The National Widowhood Conference, in short

In short? It was awesome.

Met some old/new strangers/friends—Jackie, Matt, Mel, Abby—and a number of new ones...Andrea, Janine, Erin...and a dozen others who don't write blogs. Had a fabulous time, talking with them, laughing, sharing stories, and listening.

And despite what you might think…damn. We know how to party too. And drink. And have one smashingly good—no, GREAT—helluva time.

Sad, morose, depressing, and weepy widows? Not us! (Okay, some of it may have been depressing to other people…but not to us.)

The hotel was great, food was quite good, the sessions overall quite good as well. Michele—the brain and engine behind the whole conference (and another cycling widow too…the one and only other one I’ve met so far in this four-year journey, which was a nice bonus for me personally)—was phenomenal, and some of the speakers were simply amazing.

All in all, a fabulous, memorable, wonderful evening. Once we all email each other the pictures we took, I’m sure there will be many pictures dancing around our blogs. (Me? Like a ninny, I only took one picture. Thank god for digital pictures and email. =))

So for anyone who was on the fence about going and opted not to, I can whole-heartedly recommend it the next time it happens. (And Michele does plan to have another, it sounds like.) It was worth every penny I spent (and then some) to get here. This experience has been absolutely unimaginable. There’s no price tag that can be put on it.

I hope I’ll write more about the conference. But I also got some horrible news for me late on the last night I was in San Diego (about 7 hours before I’m writing this post), so temporarily, the conference may get sidelined in my blog. But know that it’s not for a lack of worthy subject matter….

And to the new friends I met: you were all fabulous. Amazing, wonderful, fun, beautiful, and honest women (and man). I’m so thankful to have met you and shared this weekend with you, even if we may never see or speak to one another again (although I certainly hope that’s not the case!). Hugs to you all!