A peek at our in-real-life meetup

As you know, reader PD organized an FG meetup through my blog back in March (She was thinking ahead!), and the day arrived last Saturday. 

I wore my new blue dress because it is SO lightweight. Perfect for a hot June day.

We did things largely the same as last year: a bring-your-own picnic lunch under a free pavilion at a free park, as befits a gathering of frugal people. 😉 

And amazingly enough, PD had enough self-adhesive CD labels for us to use them as name tags again this year. Ha. (leftovers from the era of physical media!)

My tags from both years

(This is a group where you can confidently do such things without worrying that someone will consider you cheap.)

We also did a fun little free swap, with each of us bringing things to give away, and then PD took the leftovers to donate to a thrift store. Such a perfect activity for us.

Obviously I had to pick this up from the free swap 😉

Part of the purpose of this gathering was to celebrate my graduation, so PD made these cupcakes, and the toppers made me giggle. I love them! 

So cute! 

Unbeknownst to me, everyone who RSVPed contributed to a group gift by submitting words that made them think of me.

And then reader Beth (in the blue shirt in the above photo. She drove three hours to attend!!), put them together into a piece of framed word art for me. 

I love it so much!

If you asked me to think of a more perfect gift, I’m not sure I could; it is just so heartwarming and personal.

Here’s a close-up of it so that you can read the smaller words. 

Some of these make me tear up when I read them…I am seriously so touched. 

Beth made this word by word in Canva, and I can only imagine how long that took. Thank you, Beth! 

Here’s a group photo of us, shared with everyone’s permission. 🙂 

I love getting to meet readers outside of the internet; it’s a lovely reminder that what we do here is actually something tangible and real, and that makes my heart happy. 

One reader in attendance shared with me how she’d been through a cancer diagnosis in 2020, and how the community here was a bright spot for her in the midst of an impossibly difficult time.

You guys made a difference in her life, just by being here. Isn’t that so awesome? It is the wonderful side of what the internet offers us as humans: the ability to touch others even from such a distance. 

I facilitate this by providing an internet meeting place, but you all make the space what it is. Thank you for being part of this community! 

And I know I’ve said it before, but truly, thank you all for cheering me on through my nursing schooling. I felt real support and encouragement from you all, and I’m so thankful to have you guys in my corner. 🙂 

Several of the readers in attendance asked if I’ve ever thought about quitting blogging, and I said, “Nope!”

I love writing here, I love that my work here helps people, and also, if I didn’t have my blog, I would miss you all too much. You are a real and wonderful part of my life. Lucky me!  

And I wish I could meet all of you in real life and give you a big hug. 🙂 

P.S. Big, big thanks to PD for putting this gathering she is a master at organizing something lovely, but simple and unfussy. Love it!