August 8th, 2012 
Up4Dsn 
If it’s one thing that black folks do best, it’s bringing everyone together for a big she-bang and whipping up some nice steaks on the grill. So while I was picturing this BBQ vision amongst our beautiful black culture, I figured… HEY!! What if there was a Black Blogger’s Family Reunion?!! HA HA! I swear my imagination gets the best of me from time to time and I can do nothing but sit back and laugh at myself. But really… think about it….
Before being ordained into the beautifully acclaimed Up 4 Discussion Family, I had been noticing quite a few “blog families” in my short time span of blogging and maneuvering (snooping) everyone’s blogroll. I never knew how it worked and most definitely didn’t see myself being apart of one. Being as though I am still new to this whole blogger’s atmosphere, *jumps into my computer and take a look around* I have to admit, I’m pretty happy with my home here. You meet new people everyday. Learn new things everyday. There is always someone or something to keep you motivated and your mind stimulated. We read about people from Canada, people in Africa, the US, UK… from all over! And get this; there are no language barriers. How about that?! Everyone relates on some type of a level. Whether it’s disagreeing, agreeing, making suggestions or sharing thoughts and ideas. What a great way to unite and to actually fill a void; whether the reason we write is for ourselves or if the sole focus is on our readers. We are just all around, pure awesome-ness!!
Now that I have boosted our heads up to the size of hot air balloons, what if… we were to all meet?!! What if, we had a Blogger’s Reunion for real? Or what if, we just so happened to meet at random. Do you ever wonder what you would do or say to each other on the street? Especially after sharing some of the most intimate details of certain situations that we all have encountered in life? What if we bumped into Ms. Lakesha Womack in the store or pulled up beside Sunny at a traffic light? Maybe you ran into J at the airport or just so happened to show up at GS‘s church one Sunday morning. Visited Enigma at a book signing or caught the same bus as Just Lissen? Do you ever wonder how your word’s would flow or if you would even have anything to say or talk about? Would you bring up something from our work site because you feel it would make fluent conversation, or do you feel like we would all be able to connect on a deeper level since we are seeing eye level at that very moment?
I believe that I would be pretty ecstatic about meeting anyone whose name I have grown fond of. And what about the bloggers who remain anonymous? Oh dear!! To finally be able to put a face with the speaker. It’s amazing how a group of people can come together, work together and not know each other from a can of paint. Yet, we still cater, console and confirm each others existence. I guess you can say that sounds like family to me, but how many of us would consider each other family, a friend or a co-worker, off record? How many would be willing to share their steak with me straight off the grill, LOL!! No. I’m serious. Pass the A-1 sauce please? And while you are up, can you fix me a drink?
Just think of the soul-black goodness, the sharing of individual personalities and skin. The visual! Way too much greatness in one place!!
All I want to know is, whose cooking?!!
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Thank you so much for your continued support Family!
No specifics. Just me. Just common sense.
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*Raises hand* I'll cook lol. But I've thought about this before to. Essentially we share so much of ourselves with each other and we give advice and honest responses just as friends would. This would be fun! Nice post!
Nice! We got one cook on deck. I think it would be a blast too!
You were the first one to raise your hand, so that must mean you can throw down in the kitchen lol!!!
When I first started blogging, I did worry a lot about how much of myself I revealed to the "unknown" cyber-city. I am really glad that I was able to share a lot of things with people I don't even know and not get judged for it. It's a good feeling. I guess the downplay comes when we can't interact physically with each other: going out to eat, hitting up a bar, shopping together, cooking out… and being as though I'm in the south and we cookout almost every other day, I thought this would be a good kick-start to get everyone's gears in motion.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
I'm a country girl cooking is what I do. And being from texas bbq is what i know.
I felt the same way when I started blogging. I was more-so worried about being judged and what people would think about me putting myself out there. But the more I began to write and reveal the more I was able to handle the things I was going through. Everyone would real and honest advice and criticisms which I love!
The fact that everyone is from all over is extremely cool.
Ain't nothin' like some country-girl cooking!! NC has definitely spoiled me….
"the more I began to write and reveal the more I was able to handle the things I was going through" <~ it's like therapy!! I feel the same way. And you can't help but to love the honesty.
Candi I think that would be fun to meet all the bloggers. I consider you guys friends, becuz you read my words and know me more than most!!
Blogger Family Reunion!! Yayy
Exactly! We share so much with one another. We gotta make this happen one day.
I think so too!! I just always wondered how everyone would react in person after knowing or speaking to someone for so long and never being able to speak in person.
I've always believed that we have a "in-person" personality and a "computer" personality. I would love to see how we all mesh.
I can't cook too well. But I'll be the official taste tester! LOL!
Sounds like a lovely idea. Blogging has definitely connected me with some lovely people, many of which are now my friends beyond the computer screen.
If this ever comes to fruition, I hope to see an invitation in my inbox!
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Nice! You already know you'll receive an invite.
I can cook Ashley, but I will tell you, I'm good at sneaking food out the kitchen LOL!!
I think it would be awesome to get this ball rolling! No need for invites, J could just blog about it LOL!! Everyone needs to be there!
Long as it's not in Atlanta, I'm in that thang! LOL Nah, but J I think you should try to execute something like this. It's cool to put a face with an author's writing and their tweets. I've mentioned before on Twitter how when you meet someone that you've "known" digitally for awhile, it shouldn't be nerve-wrecking or induce profuse sweating. It should be like seeing an old homey from college ya know?
SB: I still hope we can all find time to do a few sports podcasts later this yr…the idea Carter had was really dope
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I agree. It should be a joyous and exciting moment. I'm definitely down to put something together in the future. I know it would be a great time.I'm curious, why no ATL? LOL!
It's just meh IMO DC's cool, even the midwest is cool. But the way my Sky Miles is set up, I'm not welcomed in the A LOL jk nah whatever you decide fam, I'm in there. Anything to support positivity
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I can dig it. I wasn't sure if you had warrants or a crazy ex you were avoiding. lol Just wanted to know what the deal was. Likewise, it's all about the positivity.
Heeeyyy, I like ATL!! lol
"it shouldn't be nerve-wrecking or induce profuse sweating. It should be like seeing an old homey from college" <~ this right here!! As I was typing this, I was trying to picture how everyone would react in person, especially myself. I'm not an "in-the-crowd" type of person but I think with a few drinks, I'll be okay. LOL!! smh
On top of the fact, it will give us a chance to meet new bloggers and old bloggers that we never knew.
Sign me up! I'll bring ice. (cheapskate) lol.
We gon need a lot of ice! Bring it on!
Ice is good!! I gots to have the ice in my Red Berry!
Cool post! I'm always down for a great BBQ! I'll bring Taboo,lol
I've actually met quite a few of my Twitter followers and "blog family" and are very good friends with most of them. I actually met up with two of the gals in NYC this weekend as a last hoorah as one is moving to the West Coast. Fortunately I've had all good experiences meeting some of the people I interact with on the internet and have made a few solid friendships.
Taboo! That's my game. Definitely make sure you bring that.Gotta luv those great experiences!
So when you guys met for the first time, did you all vibe just as if you were on the computer? Nervous? Did you ever feel like they just may not be what you thought they were in person?
Thanks for sharing with us Euphoric Ears!!
Yes, there was some nervousness,lol. But after the first experience, that pretty much went away. Most people (well those I've encountered) are true to their "e-persona". No real initial shyness….it was like talking on the computer, except in person, lol
That's great, your experience was a good one. I'm looking forward to possible meet ups with "cyber friends" in the future.
I think that would be great but I'm from Barbados so I would have to get an early notice lol
We got you! lol
Maybe we just need to all go to Barbados!! I think that would be a great idea!! Forget the cookout! lol!!
I LOVE Barbados!!!! Serve me up some macaroni pie!!!
This is an awesome post and something that I've thought about several times and even discussed with some of my blog friends. I would consider many of the people that I have met online through social media and blogging as friends. I talk to them on the phone and stay in touch with them just like I do my friends that I've known for years. They are very much apart of my life and now about the details of it, the only thing is that I've never seen them before in real life.
It's a little surreal in a way, but as one of my online friends said to me on the phone "That's the way the world is moving today." Which I can definitely understand and actually love because without these medians or the internet I wouldn't know the great people that I now interact with all the time. We definitely live in a different world where we can interact and form bonds with people all over the world without ever having a real interaction.
I would love a blogger reunion though because I would love to meet everyone in person! This was a great read.
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Thanks JennDiva!! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I'm a visual person, so I like to see, or at least know who I'm talking to. I'm learning that it is really possible to get to know people you don't really know, on a more personal level (LOL! strange isn't it?). But I, too, would love to meet these bloggers in person.
This was a great post!! I'll bring the mac n cheese!!! I would love it if we can do something like this. I consider you guys friends, some of us talk through twitter and we definitely support each other on here.
I'm also great a planning so I'd love to be on the planning committee!! lol
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Thanks for volunteering. You can definitely be the president of the planning committee. Thanks!!!
I think I drooled a little!! I loves me some mac&cheese!! Especially homemade from scratch, with all the different types of cheeses and then bake it….. OMG!!! YES! lol
The King and Blackconvo.com is down. Name the place and time!
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Bet. It's going to be a great time for all of us.
I can't grill but I can make a mean potato salad and baked beans, put me down! Love this post, reading it made me smile. I think if we were to meet the conversation would definitely flow. We all write about a wide array of topics and have varied perspectives on issues so there would always be something for us to discuss/debate. I personally would love to break bread with and pick Just Lissen's brain, or electric slide next to the man behind all of this, J. It would be amazing to fellowship with everyone from the Up4Discussion Fam! Our reunion would be unforgettable and, once the sun went down, I'm sure it would turn into a party at somebody's house. Great post!!!