The Blogger Lunch

Over a year ago I came across the blog Pulsipher Predilections. I don't know if it is the humor, the constant mocking of celebrities, or the obsession with Snuggies, but it has since been one of my favorite blogs. Kristina occasionally sponsors lunches for her blogging friends in the area. After missing two prior events, I decided to attend her most recent lunch, which was a fundraiser to provide Snuggies for seniors in nursing homes.

I consider myself a quiet person and have never been accused of being the life of the party, so showing up to meet 50 bloggers I don't know was a step out of my comfort zone. Luckily, the event was held at a Golden Corral, which gave me enough incentive to show up. I pulled up to the restaurant and parked for a minute and watched many women arriving with bags of Snuggies they had collected for the event.

I was nervous for a couple reasons. First of all, this was the first time I'd been introduced to someone I met online, and I've heard McGruff say that those kind of meetings can be dangerous. Just imagine that danger and multiply it by 50. I also felt kind of like someone on the Maury Povich show waiting to meet a long lost relative. My other concern was that I have been blogging pretty much anonymously for years under the alias Chaka and have a secret identity to keep. I felt the same kind of anxiety Batman might have if someone ripped his mask off in public.

I finally went in and made my way to the section of the restaurant where the bloggers were seated. I had obviously expected a higher woman to man ratio, but I as unprepared for what I saw. I was the only guy among the 40 or so excited blogging women. This was a lunch for bloggers, not scrap-booking, so where were all the guys? (No offense to any of you wussy guys who scrapbook.)

I felt a little awkward, but Kristina was a gracious host and made me feel comfortable and even sat at my table. It reminded me of when the hillbilly gets invited to a fancy dinner, slurps from his soup bowl, and the host does the same thing to make him feel comfortable. OK, not the best analogy, but all the women around me were nice and made me feel at ease.

I was surprised at all the Snuggies that were donated. Everyone had a great time, and I had 5 plates of food. As I waddled out of the restaurant, I was glad I went. We should all get out of our comfort zones more often.