So much to say...

And I haven't been able form a single thought in my mind. At least not a thought that is coherent and worth taking up space out here in the ether. Nothing cohesive or meaningful. No insights. No huge updates. I've been largely unplugged from the Internet (except for a bit of inbox cleansing while at BlogHer, those forwards pile up, you know) for over a week and I'm finding that the longer I'm quiet the easier it is to just stay that way, and who wants that? So I, with the power of my medical doctorate of Googlology, wrote myself a prescription for blogging and it's time to fill it.

I feel compelled to do the post-BlogHer wrap up, but at the same time I'm reticent, because so many of you weren't there and so wish you had been. It was so different for me than last year, last year was all hustle and bustle and though there was much of that this year, I found myself sitting and talking with people much more often. Sometimes that talking was really SHOUTING OVER THE POUNDING DANCE MUSIC WHILE INEBRIATED, and sometimes it was in quiet moments while skipping sessions or taking a walk around the block, but still, good stuff, all. I laughed until I nearly peed myself a few times and I fought back tears once or twice, too. Not tears of my own really, but tears for these people whose lives and stories have sucked me right in, these people I find myself loving in a sudden and strange sort of way.

I was carded, of course. Oh BOY, was I carded. Imagine being at the front of a pack of 50 or so women all trying to get to the wine and having to dig through your crap and find your ID. Pure AWESOME. I also learned that don't pay attention to my wine intake nearly as well as my liquor intake (all those different names keep me on track with the liquor) and at one point I lost my social filter entirely and gave some KY Intrigue to some real life friends of Jess's. They have a two week old baby and I handed it to the husband and said, "You guys enjoy that in about 4 weeks." I'm pretty sure I also gave him a wink and the double thumbs up. Oh wine, how you betray my love.

Otherwise, it was exactly what you would imagine...beautiful, wonderful, amazing, intelligent women getting together and have a great time. It was that and more. I have to say I love the way you guys love my kids and look out for my wee KayTar. Many, many times people came up to me and said, "Sooo, what Day is it?" (if YOU are wondering, it is DAY 89. ALMOST 90 DAYS! UNBELIEVABLE!) and it was amazingly touching. I shouldn't have been surprised, you all do that sort of thing for me almost daily, but it was nice to blather on about KayTar in the flesh with people who have somehow become invested in this little saga of ours. Really nice. And that's that. BlogHer was great. I had such fun with my roommates (who were easily the best roommates I could have hoped for) and the Canadians and the wannabe Canadians and a few plain old Americans, too. It was refreshing and slightly exhausting, but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Or in half a heart beat. Or maybe in twelve months...yeah, that sounds about right.

I walked in this afternoon and KayTar said, "Mommy! MY MOMMY! I thought you was out of town! I thought you was GONE! I thought you was in CALLY-FORN-YA! I thought you was on an AIRPLANE! MY MOMMY MY MOMMY MY MOMMY MY MOMMY! Squeeze! Kiss! I'm going to follow you now! MY MOMMY MY MOMMY MY MOMMY!" I soaked in her delicious wordiness, sniffed her head again, and put her down so I could snatch her brother up. All he had to say was, "I want to go swimming, Mom." And I said, "What NO HUG?" And he begrudgingly gave me one and skittered off. I exhaled and thought, it sure is good to be home. Tomorrow KayTar has a ophthalmologist appointment bright and early in the morning (covered by insurance!) and our life stumbles on in the way it always does.

ps: I'd do that whole linky thing, but, ahem, "Dr. Google" told me no heavy lifting for this post. Who am I to argue? (translation: Kyla is tired and lazy tonight.)