BlogHer 09 was just like high school.
Well, high school with lots of free stuff. I suppose the free stuff in high school could be considered booze and cigarettes, because there was always some element of pushing and shoving for those. And they were fun in high school, until that first hangover. And then they weren’t so fun. Or so worth it.
In high school, there were the cool kids. The cool kids who were actually cool and the cool kids who were bitches. There were the computer geeks and the people who never came out from behind their cameras. There were the party animals and the social climbers and the gossips. There were the people who would do anything for attention, and the magnetic people who everyone universally loved. There were the hysterical people who had you cracking up and, there were the shy, quiet people who you always suspected were the most special ones. There were all sorts of people. And they were all at BlogHer.
Of course, there were classes. Some were better than others, but the big huge lectures always bored me to tears. The small, intimate classes were always preferable, and the ones where class participation was paramount were my favorites. And there were always a few classes that I wish I’d taken.
Cafeteria food was pretty dismal and I wisely opted for sneaking home at lunch.
There was the worry over one’s appearance. Having the right shoes or jeans became more stressful than one’s GPA. Being too fat or too thin was the cause of much angst, but in the end, everyone was so busy worrying about themselves that they barely looked at anyone else.
There were parties. Loud, crazy parties that got broken up by cops. And they were fun. But, I always preferred hanging out with a few friends in some corner than being in the middle of the dance floor.
At the end of each day I came home to my own child-free room. Except I didn’t appreciate it then.
And, in a blink, high school was over.
Did I like high school, you ask? Yes, I did. I have some very fond memories of great nights and really good friends. Do I want to go back to high school? No, not really. I miss parts of it, but I’m happier here, and now. Well, maybe I’d go back just once a year for a few days. Yes, that would be perfect.
So, BlogHer, see you in 2010. I’ll be there.
Previous post: Flying Solo
Next post: Best Behavior
{ 89 comments }
← Previous Comments
Hmmm… yours isn’t the only BlogHer recap I’ve read where it’s been said the conference felt clique-y. I don’t know if I’d want to go! I mean, I’d LOVE to go so I could have the chance to meet bloggy friends IRL. But I think maybe I’d want to do it on a much smaller scale!
I wonder how soon til 2010 Blogher fills up…how long do I have to buy my tickets??
great comparison :) i am doing my best to make in 2010. Hey noticed your new pic on twitter and here!! very nice :)
I am planning on having the same reaction as Maggie, Dammit, when I meet you in person.
Don’t disappoint me.
:)
-Francesca
Great BlogHer post! I love the high school analogy. I hope I get to go next year to meet all of these great people.
Hopefully I’ll see you next year… and not be worrying about how fat I am in my Guess jeans. Oh wait… that WAS high school. Maybe I’ll pull out my bodysuit and vest in NYC. That’ll fly, right?
Still wish I had been there!
OK, next year? I want to actually sit down and have a real honest to goodness conversation with you. I felt like all I did was say hi to you about 20 times.
What an interesting analogy! I do think that every conference has its cliques (though I’ve mainly only gone to nerdy ones like AMWA and NASW), but I do shudder a bit to think of going back to high school again. But I won’t know until I try, so I hope to get in with the “in” crowd between now and NYC2010, heheh.
Yeah….I’m all set with the high school scene… I don’t know that I’ll ever attend a BlogHer.
Excellent recap – it’s what I had pictured in my head… :) I am, however, going to go against my painfully shy mode and go next year, I’ve registered so there’s no turning back. ;) Hopefully I’ll have a chance to meet you next year! :)
Perfectly said! My thoughts exactly, actually. It was great meeting you, if only for a second.
I liked high school – and I KNOW I’d like BlogHer. I’m SOOOO attempting to go to BlogHer ’10!
I am so glad you had fun : ) Kind of. I mean kind of had fun, not kind of glad that you had it : )
The only thing is you didn’t have to pay months in advance to get into High School.
I have a feeling, “knowing” you as I do, that those who hung out in your “crowd” likely had a better time and a better grasp of reality! Glad to have you back. New York next year? My town and just a drunken train ride away!
I’m just sorry we didn’t get to hang out by the lockers together more than we did… ; ) WONDERFUL to meet you though!
Hey Jill….so nice to finally meet you, you know? Yes, all kinds were at BlogHer. No friggin’ doubt about that…..but what amazed me is how the right people found each other you know? I’m glad we bumped into each other on more than one occasion but a more substantial chat would have been nice…..next time though. Or at least we’ll try. :-)
Lee
It was awesome meeting you, Jill! What an amazing weekend of fabulous, smart, funny women…. :))
Great Blogher post– but Im almost scared to ask which group I fit into ? lol
Btw Im loving the new set up… i so want to move to wordpress– but so scared.
I am so excited about BlogHer 10. Except now I’m feeling such a feeling of guilt – at leaving my kids for 2 days – I’m almost considering NOT going. The thought of FLYING without my children has left me paralyzed with a fear so great, it actually keeps me awake at night. Driving is more of a risk, especially because I’m prone to accidents, and I’ll end up in the ghetto. Okay I have to go blog about this issue now.
← Previous Comments
Comments on this entry are closed.