Blogging and the One Black Dress

I have been fortunate to have met many of you over the last few years. It is rather funny to explain to someone who isn't into blogging what it means to know people you don't know yet know on-line. Whew. At last I can say, my internet friends are real friends. I have met … Allison, Ulla, Meredith, Marie- Noelle, Amber, Agnes, Tamara, Snowsparkle, Carol, Renee, Rose, Nancy, Laura, Julie, Melanie, Eva, Lieselotte, Salama, Amy, Lynn, Annie, Mary, Bob, Diane, Elaine, Donna, Leah, Nicole, Isla, Linda, Amy H., Pam, Jenny, Kellene, Jani, Brittany, Colette, Jeni, SHANNON (!!! duh, spent a two weeks with me!) and Allison W. who drove across the USA and we met in Willows… I hope I haven't forgotten anyone (I know I shouldn't have made a list… if I your name isn't here PLEASE do not take it personally, just slap me the next time you see me, but not too hard!).

Yesterday I met Susana (in the photo above). Guess what we did? Chin-ing for antiques… I bet you did not expect that?)

allison's art box

This blogging community has again
revealed itself as a place where we can go straight to the heart, share
ourselves without make-up, designer clothes, or any of the other
society wraps that usual tag us before a word comes out of our mouths. Blogging allows us to read feelings, thoughts and ideas that often are
not shared on a day to day base. The blogging community has many
amazing avenues, like veins of life giving blood for the soul. It shows
the interior life first; going from the inside-out of a person,
enabling us to see the creative pulse of the spiritual being verses the
exterior shell that protects it.

….and when I am fortunate to meet one of you, it seems like I have known you for a very long time. The connection, soul to soul, made evident by our knowing embrace.
The voice of the person echos in my ears and floods me with a certainty
that the Internet is a spiritual reality that transcends the physical
world.

 

Now as I frantically run around shoving last minute things into my suitcase, then dumping them out wondering why I cannot simple pack one black dress and call it good… packing re packing I really do not like packing.

My thoughts wander off…

Who will I meet over the next month? 

Tell me if I meet you and I am wearing that one black dress, please ask me: "Is it new? I haven't seen you in it before! I really thought it was new, so French!"

————————————————–NOTE——————

Regarding Mr. Porte. I know his wife very well, Mrs. Porte is not a mean spirited person, they love each other very much. French Husband and I visit them, help them with odd jobs from time to time, and harvest their trees. Mr. Porte and I are never alone, and that is fine. Though I wish Mrs. Porte like gardening!

P.S. Mrs. Porte loves French Husband I wonder if I should be jealous when I am away?





Comments

52 responses to “Blogging and the One Black Dress”

  1. Cory,
    How I would love to meet you! I am in Greensboro, about an hour or so from where you are going to be tomorrow!! I looked up your friend’s blog and they seem quite special! If you have time to meet up with me, please call!
    Diane: 336 549-8156

  2. Bon Voyage Corey. Hope that little black dress is wash and wear – and if you’re really in need, head to Target for cute and cheap – America’s best bargain shop these days!
    Bob will be thrilled to see he made your list! Will e-mail you re: Durham visit.

  3. Travel well with the one black dress. Enjoy, celebrate friendship, laugh, and love fully. Then wave to me as we pass in the sky.

  4. Yes, take that one black dress! ๐Ÿ˜‰
    Your story reminds me of one of my last days at the office when I was hugely pregnant with my oldest one (I worked until two weeks before giving birth). I had only one dress left, the only one wide enough to contain my still growing girth. I was it every night, ironed it in the morning, and off to work I went. I got a bit embarrassing, always the same outfit, so when one fine morning a colleague esclaimed “Beautiful dress you are wearing!” it really made my day, they hadn’t noticed my one-dress-only get-up. Only for a few seconds, though, because the whole office started to laugh right then. I had been had! Well, they were really sweet otherwise, even sent me to put my legs up several times a day!
    Bon voyage, Corey!
    I am leaving for France today.
    Unless I decide to go directly South. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  5. Celeste Coelho

    Your fans/friends will wait with baited breath to read and live vicariously the further adventures of Corey in her homeland.
    God’s speed and safe trip!

  6. Happy Trails, Corey!
    There is nothing I love more than gallivanting all over God’s green Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. I don’t even particularly care for antiques but I’d go chining with you any day because I love thrift stores.
    I’m pleased that you brought up the spiritually transcendent nature of life in cyberspace. It’s one of favorite aspects of blahging.
    “Waltz Across Texas” in your little black dress, head held high, and say hello to it for me while you’re at it.
    Amitiรฉs,

  7. Hi Corey,
    you will travel in style with or without the elusive black dress.
    Blogging friends are a source of wonder to me. When I am down and in need of cheer, they are there to talk to with an arm to lean on or a shoulder to cry on.
    They are there to egg you on to greater things. Laugh with you and add a touch of spice to life.
    What did we do pre-blogging?
    Enjoy your trip, we bloggers will be with you all the way, lucky we are all so portable.

  8. How wonderful to have met so many blogging friends.
    Alison

  9. Wishing you a safe trip and a hugely successful adventure in Texas. Be sure to wear that black dress for lunch. I will find something black to wear too!! Annie

  10. Julie Ann Evins

    I dont know about blogs in general but yours indeed feels like one big spiritual community.
    As for Mme Porte – if she calls around for a cup of sugar during your trip I think FH should very solemnly say ” no can do, cannot have you in the house whilst C is away !” Bon voyage, Jx

  11. Blogging is the best thing I did and do in the last few years, so many people “met” (only one is person till now) and so many different realities known.
    Have a nice trip Corey, I can’t wait to read about your adventure!

  12. yes, it is great to meet “blogging people” I have met few only and some are friends now (even a few that I have not meet yet! but that we have send us things, talk by phone, etc. It is just that we haven’t meet “in real” but in heart)
    and for your neighbor…she may be jealous of some kind of attention that her husband gives to you but not to her…more than been jealous of you. Sure she likes you very much!
    xoxo

  13. Love youโ™ฅ

  14. Who cares what you wear Corey. You sound like so much fun no-one would notice or give 2 hoots what you had on!

  15. I love the one black dress concept, Corey – it worked so well on your trip to Prague why not go with it again! It is so chic and minimalist and suits you to a T!
    I’m in secret search of one myself, but don’t tell anyone!

  16. I have grown very fond of the people that I have “met” blogging, and you are one of those. It’s a lovely thing to connect with someone who lives far away, or even at your own back door, that you may never have had an opportunity to meet otherwise.
    How long will you be in Savannah? I might just have to drive out there. ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. I know what you mean! This blog world is such an amazing place. Sunday at lunch my friend mentioned that her father-in-law has a booth at a huge sale down south. As I questioned her I realized it is the exact one you’ll be at! Imagine her expression as I told her I have a friend – well, kind of a friend, I’ve never actually met her – in France who will also be there helping out another blogger from Georgia with her booth! It was quite comical from my standpoint. I still don’t think she figured out what I was talking about. Have a blast! How I wish I could get down there and meet you – but, alas, it is high school football season in West Texas and my son is a senior.

  18. Have a great time and your little black dress will be perfect. Remember to give your brother a little punch in the arm for saying he is sick of reading about Brocantes because we all just love it and can never get enough. Have a lovely time with your family and friends.

  19. Have a fabulous trip Corey! I am looking forward to reading all about it..
    Stacey

  20. Safe travel with your black dress, spirit of adventure, and eye for all things beautiful. I, too, hate to pack and I usually bring too much. Thanks to your fine words I am learning to go with less – besides, it leaves room for treasures found in other places.

  21. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to meet you in person someday. Enjoy the journey that takes you to new friends and antiques!

  22. Jeanette M.

    I think all the people you are going to meet along the way are like us – lucky. I know what you mean about the blogging world – when we went to Prague the week after you and stayed at “castle steps” they asked how we heard about them and I said “my friend Corey”. My husband laughed and explained I don’t actually “know” you – my parents were confused – I was happy. Have a magical adventure my “friend”!

  23. I am one of those people who read you blog everyday but do not comment. I am so excited about your trip to Texas and I am making a point to visit you at Marburger. It will be the high light of the show!!! Are you bringin paper items to sell??

  24. Corey,
    Wow! You have met a lot of people from the blog. How great.
    I hope the plane is empty and you get several seats to stretch out and enjoy some space. Have a wonderful trip!
    By the way, why are you filling the suitcase? Maybe you’ll find something you’d like to bring back.

  25. Safe travels, Corey! Your “ode to blogging” really hit me. It is true! We meet each other here on a deeper level than we tend to do in real life. I consider my blogging friends as much friends as my “real life” friends, though for non-bloggers that is strange.
    I can’t wait to read about your visit here to the United States. I wish you were coming north to Minnesota than I could meet you. Or better yet, that I was coming south. I’ve always wanted to go to the Roundtop fair.

  26. Oh Corey, I’m so disappointed that we’ll be missing each other by just one week in Northern California — c’est la vie.
    But aren’t you still kind of tired of that black dress after your 3 weeks with it on the motorcycle trip? I know I’d want to take a different outfit for my next trip.
    Did I ever mention that last year I met a blogger in person on the island of Terceira in the Azores whose blog I’d been following for a couple of years? We were like old friends from the moment we met face-to-face — manage to converse pretty well between my broken Portuguese and her broken English! I continue to follow her blog, and look forward to seeing her again on my next visit!

  27. SO nice that you have met SO many fine blogger~gals! Because of you I have a blog. Because of you I too have met many wonderful souls come true in real life! On this note….Guess who I will be meeting next week?
    Our dear Elsa. We are both very excited!
    You’ll always look good in whatever you wear, because you have the beauty that shines from within!
    Bon Voyage Cory.
    And thank you!
    xox
    Constance

  28. Hi Corey, have a safe and wonderful trip.
    Oh yes blogging has certainly opened the world to me…I haven’t “met” in person lots of people, but they feel like friends.
    Paris has been brought to me by blogging, I have met face to face lovely friends..Leesa, Barbara, Dawn, Andrea, Elizabeth, Kim B Aimee, Patricia, Jasmin..Jennifer and a few others, oh yes Animesh, a friend of Leesa and Elizabeths, Leesa’s, Barbara and Dawns husbands too!!
    I hope you get to meet a lot more on your trip ๐Ÿ™‚

  29. Corey, how very lucky you are to have gotten to meet so many of your readers, how fun is that! And what a gracious and sweet soul you are, to meet them as friends of the heart. Already dear. Already known.
    I nearly met someone this weekend but I was too shy to say hello. WAH!
    Wishing you a wonderful trip, meeting up with your friends of the heart, old and new!

  30. the last comment made me laugh I had to admit.

  31. LOL, oh Cory. You make me laugh. I’ve always wanted to leave a comment but I find an excuse not to, because, well, I feel awkward. I had to make one today though. I propose you send the French Husband over to Mrs Porter and ask him to tell her that he’s forbidden to see her alone, because you are jealous. Ah, jk, I think you are all better off with the things the way they are.
    Alina- long time reader, first time commenter ๐Ÿ™‚

  32. Corey, Your words capture so well the spiritual core of connecting in this virtual new world. What a lovely send off from you and to you.

  33. You hit the perfect note with this blog entry. The blog world and what it means. It is always so weird for me to tell loved ones (who only spend time on the computer for work–hubby, engineer–or games–mom and bejeweled) that “I have such and such blog buddy” and “They had such and such funny/sad/poignant/interesting story the other day” and I am met each time with a stare and usually “what is a blog?” and then “so you don’t really know this person?” Like, how excited I am to be going to Marburger and big plus, Lord willing, seeing and meeting you. My husband looked at me like I was silly and I proposed that it is the new version of pen pals meeting–that’s got to sound exciting? right? Well my wonderful mom will be joining me and doesn’t yet know the treat she is in for in meeting you and I am just trying to figure out how to explain the “blog life”. Makes me wonder what your sweet FH originally thought about your blogging. Anyways, I pray you have a safe and joyful journey. See you soon.

  34. I’m with you on packing. I don’t travel much,except on your blog,when I do I pack way more than I’ll ever need or want.
    Bloggers do make good friends. I get looks from none bloggers when I talk about my friend who lives in France. But I must say that blogging opens the door to people in ways that face-to-face doesn’t.
    Enjoy your trip. I’ll be looking forward to hearing more of your adventures.
    Carolyn

  35. I haven’t been out in blogland for an extended period of time (less than a year) and I’m beginning to discover the richness and diversity that comes with being amongst the bloggers out there. I’m so glad I found your blog along my journey!
    Speaking of journeys- good luck with packing!

  36. Corey, I am so happy for you, getting to partake in this wonderful upcoming adventure. My heart is singing happy tunes for you today ~ have a wonderful and safe trip!

  37. Aww, you forgot me on the list of bloggers you’ve met, but I would never slap you even the tiniest bit. ๐Ÿ™‚
    Have a wonderful trip!

  38. hoping to meet you sometime in january/february/march of 2010 providing everything falls into place.
    bon voyage corey.

  39. I love this :
    The blogging community has many amazing avenues, like veins of life giving blood for the soul.
    xoxo
    Juju

  40. Hopefully we will meet up someday! I know that our paths will cross somewhere. And, I wish I had the perfect black dress. I have yet to find the right one! Have a great trip!!!

  41. Safe travels Corey! Blessings, Kimberly

  42. christine allen

    Cory:
    Diane Mannino,(in the previous post) is my cousin. We are always talking about you and the beautiful things you share with us on your blog. We laugh about how we feel like we are close friends with you and how fortunate we are to have you in our lives. I love your post today because, as usual, your words so beautifully expressed how your blog has given so many so much. It would be so cool if you had time to meet her when you arrive in North Carolina.
    christine

  43. Hi Corey,
    I know you will have a blast in Texas. I have heard lots of good things about Round Top. I hear the foods great with lots of friendly folks. I told Rob you were going to be there, and he said “lets go see Corey”, but a buisness trip came up and I get to go along to see my son Alex in Portland, and have a quick tour of the Oregon wine country with an end stop at Northern Ca. Unfortunatly, our dates won’t match to meet up, but I would love to see you again and expect we will meet again someday on a street corner! Have a safe trip and I can’t wait to hear all about your “tour de Texas.”

  44. I am coming to France in March….not sure if I will be in your area…hope that I will! Would love to meet you!
    Penny

  45. Love this post!!!! Love a black dress. I have a new one that I have not worn yet. Whatever it will happen sometime…julie

  46. have a most wonderful trip. black dress is very chic and cute and someday I hope to sit down with a cup of tea and visit with you like old friends.
    blessings and love

  47. Oh lucky you, Corey, and lucky Susana for meeting you. Well, I think it would most certainly be worth a flight or drive to the South of France to meet you in person, Corey.

  48. Speaking of French figs…
    Even if you’re inclined to make this Two Fig Ice Cream, you still might enjoy reading the recipe ๐Ÿ™‚
    http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2009/09/twofig_ice_cream.php

  49. Ack! Beginning of my post should read, “Even if you’re NOT inclined…” (that’s what I get for trying to post so late at night!)

  50. My day would not be complete without checking in to follow your adventures….Happy Travels in your little black dress! Perhaps we shall meet again this time! xox Nicol

  51. I can not find your itinerary…
    Please let me know if you are coming near Wisconsin or Chicago.
    Traveling mercies, dear Corey.

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