I have a feeling there will be repetitive diaries on this subject - but here goes mine...
I was a weepy mess still clutching my orange lanyard as I passed the Riviera one last time on my way to the airport this morning (4:50 a.m. ugh!). The weekend had completely drained me and yet had renewed me in my personal fights as well as the fight to put the United States back into the hands of its people - I am fired up!
Although I had registered for the convention, bought my tickets and reserved my room several months ago, I had some anxiety about attending a conference with such savvy and articulate people, some of whom had become my blog-heroes over the last two years. But even finding out I had cancer didn't stop me from being here... I told my doctors this would be among the most important things I would do this year so I would start chemo when I returned home.
I learned a lot, attending sessions on education, healthcare, science (Chris Mooney rocks) as well as sitting in on the intriguing discussion CIA leak investigation and some lively "meet the candidates" sessions. And I truly enjoyed "tinfoil hat design" - and wouldn't you know... when they showed the candid photos on the big screen last night, there was me wearing mine... it was my first hat... and not the most flattering thing. I was even interviewed about it by a reporter from the Times UK... the look on his face told me he didn't get the sarcasam... so I quickly corrected that situation - God forbid he think I really meant some of those things I said.
I met another member of the press corps at Mark Warner's party. We had a chat in the elevator and just as a matter of course I asked him who he voted for in '04... stammering for a moment, he said "I guess you can figure it out" so I asked him - "how's that working out for you?" He doesn't like Bush but he still managed to downplay our existence by saying "we" - the blogger community - and dailykos - do not have the impact we think we do. I smiled at him as he discounted our power and told him that all of these people - Mark Warner, Bill Richardson, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Joe Wilson, et al - were attending our function, we weren't attending theirs - and that they se the difference we we're making... and so does the MSM - Congress and the general public... they wouldn't talk so much about us if we didn't make an impact.
One thing (of the many) that struck me is how accessible these speakers were - to the point of being available for discussions in the hallways - and have to admit that I felt like a political groupie by the end with all the autographed books (I have a lot of reading to do) and even a big hug from Senator Harry Reid.
As I left, I felt sad - the trouble with YearlyKos is that it's over and I have to wait another year to share this kind of experience - and it will be different next year - nothing ever remains the same - but I'm no longer discouraged - I'm ready to work again - hard - I'm ready to be relentless about securing our freedom (love that Lakoff).
Post Script: In line at the airport, I started chatting with Jane, a woman from Las Vegas, I told her why I was there - she told me she had seen Markos on Meet the Press this morning and was impressed by how articulate he was and found his opinions provocative. I shared some of the highlights of the last three days with her, let her read a chapter from AdvisorJim's "Confessions of a Former Dittohead" and invited her to join us next year - she said yes. I'll be sending her the link to dailykos right after I post this diary. (So Gina if you're reading this - I already have my new person to bring to the next one)
It's nap time so I'll see you all next year!