Montana Jake and his wife in NYC

It could've all gone horribly wrong.

Jake had been a reader of this blog back in the days when it was called 'Spot On' and I used the pseudonym 'Kashei'. I always enjoyed his comments and he would occasionally give me life advice that I would take very seriously.

When my blog turned 3, he offered to throw me a party in NY. I hemmed and hawed, thought back to the birthday parties with all the people I had to invite and how I never got to spend time with anyone because there were just too many people there. It's not that I don't like parties, I just don't like parties centered around me where I have to entertain the guests. I'll often end up outside the bar, smoking cigarettes with my Brooklyn Russians because with them no entertaining is needed. So Jake came up with plan B. He would take his favorite NY-based bloggers out in a limo to dinner at one of the fanciest restaurants in town on the first night and to dinner and show on the second. Mrs. Jake accompanied him to NYC. She turned out to be as charming, friendly, intelligent and just plain terrific as her husband. We jaded New York women found their relationship to be such an inspiration. Celebrating 38 years of marriage during their trip, they seemed like one of the happiest pairs I'd ever seen.

So, yes, it could've gone horribly wrong, but it didn't. It was comfortable and excellent to finally meet someone I've gotten to know online. Thank you blogosphere for introducing us to the Jakes.