The awesome Courtney Kendrick of CJanerun.com
announced an event that she was putting together in St George, UT
earlier this month. It would be a gathering. A gathering of fans and
fellow writers. There would be Courtney, cupcakes and candid
conversation. I was excited for the opportunity to meet Courtney. You
get the feeling from her blog that she is super cool, easy going and
could be your best friend if only you lived on her street. (And I do
love her street.) That's the kind of person I'd like to hang out with. I
couldn't pass up the opportunity.
Shar and I off on an adventure
I decided to throw
responsibility to the wind and hop in the car for a quick mid-week, 6 hour drive
to St George. I was very blessed to have my friend Shar follow my bad
example...I mean free spirited
nature and decide to come along with me. Hey, we're not trying to win
any awards here. We've just learned to take opportunities for fun when
they're offered. It's totally necessary.
Being weird as usual
Not only was
the gathering fun but completely interesting and validating. Courtney
and her husband Christopher (aka Chup) read some of their writings
first. They were sweet and funny and adoring of one another as always.
Courtney had invited some of the writers in attendance to read as well. I was one of them! I chose to read
my post entitled "A real friend stabs you in the front." It was my first time reading my own work outloud in front of an audience.I was so nervous.While I
realize that I send my writings out into the universe with a click of
the keyboard, letting anyone and everyone view them, it was very
different to sit in front of a group of strangers and read aloud
claiming myself to be a writer.
Maybe the stress had some significant effect on me as is evident in the above photo.
St George LDS Temple
Yummiest cupcakes
I
introduced myself to the group and gave ample reasons why I wasn't a
stalker for driving across two states to meet Courtney. I read my post.
Others read as well. They were all beautiful and funny and inspiring. We
received great advice on photography for our blogs from Haley.
We were able to have some Q&A with Courtney and some Meet and
Greet/photo time. It was a pleasure and Courtney is truly lovely. I hope
you have the chance to meet her someday. Even with all of my unorthodox
talk of dead dogs and traveling from afar to meet strangers she
insisted that I let her know if I made it to one of her concerts she's
organizing this summer in Provo.
Maybe she just wanted extra security if
she knew I would be there?
