A good Good Friday (and an unexpected gift)

For some time now, I have enjoyed a friendly parallel blogging relationship with the Elgin Street Irregulars. They’re a local group blog with a stable of clever writers and interesting characters. At first they puzzled me with all their in-jokes and self-referential wanking, but I persevered and after awhile I began to “get” them, and then I found them cleverly amusing, and eventually I couldn’t get enough of them.

I entered their contests and even won one of them. Unfortunately I won the one whose prize I didn’t want, and lost the one whose prize I wanted. (This was actually so clever I’d love to tell you about it, but so complex I can’t even begin to explain it.)

Several days ago, the ESI’s Fourth Dwarf invited me to join the ESIs at their usual spot following their next emergency meeting on Good Friday.

I of course was delighted to get an opportunity to meet them in person, having known them virtually for so long. At the same time I was a little shy about it, because lots of people like my blog persona, but what if they like that persona more than they like the real me? That would be kind of sad all round. You know what I mean?

But I went anyway and they were lovely people, all of them, charming and witty and friendly and clever. I liked them every bit as much in person as I do on their blog. I had already met the Fourth Dwarf and Aggie and Woodsy, and yesterday I got to meet Coyote, Conch Shell, Harmony, Audrey and The Chair. Now I’ve met them all except the elusive Independent Observer.

The local bloggers were out in full force yesterday. We went to two different drinking establishments over the course of the afternoon, and ran into Jo Stockton, another local blogger, in BOTH of them. And someone mentioned a possible sighting of Andrea as well.

My favourite line of the afternoon belonged to Audrey, the ESI’s Italian correspondent. I’m afraid I can’t provide any context because I am bound by Audrey’s Rule, but I think this line can stand on its own: “I would have slept with me if I were him.” Indeed.

The ESIs gave me an unexpected gift which they said was in recognition of my success in the Canadian Blogging Awards. It took me a couple of minutes to “get” it. Those ESIs are so subtle and clever. I opened it up and it looked like a video. Hmmm. I read the title “Zoom Gets Her Mojo.” “How clever,” I thought, “where on earth did they find this obscure video with my name in the title?” (I’m reasonably intelligent, but I’m not especially swift.)

Then I felt a little jolt of recognition as I looked at the cover. It was me! And Duncan! “Whoa,” I thought, “I don’t remember making a movie with Duncan!”

It took a few more seconds to realize it was NOT a video. It was a mojo kit! And you know what? When the ESIs had that contest months ago – the contest where whoever suggested the best prize would win the contest and win the prize they suggested – I had entered and said I wanted to win a mojo kit, and I wanted each of the ESIs to contribute an item to the mojo kit. And yesterday, months later, even though I lost the contest because they weren’t feeling the mojo that day (Tiana won, by the way – she got a handmade Christmas ornament), they unexpectedly presented me with my mojo kit, cleverly disguised as a video!

Inside were all kinds of sweet little gifts from those clever ESIs. There were two buttons from Conch Shell (I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this, but I have a collection of thousands of buttons), a handmade portable heart from Aggie, a safety Q-Tip from the Fourth Dwarf, a compass to help me find my way from The Chair, half a pair-a-dice to cast when I’m struggling with Options Paralysis Disorder from the Independent Observer, a piece of Bon Echo Park agate from Coyote, and a Haida Gwai shell from Woodsy.

Every now and then someone gives you a gift that resonates – it’s just the perfect gift at the perfect time. This Mojo Kit is one of those gifts and I’m going to cherish it forever. Thank you very much, ESIs! It was a pleasure meeting you.