The Sisterhood of the Traveling Dottery

Some readers may know/remember that I'm a part of a Flickr group called "7 Days."  Four times a year, we take seven days of self-portraits, ranging from your basic extended-arm selfie to very creative, reflective shots in various shiny objects.  I have only blogged about it once, but I've participated every cycle for almost two years (!!) now.

I have to say, this is my favorite internet group I've ever been a part of. I've met some REALLY amazing internet friends (none "in real life"....yet...) through this group, and we're all quite friendly via Twitter and Facebook and our individual blogs.

One of the things that has been kind of a 7 Days "staple" is Dottery.  How does one define dottery?!  Well, ask Bethany!  I believe she started the trend!  At least once per every 7 Days cycle, some dottery will make an appearance.  Bethany makes dottery ceramic items (mugs, bowls, plates...) and sells them (or gifts them, as she is known to be very generous)...and I think even her iPhone case has been dotterized! (I'm too lazy to go search her MANY awesome Flickr photos for the photo evidence!)

I even have my own mug!

"She is startin' to damage my calm..." Firefly quote from the one and only Jayne Cobb

ANYWAY, back to the title of this post.  Recently I got an email from Sonja offering me a dottery maternity shirt!  She sent it immediately upon receipt of my excited "YES PLEASE!" along with an impossibly tiny and adorable knitted hat for Baby R, and a very sweet card:

When I read "Welcome to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Maternity Shirt!" I got a little bit teary-eyed and emotional, and let me explain why...

Wait, first let me explain that this shirt started with Bethany, was sent to Jen (my favorite [favourite?] Canadian, who has been known to send me ketchup chips and lemon cookies), then on to Sonja, and finally to me.  (I'd post their Flickr photos of them wearing the shirt, but as we've all been pregnant while wearing it, they may murder me...) Who knows which 7-Dayser will get it next!

Anyway...here's why it makes me feel so special:

A group of local girls (including a couple of family members and some friends from high school) has been passing around a pair of overalls from their pregnancy for the past 4-5 years I suppose.  The most currently pregnant woman receives them to wear during her final trimester, and everyone has signed and dated them.  I always felt a little -- okay that's a lie, a LOT -- sad that I'd never be able to participate in this because...well, facts are facts. These girls are all teeny tiny little things, and those overalls wouldn't have fit me at my pre-pregnancy weight, much less with an added (COUGHCOUGH) pounds in my third trimester of pregnancy.  So, there's always been a part of me that's been sad to not have been included in such a tradition.  Not by malice, of COURSE, but just by logistics.  My ass = too big. :)

But now I'm a part of something shared. Included in a "sisterhood" of women who are, essentially, strangers to me.  I feel like I know them and their families, but I don't.  We see, quite literally, only snapshots of each others' lives, and yet they included me in this tradition.  It's a testament to how amazing social media and the internet really can be, and I'm so thrilled to be a part of it.  And I hope to carry on the tradition to the next 7-Days person to expect a child!