As you probably know, from reading Jenn’s post earlier this week, we went to Type A Mom  last week, in Asheville, North Carolina.

She covered some of the sessions I also attended, so I won’t reiterate those. Honestly, I just want to talk about the way the conference felt, and the images that are still in my mind. Sure, I’ll tell you about the sessions I attended and the Town Hall meeting, but not in this post.

So, when we were planning on going to Type A Mom, just as attendees not as sponsors, I admit to having some reservations – I expected to not really fit in there, to feel awkward at best, and to be stuck in a small town with nothing to do in the downtime after sessions each day. Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

I have a tendency to smile at people, to talk to strangers, and to hope for the best – it’s just my nature, and that worked out very well. I smiled, and these ladies, a few men, and a handful of babies smiled back. I talked to them, they talked to me; we related over so many things – ideas, struggles, fears, parenting, art, food, and travel. You name it. We had conversations, long meals spent talking, walks around Asheville, and asides during sessions. I do wish I had taken more photos of people and with people – but we were there to talk, engage and learn, so I did exactly that. It wasn’t about photo-ops with bloggers. I did, however, take tons of photos of Asheville during my walks, and that post is coming soon (I did include some teaser shots here, though!)!

I can’t list everyone here (because it’s a long long list) and yes, Jenn did mention some of these people, but I do want to “shout out” some of the most memorable for me: I loved talking with Chrissy (of http://mamaslittlehelper.org/), Sherry (of http://www.babypop.com/) about all things challenging and loads of ideas. Don’t worry, Sherry, I will totally be following up with you! I loved hearing about Amethyst’s (of http://lifemusiclaughter.blogspot.com/) all women Pirate Crews in Tampa and the awesome fundraising she does. I laughed with Shell (of http://thingsicantsay-shell.blogspot.com/) as she related stories about her kids, and about what it’s like to upset the family with blog posts (hence her blog name!). I was really affected by energy and warmth of Megan (of http://velveteenmind.com/), when we just struck up a conversation and I loved relating to her about modeling behavior, communicating clearly, and how people over-politicize almost everything. I wish I had more time with her; I am definitely ordering her magazine.

I let the very funny and ever-present Robyn (of http://www.pensieve.me/) photograph pretty much my whole body, for her “Tattoos of Type A Mom’ project – yeah, me being the most tattooed person a Type A – what a shock! Robyn is adorably sassy and sweet. Lisa (of http://www.studiojewel.com/) – one of the sexiest home-schooling jewelry making lady who plays with fire you could imagine kindly gave away handmade jewelry keyrings, set up her wares in the Mom Market, and literally sold the pieces off her neck to other moms. Then there’s one of the most good-humored women I’ve ever met (and we talked at BlogHer too), Kris (of http://www.littletechgirl.com/) – just look at how cute she is in the photo with her friend’s baby. This woman has 2 sets of twins of her own, damn!

I surprised Dave Griner (of http://www.thesocialpath.com/) by mentioning his AdWeek article and we had a long talk about marketing. There was our buddy Jaime who was there for work as part of ShopatHome’s booth, but also blogs at http://www.denimdebutante.com/; we shared many jokes and comments throughout the conference. And my sister from another mister (I am sure) the totally lovable, mildly foulmouthed and completely hilarious-Robin (of http://www.ballstothewallyall.com/)

The moral of this story, for me, is that there is community everywhere – and this community sees us, accepts us, wants to talk to us, to tell us things, and hear our thoughts. We are all just trying to relate, to understand, to be better. Thank you to all of the lovely people we met, or met up with again, for sharing the love!