I am writing this from gate K11 at Chicago’s O’hare airport.  It is a clear Sunday morning as I sit here waiting for my return flight to Boston.  My back warms as the sun peers through the floor-to-ceiling glass pane windows behind me overlooking the runway.

An hour ago I bid farewell to one of my closest blog friends, Lou. He is the type of friend who insists upon driving me to and from the airport during my stay in Chicago, even though he had never met me in person.

Thirty minutes prior, I gave a sleepy hug to my roommate Tara. Another blog friend, who graciously offered to share her hotel room with me, a complete stranger in real life.

It is these relationships, along with so many others I’ve made through blogging that made this trip to BlogHer worthwhile. As I sit here with tired eyes and sore feet from long convention days, I cannot help but wonder if the idea behind BlogHer is really for me.  Perhaps it was the endless swag attendees clamored to get their hands on, the loud parties where you could hardly carry a conversation, or the break out sessions focused on SEO, branding, and monetization that made me question if I really fit into this world of blogging.

Bombarded with all of that, I couldn’t care less.

Not to mention, well before the 2009 event had ended, they announced the dates and location for the 2010 convention and began registration. Many of us who attended last week still have yet to even pay off the huge expense it was to attend this year.

As for the BlogHer convention itself, I am still glad I made the trip.  I had the opportunity to meet amazing bloggers I’ve followed over the years face-to-face, and explored the gorgeous streets of downtown Chicago.  Plus, the time spent away all to myself was priceless.

So although I find myself walking away from this experience with more questions than I had walking into it, my hope is to always focus my efforts on writing as well as the bonds created here. As my good friend Lou puts it so well, “It’s not about you.  It’s not about me.  It’s about us.”

In photos above (starting from top left to right): Me, Karen MEG, Anissa, BusyDad (Jim).  Angela, Dave Lieberman from the Food Network, me.  Me, Mrs. Potato Head, AsianMommy. Tara and Heather.  Me with Just Miss.  Cara, me, Nap Warden.  Chicago snapshots taken from the Navy Pier.