Wynne! As a recovering social media avoider, I have been amazed by the IRL friendships created from online connections. I love the joy in your photos ❤️

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