I’m planning on going to the BlogHer conference in August.

While it all sounded exciting on paper, as the date got closer and closer, trepidation became outright anxiety.

I hate leaving my kids with someone else, even their dad, who is the greatest dad ever and for the record can totally take care of them without my help.

It’s because I’m filled with so much need to control every aspect of their lives, cough, love for them, I think.

But I’m going.  They’ll be fine.  I’ll be fine.  I want to go.

I am going.

And it’s a good thing because last week, I was informed that my writing will be recognized at the conference in a very special and highly public way.

Apparently, out of around 1000 submissions of various bloggers, 90 finalists were chosen, and out of those 90, 15 of us were chosen to read their submissions at the Keynote.

I’m one of those fifteen.

OHMYGOD!!!!!!!!

I realized this was a big deal when my very dear friend, Britt, who ranks among the 90 finalists and is very famous on the Internet, screamed, I HATE YOU!!! upon finding out I was chosen to read my post aloud.

The great thing about being friends with Britt is that if you want to know whether or not something that’s happened to you is a big deal or not, you just have to wait for that I HATE YOU!! and then you know it’s a big deal.  I HATE YOU!! in Britt-speak means, I am so incredibly proud of you that I want to weep sweet tears of joy.

It’s a complicated and highly nuanced language.

So, my dear friends, you are now reading the blog of a BlogHer Voice of the Year.

I want a take a moment to thank a few people who need to be recognized for their incredible contribution to my blog.

I started this blog a little less than three years ago, just to get my voice out there, just so I could feel heard.  As any blogger knows, those initial posts were sparse on the comments.

We can all say it’s about the writing and expression, but deep down we know the comments let us know someone is listening… in the beginning, it let me know someone cared.

Tariq, Adam, Britt, Sybil Law, B.E. Earl, futurowoman, Mr. & Mrs. Traci, Mr. & Mrs. Shabina and RW?

In the beginning, it was you that made me feel heard and let me know that someone cared and that someone was reading.  Your regular commentary propelled me in such a way that I began to grow as a blogger, as a writer and as a person.  Even now, when I write a post, you are the first ones whose opinion I consider.  Then, of course, I write whatever I want even if I think you’re going to hate it.

But you are still the ones I think of first.

This Voice of the Year thing?  You helped me get here.   So much so, that I would say that I would not be here if it weren’t for you.  So, thank you.

That said, every single person that has ever read or commented on this blog is also very important to me.  If I had the time, I would list each of your names, as well.

You are the ones that continue make me feel heard and thus each of you fulfill a very important role in my every day life.  You are my anchors when I am adrift in a perceived state of loneliness.

So, thank you for reading.

I appreciate you and honor each of you as well for having contributed in a very important way to my receiving this opportunity to present my work.

(I’d also like to thank God without which none of this would be possible, the Academy and David Boreanaz.)

(Trite and expected, but completely necessary.)

(Well, the David Boreanaz thing was a little unexpected, right?)