Reconnecting with friends in both Massachusetts and Vermont on Facebook, I was already craving their good company and a bit of Fall weather New England style. At the same time, I was researching social media measurement workshops knowing that at least one queen of all things measured in marketing and communications was a New Hampshire resident. It didn’t take long to find a combination of the two. And that’s how at least one Texan will be in attendance at the 4th Annual Society of New Communications Research Symposium held in Cambridge, MA sitting front and center for the Social Media Metrics & Measurement Workshop presented by Katie Paine of KDPaine & Partners LLC. Woo hoo!
Excited doesn’t begin to describe my feelings only four days away from travel. I try to reign it in a bit in front of family, not wanting to gloat as I anticipate some personal time away. It’s a mini mommy escape and I plan to savor every minute.
First up, time with Amanda and Travis Miller. Amanda and I first met in ASL classes at the New York Society for the Deaf. Classes were conducted entirely in sign language so we made arrangments to meet over weekly dinners to practice. We dutifuly struggled through an hour or less of Level One phrases with LOTS of fingerspelling (How do you sign a-r-t g-a-l-l-e-r-y?) only to spend the next hour clarifying the previous attempt at conversation. The SOHO art gallery was her day job and she lived with Travis, a rabbit and at least two cats in Brooklyn. We became fast friends since she is easily one of the nicest people I have ever met. Her sweet gentle spirit, brings a sense of calm and intelligence to all settings. Travis is one of those wicked smart guys you’d want on your Trivia Pursuit teams. He charmed Amanda in college and they are a perfect pair. He’s the ying to her yang and vice versa. One of those friendships that picks up right where we left off, I haven’t seen them for approximately five and a half years. So Wednesday evening and Thursday morning is our time to catch-up.
Thursday and Friday will be a little swimming. Not in a pool but rather through the information provided by research experts in the field of social media measurement, metrics, applications, trends and more. I’m feeling a bit like a fish out of water but only through first allowing the information to wash over me can I begin to wade through it in order to find a place to swim. I’ve been reading several articles, papers and blogs on social media and find the leaders in those areas share from experience at large organizations with corporate brands that are able to fund some hefty budgets for PR and/or marketing research. It’s always interesting to find a way to apply those same processes to our agency work.
After the conference, I’ll reconnect with Jim Alberghini and family. Jim and my dearest friend Denys Baker worked together in NYC. By the time he and I met, however, he had transferred his production management gig to a regional theatre in Massachusetts. We too became fast friends through a mutual fondness for production management, nature hikes and a sharp sense of humor. When he was in New York or I in New Hampshire, we’d banter wits over one of those never ending pasta bowls discussing books, theatre and life. Jim was always good company. His visits to NYC were fewer and far between, however, when he started a family with wife, Ari. Our paths would cross again though with the news that his first daughter was born deaf. I made arrangements for him to meet my friends, those that would welcome her into their culture and world with a capital D – Deaf. But like many heartbroken hearing parents challenged to find what’s right for their child and concerned about any communication gaps, Jim and Ari’s hearts lead them to cochlear implants. In the few exchanges we’ve had over the years, it’s clear there is no regret. He reports that she is incredibly, “scary smart” and doing very well.
So I look forward to relaxing and catching up with my friends and breathing in that crisp New England air. And while I LOVE my children, I want very much a short break from parenting. I’m excited to learn whatever new information is shared at the Harvard Faculty Club by the Society for New Communications Research gurus. But at the end of it all, I promise to get back on the plane and come home.
Dressed in red, donned with pearls, hair curled and quaffed, Dorothy received her visitors with a warm smile and a tight squeeze of each hand to her cheek followed by kisses. “Oh, darlin’! I’m so glad you came.” It was her 95th birthday celebration and family traveled from all over Texas to share their love and well wishes with Memaw.