Standing Together at the "Rock"

Cammy, Karen, Sharon and Michele standing together at the "Rock"

Little Rock, Arkansas - October 8, 2011

You will be reading this early on Monday morning, but I am writing it early on Sunday morning.  I have a long travel day ahead of me with houseguests waiting when I arrive at home.  There will be no time to write a post and in the quiet of this morning sitting on my bed at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Little Rock, Arkansas, I knew I couldn't wait to get some initial thoughts written down.  

How could I have missed the significance of Little Rock being the place these four bloggers met for a weekend of sharing, laughing and creating the "rock" of friendship and support that jumped off the pages of BlogWorld becoming a part of our RealWorld.  Geographically, Little Rock made sense.  Symbolically, Little Rock became much more.  

As you can see from the picture, there really is a "rock" and it isn't little at all.  "Little Rock was named for a stone outcropping on the bank of the Arkansas River used by early travelers as a landmark. La Petite Roche (French for "the Little Rock"), named in 1721 by French explorer and trader Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe, marked the transition from the flat Mississippi Delta region to the Ouachita Mountain foothills. Travelers referred to the area as "the Little Rock", and the landmark name stuck."

We are each bringing a piece of the "rock" back to our respective homes both figuratively and literally (kitschy souvenirs from Visitor Center's are wonderful things!!), and I suspect the memories will last a long time in our hearts.  I know they will in mine.  

More thoughts later on what I learned and how the weekend impacted my thoughts on blogging, friendship and this journey to healthy living on which we are traveling, but for today, just enjoy a few pictures of four girls who didn't just WANT to have fun, we really HAD some fun!!

 In front of the Curran Hall Visitor Center - Little Rock, Arkansas

Early Saturday morning, October 8 - Just getting started!!

 The newly opened Clinton Pedestrian Bridge beside the Clinton Presidential Library.

 Group shot on the Clinton Pedestrian Bridge.  Left to right - Sharon, Cammy, Michele, Karen

 Touring downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock from the street car.

Cammy enjoying the ride on the authentic Little Rock streetcar.

We were all smiling - LUNCH was next!!!

Check out their blogs for their thoughts and more pictures.  Cammy blogs at Tippy Toe Diet,  Karen blogs at Waisting Time Blog.  Michele formerly blogged with her brother, Josh at Healthy Cultivations.  Because of a very hectic schedule and preparing to take the bar exam, she is not currently blogging, but I expect we'll see her return in the near future and I look forward to that.  

I've said it before - I'll say it again!  If you have the opportunity to meet one or more of the friends you've made in BlogWorld, do not pass up the chance.  It adds depth and it adds strength!  

These Outrageous October days had so many new things, I don't know where to start:

October 5 - Met travel blog friends, Gene and Judi, for the first time and we hiked a new trail.

October 6 - Visited the Trenton Teapot Museum in Trenton, Tennessee.

October 7 - Took Little Rock by storm with friends Karen, Cammy and Michele!!

I hope your October is proving to be Outrageous!