Update: I am now making another attempt to give you an update on the conference so here goes……

Well, here I am in Chicago, using the laptop of Stephen Smith, a fellow blogger who specializes in Productivity issues. I tried to use the hotel’s computer earlier this morning when posting this gratitude article but for some reason it wouldn’t take.

Since Stephen and I have to meet some people in a few minutes, I am going to have to come back and continue this gratitude post later on today but I wanted to let all of you know that I arrived here safely and that I am having a great time making new connections with bloggers I’ve met online but never met in person.

When i arrived on Thursday to the “”Windy Cindy,” I was immediately transported back to the days when I was living in New York City (during the 80′s to 90′s). Everything with the exception of the people reminded me of NYC to the point where I was feeling like I was down memory lane. It surprised and delighted me.

The most amazing thing about this conference is the amount of warmth and trust that exists among the people gathering together. I was talking about this with several other bloggers about how most of us would open our doors for one another to a bunch of complete strangers that we’ve met online but never met in person. In other words, the trust already exists. There’s an extraordinarily high level of comradeship, love and warmth that was already present before any of us got here. it’s an eye-opening experience.

You know how sometimes when you go to a conference where you know no one, there’s a little bit of anxiety in you? You’re not sure if you’ll fit in or make new connections? Well, I need not have worried about any of that because while i am very much outgoing and gregarious, there was a tiny bit of anxiety inside me, “Will I like the people I meet?” “”Will I fit in?”"

On Thursday night there was an informal gathering at Bella, an Italian restaurant at the hotel where I am staying. The moment I walked into this event, I was instantly recognized and welcomed. I had a most wonderful conversation with people like Liz Strauss, Terry Starbucker (both organizers of the conference) along with Wendy Piersall (remember her? I interviewed her here), Ruth Marie Sylte, Joanna Young and Vicky H (see pictures here).

Let me tell you, when Wendy arrived and saw me, she literally rushed over and gave me the biggest hug. It was like we were long lost friends. An incredible sight to behold! Even though we never met, we certainly acted like long lost friends. The exact same thing happened when I greeted Lorelle, the self proclaimed the “Queen of WordPress, ” a name given to by her fans. Excuse me, I made a mistake – Lorelle would never call herself the Queen of WP but it’s a name that somehow got slapped on to her forehead by those who love her.

Anyway, I felt like I had known these guys for years.

And then of course, there’s the famous Karen Putz, the Deaf Mom we all know about. It was an absolute delight to finally meet her. If you click on the flicker photos (below), you’ll see some pictures of me and her (and others).

One must not forget Phil Gerbyshak, the famous “relationship geek.” How could anyone forget this unforgettable man? He’s very well known for his ability to meet and greet anyone on the planet. He is a mass of love and respect. Stephen Smith (the blogger whose laptop I borrowed yesterday) and I decided to visit Macy’s to watch how notebooks were created from scratch and met up with Phil. When we arrived, Stephen and I purposefully kept our distance so that we could sneak up from behind and give Phil the scare of a lifetime. When he turned around, he immediately recognized me and acted like we were long lost brothers. It was a most amazing and gratifying experience. I have photos of us in my camera – for now, you’ll find photos on Flicker (links below).

Today (Saturday) is the day of the full conference and I am truly looking forward to it.

Here are more pictures from other bloggers (I took many but do not have a way of downloading them to the hotel’s computer – they will be uploaded when I get home):

• Chris Garrett – Report – Day 1
• Lorelle – the “WordPress Queen”
• Flicker Photos tagged with SOBCON08

I am grateful for the opportunity to make new connections, new friends and enjoy the “Windy City.” More on this later!

Food for thought: Meanwhile, what are you grateful for?

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