Hot Air Balloon over Albuquerque ©2008 Bo Mackison
There are many reasons to keep a blog. When I started this blog just over a year ago, my goals were straight-forward. I wanted to practice my photography, a brand new skill then, and commit to a daily practice of posting a photograph. Simple enough.
In a matter of a few weeks, the blogging grew into a habit I enjoyed. Not only did my photos improve, but after many months they began to attract some attention on their own. Some people asked to buy copies; a couple of non-profits asked permission to use a photo or two in their various organizations. The exposure also led to a writing gig for a Wisconsin Travel blog. And I developed a core of readers who visited regularly, left comments, and whom I visited in return. And so I thought that is what blogging accomplished and I was quite pleased with the results. Little did I realize there would be more.
Last spring, I discovered a writers’ blog, red Ravine, and submitted a couple of writing pieces to the site. They were published and I found I enjoyed that experience. I also enjoyed the red Ravine community and began reading the blog regularly and commenting. I exchanged a few e-mails with one of rR’s founders, ybonesy. Ybonesy often writes about place on her blog. In her case, place is New Mexico.
When I began making plans to travel in the Southwest, I dropped ybonesy a note, telling her I would be in her neighborhood, in person. Was she interested in meeting for coffee or lunch? She responded enthusiastically and so we began our planning.
Last week, I arrived on her doorstep with my spouse and camper in tow. We explored her awesome piece of land, I met the snake and the turkeys and the dogs she so often blogs about. Her husband Jim greeted us as well, and shared his enthusiasm for the wide open spaces in New Mexico. Then we went to the perfect local restaurant, Perea’s Tijuana Bar, where we indulged in carne adovada and tamales. It was a truly delightful experience – great food plus face-to-face conversation with a “blogger friend”. I’m a self-avowed introvert and this was a remarkable feat for me. I had a great visit and I felt like I had rediscovered a long-gone friend.
When we all blog together, we do get to know a lot about each other, but the connection isn’t quite complete. It is very nice to actually meet someone from the virtual world in the real world. Very nice, indeed.
I hope, ybonesy, if you or another frequent visitor at the Seeded Earth ever visit Wisconsin, you’ll drop me a note. I’d love to share my part of the country in the same manner you shared your part of the country with me.
Blogging has a lot of benefits. Exposure, a bit of profit, new gigs, virtual friendships all around the world. Now I can add another plus – new friends to meet in new places. Wow! This is pretty awesome stuff.
Thanks, ybonesy, for the wonderful visit. It was great meeting you after learning so much about you from your writing and art. This kind of connection really makes blogging come alive.
About Bo Mackison
Isn’t it wonderful where blogging can take us? Sounds like this experience was the icing on the cake for your trip.
Meeting blogging friends ‘for real’ this year has been a wonderful experience for me too. I can’t wait for more of it.
I too am an introvert. A sort of hermit, really. I like a day when I wake up and know I don’t have to drive anywhere. I started my blog nearly one year ago myself. I didn’t even think of the photos I would end up taking. But now, I find myself driving out into the country, looking at things through the eye of what it might look like through a camera lens. And a camera is now a part of my everyday life. I am going to meet a “blogging friend” myself next month. We talk on the phone all the time these days! Yes, blogging is a wonderful outlet for us “introverts.”
Brenda
Hey, you, I’ve had a most stressful day, and so this post comes as such a treat. It was a fun visit, wasn’t it? I could have hung out with you two all day long.
Most of my family and friends know this area so well and so it’s not very often that I get to go out take visitors to places like Perea’s. I mean, it’s such an authentic little spot. I ate there yesterday—friends from work (they had the carne adovada Frito pie). Once a week.
It was so great to meet you, too, Bo. And Mr. Bo. You’re right, the in-person visit has made blogging come to life for me, too. And I’ll take you up on that offer if I get to your part of the States.
Oh, and one other thing I will say—given that we get to know one another through our art and our writing, I do think there’s a connection there that’s stronger than expected. I felt like I had known you for a long time.
Darn, I meant to tell you that the photo is so COOL! What a great starburst. Your photography from this trip has been stellar.
I love that we can meet the people who are just words in the Web and make them real. And the “enchantment” of that is a miracle in today’s world. You sure let a lot of sunshine into your life on this trip!
Blogging truly is amazing!!!! Fantastic image. Love how you’ve captured the sun’s rays. WOW!
I love reading about your journey, Bo:) I have ofen thought that when we take a trip to Wisconsin, I will let you know. I will keep that in my thoughts for the future…until then…I will visit you often and delight in your photos and writing!
Susan
Wonderful shot Bo, this is a hard shot to accomplish sometimes, you did great with this one !!
How did you get the sun to shine like that? Blogs seem neat. I think sometimes I would like to do one, it looks like a lot of time though.
I absolutely love this capture, Bo. That enormous sunburst with the balloon silhouetted. Superb. I’ve enjoyed the sharing of your trip in descriptive writing and excellent photos. As a sort of a hermit, I can relate as to the blogging, and opening up, with meeting of new experiences and faces. I just bet you and ybonesy talked nonstop. What fun! 🙂
Great post, wonderful shot.
🙂