Thursday, July 14, 2016

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Spanky Ladies







If you are reading this blog, you are probably either already a spanked wife or trying to figure out how to become one.  If you are still in the "wannabe" stage, stay the course.  The rewards of a ttwd relationship are many and even life-changing for some of us.  Looking back to the initial months of our big transformation, I thought I knew how the connection between Sam and I would develop.  At that time I thought the only thing we needed for TTWD  was the two of us.  This turned out to be a very narrow perspective. 
  


                                                                     

So now consider the Internet and private blogs Re: Spanking.  Is a knowledge of these sources absolutely essential to Sam and I practicing ttwd?  The answer is no.  However, my premise in this post is that reading and exchanging ideas with other like-minded people may enrich that ttwd relationship a hundred fold.  Sam and I did not try to imitate another couple's dynamic, but rather picked and chose and modified ttwd ideas and practices to make them our own.  Kind of what you might do with a basic recipe.  For me, just discovering that there were other women like me out there was a monumental finding.  Then, once I started to read, I began to embrace a much broader perspective.





As I gained more experience reading, writing, and commenting, I started to form virtual friendships.  I think I migrated toward bloggers who seemed to value the same qualities in a ttwd relationship as I did.  A sense of humor and engaging writing also seemed to draw me.  Meredith was my first contact in this new world and has remained a mentor to this day.





Soon I would occasionally write a blogger if there was an email address and an invitation to contact her.  Also, when I started to do book reviews, I would send the author a draft for her approval.  I also did some proofreading and beta-reading for several of our favorite authors.  For a long time we would only exchange emails intermittently.  Finally a few introduced themselves using real names, and I did the same.  There had to be a certain level of trust before that felt OK and safe.  Virtual friendships develop a little slower than ones that form in other walks of life, but I think that is for the best.  What we share with each other is a lot more personal.  Baring one's soul seems to be common practice on blogs I read.





As I came to know some of the women in this circle better, I would wonder what it would be like to just sit and talk.  To have coffee and exchange ideas and maybe just laugh together.  I was very unsure what it would be like to meet in person.  Would we both feel shy?  What if we sat down together and nobody talked?  How awkward would that be?  Then, just the sheer physical distances between us and the logistics/expense involved.  I tried to tell myself it probably couldn't ever happen.  But I still dreamed.




Then I started to Skype or talk on the phone with just a few women.  This was very exciting.  There was a voice and even a
face!  I could hear their laughter or see their smile.  They were kind

and human and funny. We talked a lot about ttwd.  How long had spanking held a fascination for me?  How did it start for Sam and me?  It seems we can all tell "our story."  No one made me feel like it was strange or perverted.  They were a lot like me.  It was simply wonderful, and I quickly felt close to them.

  

So when this spring PK and Sunny invited me to join a girls' beach trip in June, I practically fell off the couch!  Sam thought there was something wrong because I positively screamed, "Yes!" into the phone.  For several months I looked forward to that flight and meeting 5 other bloggers that I knew to varying degrees.  In the early part of June I wrote to you all how my anticipation was driving Sam crazy!


Some of these bloggers had met each other before.  One had met everyone but me.  And I had never met anyone!  Goodness, I was excited.  I put up a big countdown calendar on my computer desktop at work and watched as the days flipped by.  By the time I was down to "3 Days To Go" I could hardly sleep.  We all exchanged contact information and coordinated airport arrival times and transportation to our hotel. 




There were hugs and smiles and even a tear or two as we came together the first afternoon.  There was very little reticence, and our
first dinner was full of chatter and laughter.  This was also the first of many toasts to 6 husbands that gave their support and blessings to this trip.  I would again like to thank those wonderful guys.  As we drank and ate, the voices and facial expressions quickly made those blog personalities become 3-dimensional beings and full of life.



That evening we lounged in one of the hotel rooms and shared who we were for hours.  Very different than the post/comment exchange I was used to.  It wasn't just the talking; it was the listening!  It was watching eyes sparkle and noses wrinkle with smiles.  The softness of one woman's voice.  The hearty laughter of another.  Freckles and dimples and expressive hands.  Loved hearing the giggling.  Fun to watch someone cock their head as they listened or nod in agreement.  And it felt so freeing to be able to ask a question or touch someone's arm.  I didn't want to ever get sleepy that night.  And I already knew I wanted time to move more slowly.  I wanted this to last.




How is it possible that I could feel so comfortable and trusting with this group of women?  I already understood that each of the 6 of us was a kind and loving person.  This was the first of many revelations I had those 4 days.  I was truly amazed at how safe and natural it felt.  At first I thought it was just me, but I soon realized the feeling was universal among us.  I am still in awe.




Over the week there were times when we paired off and really concentrated on getting to know just one of the group.  There were great meals and times at the pool and the beach where the talking never let up.  Age and background differences only added to our appreciation of each other.  There was a common perspective that began to cement the friendships.  There was a common respect, too.  I am still trying to understand what really happened in those few days together.  All six of us.  It was kind of bigger than the sum of its parts.  I have never experienced anything like it before.




I felt so accepted and free to be myself.  It seemed as if I had met 5 sisters I never knew I had.  Truly, I have never been able to talk to my own sisters the way I was able to talk to Sunny, Terps, Katie,
Meredith and PK.  It was a remarkable group of women.  The freedom to talk about the things we did has never happened to me before.  I have held this spanking passion in my head and heart since the time I was cognizant and being able to talk so frankly was like breathing different air or something.


I don't know whether this little spot in time will ever happen again.  Maybe it was a once in a lifetime occurrence, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I came to know 5 very special women and in the process rediscovered myself.  For now I just hope that the memory doesn't fade.  That just like rereading a favorite book, I can pull it up when I am missing these good ladies and turn the pages on those precious days together.  


 





35 comments:

  1. What a wonderful account of your time away with these amazing women. It truly is a privilege to have been able to share as you all did. I'm happy that it happened for all of you and truth be told maybe even a little envious of your time together. It sounds like a wonderful experience and I'm very happy that you choose to share it here so that I'm able to enjoy it as well. Continue to bask in the afterglow Ella, it's a wonderful thing.

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    1. Thank you for the lovely comment, Laurel. My thought was not to make anyone envious, but for them to believe that working toward this type of friendship is worthy of the effort.

      Hugs From Ella

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  2. :) i wish there was a bunch of people here in asia too whom i could meet too...

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    1. I will wish that for you, Fondles. Love when you visit my blog. :)

      Ella

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  3. You've captured it perfectly - wonderful time, wonderful women. I'm so glad I was able to part of something very special.

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    1. Sunny, you are so amazing. And you are just like your nickname. Sunny and sweet. Am still listening to your phone message. It was so appreciated.

      Ella

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    2. I guess, but I still like 'serial killer' better.

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  4. WOW..a wonderful post sharing an amazing time. It is very special to seem to connect to a person...or a group...in a way that will always be in your heart. I also am somewhat envious...thanks for sharing.
    hugs abby

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    1. You are so right, Abby. It will always be in my heart.

      Hugs From Ella

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  5. Ella,
    The afterglow.......... that is exactly what the six of us are feeling. Laurel is so accurate describing just the way we all felt. I am very grateful to have such wonderful women as dear friends and to you, Ella, for capturing our week together.
    Great post as always,
    Meredith

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    1. Meredith,
      I think we have all captured some of the emotions that went home with us after this trip. This little comment made me smile. Thanks, my friend.

      Ella

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  6. Oh Ella, such a lovely post. I am so glad it was everything you hoped it would be. I am so looking forward to meeting you in the Autumn
    love Jan, xx

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    1. Jan, I don't believe for a minute that we will ever stop talking.

      Hugs Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  7. How wonderful! I'm so glad you all had an amazing time! :)

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    1. Thanks, Lilli. Such wonderful ladies.

      Ella

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  8. Wonderful post, but it just makes me miss all of you that much more. It was so good that sometimes it does seem like remembering a dream, surely it wasn't as good as I remember. Except that it was!!

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. PK,
      It was not a dream, my friend. It was real, and I do miss you all, too. Next time is still a dream. Let's work on that!

      Hugs From Ella

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  9. What a wonderful account of your splendid adventure! I am so happy for you all - and jealous too! But next year, who knows?! Just give me time to lose a few pounds!

    Hugs
    Ami

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    1. Ami, it's not about judgement. Don't lose a few pounds, save a few so you can join us. lol

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    2. It was a great adventure! I like Sunny's idea the best!! Save those pounds so that you can come, too. We will toast that plan very soon.

      Hugs Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  10. Sweet Ella, you all may not have see us, but please know that Sue, Annie, Allie and I were all there sitting and listening and enjoying you all as we sipped our wine.

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    1. Oh, Cassie,
      This was such a special comment to see here. I do feel you on my shoulder sometimes. For next year's trip, I want to share a room with you and the girls. As long as I can keep my beer in the fridge.

      Love You!
      Ella

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  11. A wonderful account of a very special get-together, Ella. I am madly jealous too!
    Rosie xx

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    1. Hello Rosie Girl!
      It was a trip worth waiting for. Maybe someday it will happen for you, too. I know of another special get-together that is coming up very soon.

      Hugs Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  12. What a wonderful post, of a very special time, Ella! :) I love how you were able to put into words, the little things that you noticed, that were all a part of what was so very unique and special about 6 friends, coming together to have fun, to share, and to get to know one another even more!

    This trip will always be a very special memory, with five very special spanky sisters! I truly feel blessed to know you all. I miss you terribly! I look forward to the next time. It went by all too quickly!

    When I came to blogland, I started to write to give back. I learned so much from some bloggers that I had come across as a lurker. Never in a million years, would I have known that blogging would bring about so much more; the opportunity to come to know some really special people, unique in themselves, but who share a common interest. It has been a joy, and an unexpected benefit for sure! I only wish that the world was a bit smaller, so that we could gather with some of the other awesome people that I have gotten to know over time! Super post, Ella! Many hugs and love,

    <3 Katie

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    1. Katie T,
      Goodness, you are an amazing friend to so many people. You carry enough love in your heart to care about a hundred friends.

      Sending love to my favorite "Young Lady"

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  13. Hi Ella, such a lovely post :) So glad you were all able to meet and had such a wonderful time together. I would love to be able to meet blog friends in person.

    Hugs
    Roz

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    1. Hi Roz,
      How many times have I told you how nice it is to have you back with us! Well, I am saying it again.

      Just like each one of our children is unique, so were each of us on this trip. The common factor started off to be spanking, but the 4 days ended with so much more.

      Hugs From Ella

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  14. Oh Ella,

    Such a lovely and wonderful post. I am so glad it was everything you hoped it would be. Very special time. I hope I will be able to join you and others later this year.

    Love,
    Ronnie
    xx

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    1. Thanks, Ronnie,
      It took me a little while to digest all the feelings I took away from that time together. I wanted this post to be special.

      I am hoping, too!
      Hugs Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  15. Ella you made it sounds so amazing. Must have been so much fun meeting the others in person and actually getting to know them. Gosh I wish we could all get together sometime. Hope you are all able to meet up on a regular basis.
    Hugs Lindy

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    1. Katie is right. Wouldn't it be nice if we could make the world a little smaller and have coffee with each other anytime we wanted.

      Sending Hugs Downunder,
      Ella

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  16. thank-you for bringing back the memories to me...for a moment I was back there with all of you smiling and laughing. I even shed a tear reading as I could feel it all in my heart. So, thank-you. You are all very special to me. :-) Hugs

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    1. Oh, Terps, if you had a tear, then I think I hit it on the head. You are special to all of us, too.

      Hugs From Ella

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