The day I met Mighty Girl
It has been over a month since this thing happened so I’m just going to get on with it already. Sorry for the delay.
Probably the coolest, fan-girl thing that happened to me when I went to NYC for BlogHer happened on Saturday during the conference. I was heading downstairs past the registration tables and saw someone standing with her red, voluminous hair facing me and her face in a fold out schedule. By the time I registered who it was I had already boarded the down escalator and without really thinking it out, I bolted up the downward-moving steps and past two baffled bloghers. I timidly approached her, ignoring the throbbing in my foot that was a signal that my move was less graceful than I’d hoped.
“Maggie?” I said.
She turned around and smiled, saying, “Yes?”
What came out of my mouth next was, I’m sure, very jumbled and very not impressive but I spilled my guts to that woman. I told her how much I admired her writing and her site and how I knew it was her by her very distinctive style. She picked me out a business card based on my appreciation of her outfit, asked me for mine. She mentioned her friend Mike Montiero and his “I’m not angry, I’m from Philly” t-shirt and she told me, without prompting, that she would check out my site. I almost died. That woman is classy, y’all.
I told myself that in appreciation to her and her grace in meeting an obviously wacko person, I’d write my life list. Truthfully, this thing is intimidating to me and I know she says to just do it and not to think about it too much so here goes!
1. Travel to Italy and visit the places where my mom’s grandparents are from. I have always wanted to go and since I never really traveled abroad for pleasure as an adult (read: since graduating college) I sort of feel like it’s not going to happen. But now it’s on my life list. So.
2. See a World Series game. Preferably a Phillies appearance.
3. Take an art class with Bruno. My mom and I took a pottery class when I was a kid and it was some of the funnest stuff. I’d like to give my boy that kind of experience some day.
4. Learn how to manage my blog. I am woefully ignorant as to how this thing works and I mostly always have to ask Jon Solomon for help. I know he doesn’t mind but I should really learn.
5. Remodel my bathroom and take a sledgehammer to my tub. I used to watch the television show Bathroom Renovations and I loved watching Amy Matthews bust up a cast iron bathtub. So bad ass. And so within my range of skills that it’s silly for me not to do it. The making it look nice again part? Might take some study.
OK! I did it! It’s not much yet, sure, but it’s a start and I am going to put it on it’s very own page so we can always find it and add to it and check things off.
Thank you, Maggie Mason! You made my day all those weeks ago and I’ll never forget it.


Hi Beth,
Aw. What a nice post! And now I need to add something sledgehammer related to my own Life List. It was great to meet you, and thanks for all the kind words.
Best,
Maggie
You’re quite welcome!
xox
awwww, girl crushin!
i know you have many, many resources at your disposal to better deal with the sledgehammer task, but if you want just one more i’d be happy to talk you through what clay and i (or, really mostly just clay) did.
xoxox
I would absolutely accept your guidance! We are, unfortunately, no where near a bathroom remodel considering there is still a hole the entire length of the wall long in our dining area. It was put there to fix our stack pipe, like, a year ago. Once we get a handle on that, though, I will call you up.
xox
Count me in on that Italy trip!
xoxox
mom
Good to see you back on the blagon (blog wagon) again. I’ve missed your posts.
I’d be jumbling my words, too. I love Maggie’s site and I love her, too.
You’re sweet, Jeffy. It’s been a busy fall so far. I’ll do better!
Yeah, you are back….I have also missed your inspirational and entertaining stories as well. I’m so glad you are taking the time to pursue something you love…..keep on writing! You are an awesome writer and you inspire those of us who are afraid to take the first steps towards a new journey we have dreamt about.
I’m late in commenting but I just think it’s cool that a blogger can inspire another blogger. And I like your life list. Exciting and doable.
Maybe I need one?
I think you should! I took me forever to finally do it but it’s all stuff I want to do anyway. Now I’m beholden to the internet!