Tell Chicago I Said Hi

Right now, a few thousand bloggers are fretting about some pretty big questions. Like what to wear. And who to meet “in real life.” And if their business cards should or should not include their Pinterest handles.

Yes, friends, it’s time for BlogHer 2013. Just an intimate gathering of 4,000 souls who like to overshare on the Internet.

I went last year, when it was held in New York, and I had a great time.

This year, it’s in Chicago, and I won’t be going.

I’d love to, but it’s not a great plan with a 6 week-old.

I’ve known for many months that I wouldn’t be able to attend this year, given the timing.

And then a few things happened that made me reconsider.

First, 15 of the funny ladies from the book I was fortunate enough to be a part of are doing a book signing and reading in Chicago to coincide with the conference. How fun is that? I would love to meet all of them. I feel like I already know them. It would be great to have an evening laughing with them and celebrating the success of this great project.

Then, very unexpectedly, I found out that I was one of just 25 bloggers chosen as a 2013 Humor Voice of the Year by BlogHer. How cool is that?

So I started to think about pulling the logistics together for just 24 hours in Chicago.

I booked a hotel room. I started researching flights. I got excited about the possibility of a quick trip to BlogHer. The blog world is both massive and small. It is both anonymous and filled with friendships. And it probably sounds ridiculous to many, but we spend so much time interacting with each other online that the thrill of meeting up in person, just once a year, is really a treat.

I was *this close* to going but, in the end, it was just too much to leave a newborn at home. Could I have made it work? Yes. Was it stressing me out? Yes.

So I’ll be home. Hanging out with a cute 10 pound milk aficianado. And that’s totally OK.

But I have to bust out some I’m Missing BlogHer Coping Mechanisms. This mostly entails removing myself from social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the next few days, where the constant stream of BlogHer photos and updates would taunt me.

And then I have to block out the insane fact that Friday night’s Voices of the Year ceremony is going to be hosted by Queen Latifah.

Queen Latifah.

QUEEN LATIFAH.

Will she call out all of the honorees? Will Queen Latifah speak my name? And I’ll miss it?

I can’t think about it. I can’t.

But you guys. QUEEN LATIFAH.

Sigh.

So, to my blogging friends, save me a pretend seat at the bar, have a great time and bring me back some good information. Or gossip. Or both. And tell Chicago — and Queen Latifah — I said hello.

Oh wait — you’re not reading this. Because you’ve already redeemed all of your conference drink tickets. Just as I would have done.