Deep in the Heart of Texas...

I think one of the disappointments in photoblogging live events, is that, if you miss that one perfect photo, it won't come round again so you can snap it.  And so it was with tonight's events.  There was so much to see and hear and to participate in, that I know tomorrow, I will kick myself for not capturing more of it via some digital software.  It will almost be forever lost.  "Almost" in the sense that the participants will have those moments locked away in the repository of their observant brains.  Most of us will never likely have access to it again and I guess that why I am still blogging here.  I wanted this blog to capture as much of the flavor of the Fiesta as I could technically capture.  I am not even sure I did that.  I know that there were others who snapped photos and made recordings.  What I don't know is whether or not they will ever be willing to share them here. 

So all the laptops got unplugged, the WiFi connections, disconnected, the cameras put back in their storage bags, the tables cleared away, and the happy Webheads on to their next event....

I tucked Vance and Dusty into my Mom's car and gave them a lift back to their hotel, and then I headed once more into the dark and the heart of Texas.  It was a two hour drive back to Victoria for me.  And in that two hours, dozens of thoughts and ideas and regrets and smiles tumbled about through my head.  There was soooo much to contemplate....so much to absorb.

About halfway back to my brother's house, I came into a dense low-lying fog.  I could barely see the road.  It almost seemed that that fog outside, matched the one in my head.  It served to remind me that, though it would take several days to sort out my thoughts, I would eventually find my way, just like I did through that ocean fog in the middle of the night twixt San Antonio and Victoria, Texas.

This thing I had experienced tonight was not a common thing.  Indeed, it was quite uncommon.  And even if I could bring that same group together again under similar circumstances, this one peculiar event would never be experienced again in the same manner.  It was a one-of-a-kind encounter.  And now, it was locked up inside my head.  I knew that tomorrow, when I began to blog about the event, that my mind would prove a feeble container for all the real and virtual things that had occured.  But it was all I had and all I have now.  Not much more than a handful of digital images and a mindful of random thoughts and memories.

I encourage all who attended, whether live or virtual to spend just a moment here, and recount what it meant to you.  I don't think any of us have a sense of how long a "blog" like this will exist, but it is nice to think that someday, someone will pull it from the internet, like a dusty book from an old musky library shelf, and review it's contents and breath a deep breath and having perused it's contents, say to themselves...."Man, I wish I could have been there....That was awesome."

elderbob

   

Comments

[Sus Nyrop]

My dear virtual friend and online colleague, Bob!

I've followed your fiesta project since the early conception of the idea I think. And I'm so proud to know you and feel good you realized all this. Although of course this would not have been realized without the actors willing to collaborate and come to the party, I know you have been the primary drive in getting this into action.

As a side efect of this getting together online as well as in san Antonio, I received an invitation from Chrissan in Sweden while we were getting to know each other, and Rita, in a long and social, deep chat while we were looking for something to happen over there in San Antonio!

So for me personally, this means now that I'm going to visit Chrissan in Trollhättan next month!!

Please check out my blog regarding this and my report about the WIA WiFi fiesta 2005

[Elizabeth Hanson-Smith]

Hey Bob--
"Awesome" is definitely the adjective to describe your role in bringing us all together--both virtually online and f2f on land.

Through the noise and confusion we created some wonderful moments:

Traveling with Ana and Jane by riverboat on the San Antonio River canals to the bottom of Houston St was magical...

Vance and I talking online to each other at opposite ends of the table, when we couldn't hear each other on land; Vance exclaiming, "Another new use for audio online--why didn't we think of this before!"

The dizzy walk home to the Menger with fellow Webheads--just a few short quiet blocks end a mellow evening.

Thanks to all you Webheads!

Elizabeth