I started a series on friendship this week that will run on Mondays and Tuesdays for the next few weeks. It’s been really touching to read what my friends have to say about me and to sit down and put into words how special they are to me.
This has really gotten me thinking about friendship. I used to make friends at school, then at work, and then my life changed and the making of friends slowed down. Sometimes I make friends with other parents on the playground, but not that often. Thanks to the wonders of the internet and my beautiful blogging community, in the last couple of years, I’ve made a bunch of friends online.
That’s right people “friends”. They are my friends, not my “online” friends; just my friends. No qualifier needed. And for all those naysayers that think online friendships aren’t “real”, I have picture proof that they are.
I met Mrs. 4444 pretty early on in my blogging career, so about 2 years ago. I’ve learned about her wonderful mother, her beautiful children, her funny husband, and some of her student’s antics. This past Sunday, I got to see my friend in person and give her a hug.
I also got to meet her son Kyle.
I don’t know why, but I think Kyle would make an excellent Captain.
It was so much fun to meet them and spend a little bit of time with them. They were crazy busy and I appreciate them making the effort to meet a goofy blogger with a paper bag over her head.
Although, I think they might have been on a secret mission to recruit Packers fans because they left Put Pie with a cute teddy bear wearing Packers clothing. The teddy bear talks and I’m pretty sure it’s telling her to be a Packers fan. Don’t tell the SF 49ers.
Once when my brother was 10 he said, “Your friends are so great?” I answered, “That’s because I get to choose them.” I’ve chosen really well and I consider myself quite lucky.
And now your Friday Fortune Cookie (don’t forget to add “in bed” at the end, if you are so inclined):
“Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
This is a really thoughtful and very sweet post!
thanks sharing the pics. Why can’t we all be friends?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRGd0gD0QNE
yes, online friends are friends. My husband doesn’t get it, but I certainly do.
Great wisdom that you taught your brother (I wish I’d had learned that young.) Our friendships really do show where we are in life. I’m afraid I’ve made so many mistakes choosing friends and then as I got older and started to choose new good friends, I felt so self conscious with them that it was so awkward. I’m still learning how to be. I tend to keep people as acquaintances for a very long time. I’m trying to change that and let things evolve naturally.
Meeting people in the online community is so awesome!
I have to tell you I partied with a whole bar full of Packers fans and they turned me (well actually, I’m not a football fan but a Chargers fan by default.) To know a Packers fan is to love them. Here’s the post (just in case if you’re bored and wanna see it;-) http://www.tracismixedbag.com/2011/02/go-pack-go.html
When I talk to my husband about my online friends, I always call them my friends. And then explain that I know them through blogging or whatever. My online friends are just as close as my nearby friends, sometimes more so, and I value them very much.
I love that you & Mrs 4444 met because you are two of my very favorite bloggers!
friends absolutely I think the blogsphere as a fantastic karma and is somehow the modern day version of having penfriends. 🙂
friends absolutely I think the blogsphere as a fantastic karma and is somehow the modern day version of having penfriends. 🙂
I saw Mrs 4444’s pictures of you when she visited too. How funny that you have still kept your face hidden! That would be fun to meet her and her family. I feel like I know them all from reading her blog too.
great quote by you! 🙂
I’m so happy to see these pictures. I think so highly of many of my friends met through my blog. And you are right — friends are special because you get to pick them and nurture those relationships. Happy Friday, Mami. 🙂
Your are right about blog friendships, Mami. I have gotten to meet 2 blog friends in person and both times I found out that the friendship is very real.
I thought of you the other day as I was looking through a magazine; they had a fashion layout entitled, Road Trip.
“goofy blogger with a paper bag over her head.” I cracked up envisioning you meeting someone like this!
I agree that people you meet online certainly can become your Friends. Mariliz
I love meeting blogger friends in person! So far I’ve only met Midget Man of Steel and I’mgonnakillhim, but I hope to meet more in the future.
I have forgotten the “in bed” fortune cookie trick. Time to remind my husband! (So we can giggle!)
How sweet to get to meet your blog friends in the flesh… I haven’t thus met any of mine. 🙁 This is doubly sad because I find that my friends far away are also somehow closer…
Don’t give up on meeting blogging friends. People travel a lot, you know.
I hate adding qualifiers to friendships online. I have a friend (though we’ve kind of fallen out of touch) that I would talk to 5 days a week for 4 years. Really, 5 days a week! I was so grateful for flat rate long distance bundles. She lives a couple of thousand miles away, but we are friends. The besty kind.
I have several close friends that live far away. It’s to bad they are the friends (mostly) that I feel closest to. Makes for some lonely times.
It sounds like it was a wonderful meeting! I hope you get to get together again soon!
So cool. Glad you got to meet one of your blog friends. Sounds like fun.
I feel the same way about people I’ve gotten to know online. Sometimes people don’t understand. But others in the blogosphere do.
Nice post about friends, online and in person, true friends. When Put Pie gets older and demonstrates a fondness for the Packers, you won’t be surprised. It looks like you choose your friends wisely.
I’m happy you got to meet a blog friend; I completely agree with what you have to say about blog friends, although few outside blogging can understand it.
SO funny!!! I LOL’d on the Captain Kyle thing; for a second, I was like, “Huh?” He loved it, too. Sooo happy to have met you and your crew. Go, Pack, Go! 🙂
GO PACK GO! 🙂 My husband converted me when we got married…and then I preceded to fall in love with the Packers, so now I’m grateful! I think it’s so neat you two got to meet. Oh and my vote is for Kyle to be a captain too!
I always feel strange trying to clarify how people are my friends and saying “online friend” sounds a little creepy, haha. I, too, have made many friends online and some I’ve never met and may never meet. I always love meeting online friends for the first time when it feels like I’ve always known them “in real life.”
Great pictures of you all, and I’m thankful to have you drop the qualifier “online” for friends you’ve recently met. I hope I get to meet Mrs. 4444 this summer too. I’m not far away from her, but usually race by her home town. I’m glad you got to meet! Have a great weekend.
Nice pictures of a happy and emotional reunion. Greetings.
i’ve loved the friend stuff. my friends have saved my life at times and online friends are fun to have too!
It is always so nice to meet a fellow blogger… you DID NOT wear that paper bag did you!
No, I did not wear the paper bag.
You deserve some kind of award for the marathon session of reading and commenting. You are awesome. Thank you.