Blogging friends are everywhere–they’re everywhere!
Years ago, in my early blogging days (OK, maybe four years ago) a friend snipped that on-line friends aren’t truly “real”.
Would you be offended to hear that?
I was crushed. I KNEW my blogging friends were real. So you can’t reach out and hug them on impulse. You can’t wander in the woods with them. You maybe can’t sip tea on the deck while swatting at mosquitoes and no-see-ums. (Don’t get me started about no-see-ums. The tiny dratted nearly invisible creatures pelted me with stings in the garden the other night creating an itching sensation that lasted for nearly an hour. Bad biting insects. Finish your hatch and decease this evil behavior, please.)
Back to blogging friends and their virtual reality.
Perhaps this attitude helped create a desire to actually meet my blogging buddies in person. To see them clothed in physical bodies with (oh my goodness!) accents and physical characteristics. With drawls and sweet perfumes and delightful laughter.
In the last four years I have met the following bloggers (some from the original Zaadz/Gaia social network): Blog roll please!
Halal the Giraffe. Yes, yes, some of us sport wonderful on-line names, don’t we? My first on-line incarnation was “Centria.” No way would I use my real name on-line. No, no, no. We met at the Atlanta Airport one fine afternoon.
Halal the Giraffe and Centria
Lucienne. (Hi Lucienne!) She lives in the Netherlands and we traipsed through Amsterdam and other fine towns together back in…08? 09? She even still reads this blog at times, what a lovely friend!
Meet Ms. Lucienne and Kathy in front of a Sensi Seed Bank, whatever that is, lol!
Susie Q. (Hi Sue!) We camped together under the stars on a beach north of here a couple of summers ago. One second please while I find the link: Catch a shooting star & remember it until you’re 80 years old. Susie grew up in the Upper Peninsula and LOVES Lake Superior rocks with a passion.
Susie Q and her daughter
Victoria. Victoria is a delightful woman in Brussels, Belgium, who took my daughter under her loving wing when Kiah volunteered on a nearby organic farm. (She’s now abiding in Portugal.) Victoria opened her doors to both my daughter and me and showed us the magical ancient city.
Magical Victoria and yep, your blogger, Kathy
Cheyenne – a deeply spiritual blogger with whom I meditated at Lake Tahoe.
A nameless blogger from New York City. Darn, I can’t remember her name. She blogged about knitting. She was nice, but we did not stay in touch.
Gerry from Torch Lake Views. We met in Bellaire down in Antrim County where my parents, and later brother and wife, owned a cottage. We breakfasted together before I met her dogs Miss Sadie and the Cowboy. Cool, huh? Here’s the downstate travel tale which includes our meeting.
Ms. Gerry and Kathy
Pamela from Books in Northport. She owns the coolest bookstore in Northport, Michigan. We chatted excitedly about blogging and books one rainy afternoon. Here are the juicy details of our bookstore encounter.
Pamela from Dog Ears Books
My buddy John Kuttenberg. We shared drinks and munched fish at Billy the Finn’s in Skanee with him and his wife. And we plan to do it again!
Jeff from The Reluctant Blogger. We sipped coffee together in Manhattan. We snapped photos together. If you want to sip coffee or take pictures with us, please read this New York City blog.
Mr. Jeff in NYC
And now–another blog drumroll please–I would like to share the two newest bloggers I recently met during last week’s trip downstate.
The first is Heather from Rapid City Recess. Some of you know Heather. She lives near Torch Lake in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan (kinda near Gerry and Pamela) and is the coolest 30-year-old. We breakfasted together in Grayling on my way downstate. We chatted non-stop for, gosh, at least one and a half hours. She’s so cute! I loved getting to know her.
Since neither of us delinquent photographers brought our camera inside the restaurant you’ll have to admire this photo of Ms. Heather and imagine yourself sharing breakfast with her and talking about blogging:
Please say hello to Ms. Heather
One of the most interesting things Heather shared: when she takes a photo and edits it she attempts to make the photo look like her original view. (Isn’t that amazing? I wouldn’t even be able to remember what the original view looked like! I am always sure that the camera knows better than Kathy. To think that there are different ways of looking at this!)
On the way home from visiting my parents, I hopped a ferry to Mackinac Island (halfway between the Lower and Upper Peninsulas of Michigan) to meet Bree from Bree’s Mackinac Island Blog. Wow, another cool blogging person turned into a real-life hugger with a southern drawl!
Mackinac Island is a fun place to visit–I still intend to share more photos with you later this week. (My once-a-week blogging pledge ends on Wednesday, the summer solstice, so get ready for some more blogs and photos, dear faithful readers!) No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island so you’ll have to hop a horse-drawn carriage, trot atop a horse, walk on your sturdy two legs or whiz along on a bicycle built for one or two on the island.
Bree and I breakfasted at the Chippewa (it’s always good to meet your blogging friends for the first time at breakfast or coffee, isn’t it?) Her blog is amazingly popular and she meets commenters and fans quite frequently. People will visit the island, spot their famous blogger, and tentatively say, “Bree? Is it you?”
She taught me–not by anything she explicitly said, mind you–about the value of including an eye for color in photographs. (Imagine that! From now on I will attempt to look at color before randomly snapping a shot.) See the last photo she took of me at the end of this blog. She actually looked for color and then set up the photo. These fellow bloggers are amazing. They teach you something new at every meeting!
Please meet Ms. Bree on her island bicycle
It was such a pleasure to meet Ms. Heather and Ms. Bree during this trip! It enriched my visit downstate infinitely.
Now dear readers, have YOU met any bloggers in person? Do you know, for a fact, that they are real folks you can hug? Please share your stories in the comments.
Me on Mackinac Island. (P.S. Bree taught me something about photography and color. You gotta love the tips bloggers share!)
Lake Superior Spirit 
The color is great. You match the background. This was a very thoughtful post. One day I might come to the UP.
Bree did a good job with that color, Linda. I felt like a lilac for a moment! And who knows, maybe someday I will come down to your neck of the woods, too.
I love this post. What a great idea. I hope to meet some of my blogging friends in the future too. Thanks for sharing.
Meeting blogging friends is always interesting, Christine! It always takes me some time to adjust to the fact that bloggers have bodies and voices. It can be a little disconcerting at first, but you soon adjust.
Proof that bloggy buddies are real – so fun!
Thank goodness our bloggy buddies are real and not figments of our overactive imagination, Carol! 🙂
I haven’t met any other bloggers. None of my colleagues or family blogs and no one that I have met either. But I feel I know some of them very well0. I get little peaks into their lives or their kitchens or thier minds. Reading someone’s blog is sometimes like sitting down for a goof chat with them.
Some of them send me virtual hugs and kisses which is also appreciated. 🙂
I like virtual hugs and kisses, too, Kerry. Some bloggers even remind us to kiss more, lol! I am surprised you haven’t met any fellow bloggies yet, living in France and all. I am surprised you haven’t met dozens of us wanting to see that beautiful country with the help of your eyes.
I live in a fairly remote area. The French bloggers that I have followed are in Paris or other big cities. One day I will visit them when I have plucked up the courage to go to a city again.The more time I spend in the country the less inclination I have to visit the city.
Here – have a virtual kiss. In fact have four – normal for my region.
erf – sorry – using husband’s French keyboards caused a few typos above.
I remember using European keyboards! I couldn’t type the whole time we were over there. Feeling your typo pain.
Thanks Kathy – it’s nice to share 🙂
I totally love this post, Kathy. And I so hope we will meet in person too, one day – if not in America, then perhaps even in South Africa? I already *know* you’re real, because I’ve met your lovely daugter Kiah! 🙂
Ms. Reggie, I know you’ve met a penpal and that’s just as good as a blogger! And, yes, Kiah is proof that YOU are real. And so were the lovely gifts you shared. Hopefully we shall meet some day and take lots of pictures.
I’ve just seen that this post has been FRESHLY PRESSED!
CONGRATULATIONS, Kathy!
Do you mind if Tuffy and I jump up and down with excitement on your behalf?!
Reggie, you’ll have to read my new blog. I am now reformed. No more jumping up and down! But I would like to see you and Tuffy doing so. 🙂
Isn’t it FUN when you meet online friends in person? I’ve met a few of mine, although I had already known them from another online place (a message board to be exact) by the time we started blogging.
Blogging friends ARE real….one of my very best friends is an online friend and I consider myself very lucky to have that friend to laugh with, to share my frustrations and sorrows, to talk to about everything and anything at all,…someone who’s always there to lift me to my feet when I’m down in the dumps (hoping I do the same for this friend). Maybe one day we even get to meet in real life, too.
Now someone please pass the tissues…
Oh, Michaela, that is the sweetest comment ever. How very cool that you have an on-line friend that is so close. That is a special gift indeed. And now hoping to possibly meet you next month! Wouldn’t that be super? Let’s keep our fingers and toes crossed.
I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to meet up with you. The dates seem to work out well 🙂
Hi Kathy,
Haven’t met any in person yet – came close a few times but alas, that does not count. YOU will be my first! I hope we can connect in August when you are hopefully done being nurse – unless you can scoot down BEFORE Mr. Knee goes under the knife the weekend of July 20.
You have a large collection of blogging friends! Somehow this does not surprise me! 🙂
Hugs
SuZen
SuZen, gosh, Mr. Knee going under the knife is causing some challenges to meeting more blogging friends. Wondering if you’re at your cottage all the time until July 20th or if you’re coming and going? As for the large collection of blogging friends, yes and no. It was so lovely to meet everyone, but unfortunately am not in contact with all of them on a regular basis. Most of them do pop in from time to time to say hello, though. Except the unknown knitting one.
Visiting your readers is a great adventure … I admire your ability and willingness to get out there and connect. Nope, I have never met any bloggers … one did send me a print of one of their photos and a handwritten card … that made them real.
A print and a handwritten card can help us feel closer to our blogging buddies, that’s for sure, bearyweather. I have enjoyed getting out and connecting during my travels. And, who knows, maybe Minnesota will be on the travel itinerary one of these upcoming years?
I think meeting some blogging friends would be so much fun! I’ve only been blogging since January of this year, but have ‘met’ so many interesting bloggers from such interesting places. I would love to travel to their hometowns and physically visit with them!
Just as pen pals are friends, I think fellow bloggers can be friends. The daughter of my friend recently traveled and met two of her childhood pen pals and said it was so comfortable being with them, as if she’d known them all her life – which is essentially true. When you write to someone with your heart, tell them your hopes and dreams and reveal elements of your life to another, whether in a letter, a blog, or face-to-face, you really get to know them and they do become friends. 🙂
Mywithershins, Reggie (one of the commenters up above from South Africa) just met with her long-time pen pal from the US and I think felt the same way as the daughter of your friend. Hopefully you will someday have many chances to visit your new blogging friends. It is so much fun!
Wahhh….I am not on this list yet. But I will be soon. In Spruce Lake August 4-11.
You are every bit as real to me as my friends who I have not seen in years…tethered by a love of place and a similar way of looking at the world. I love your colors and the people you attract, like the finest peony or lily- your details call a varied array of admirers who you befriend- because you Kathy, have an open heart.
Yours, S
You’re coming back to the UP, Ms. Suzi? Very cool! The only possible challenge to that time frame is that it’s within a week or two of Barry’s second knee surgery…although maybe something could be arranged. I love that you see this open heart. That means so much.
What a delightful post! I’ve not personally met any of my blogging buddies, but I hope to some day. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your “meetups” with blogging buddies. 🙂
Cecelia, it is delightful to see you again. I hope you will meet at least six blogging pals in your lifetime. Yes, it’s in this crystal ball. **grin**
Yes, I’m on break between school quarters so I’m showing up in all my old haunts! 😉 AND, it will be lovely meeing six . . . or more . . . blogging pals. AND, I will blog about it, too! Good to see you again.
Blogging friends are indeed real and wonderful. I’ve met several over the years, some of whom are like family to me now.
Beautiful, thoughtful post. I hope to someday make your list of bloggers that you’ve met in person. 🙂
Hi Ms. Robin. Glad to hear you are one of the lucky ones who has met some blogging friends. Yep, I’ve got my eye on you and a certain bog in Ohio. lol…
I am certain that my online friends were real. I don’t say “blogging” because I’m not solely focused on that niche, as you know. But I know you are “real” and I know I am “real”. I know some of the others who visit here regularly, like Laurie Buchanan and Jeff Stroud are “real”. I actually was reflecting just last night on how very “real” my virtual online life is. It IS different, to be sure, but rich, vivid, full of warmth, caring and the sharing of Life’s travails. Thanks for making the point.
I meant ARE real, not were real. No one I mentioned as checked out of physical incarnation to my knowledge. GOL My sincere regrets for not proofing better !!
Geez, my typing is atrocious today. Maybe I should go back to bed . . .
I KNOW you fully 100% know that your online friends are real, Deb. And you and I have had conversations on the phone to “prove” it even more. It’s interesting that some people don’t know/feel this sense of reality. Perhaps it’s people who need to have a deeper sense-filled relationship to feel reality? In any case, I’m glad to know you, my yoga and woods friend.
Thanks, Kathy. Yes, I suppose it is an individually determined experience. I like what the last commenter, “Feather Story” said (before my last note at the bottom) – “Some of those friendships endured years of only virtual hugs but when I finally met a few it was awesome and the people I called friends were just like they were online, in person.” I’ve only met two online friends face-to-face, but it was like that for me too. Both of these were the happiest, best and most memorable experiences of my lifetime. I’ve no doubt other similarly “lucky to meet” experiences would prove to be the same way too.
I met Bree on the island 2 years ago. Hope to see her again later this week when get to the island. Some day I hope to meet you. First I have to get to your end of the UP. I don’t blog myself but love reading them.
Charlotte, I am so happy that you were able to meet Bree, too! Isn’t that cool? Do you stay on Mackinac Island for a length of time, or will you be passing through? Please do give a holler when you come to our part of the U.P. It’s a 4 1/2 hour ride over here from the bridge, but you’d enjoy traveling up the Keweenaw Peninsula, I am sure.
Kathy it was SOO good to meet you! I’m glad you’ve been more diligent about blogging than me. I keep thinking I’m going to squeeze in the time, but we’re off for Atlanta in less than an hour. Sheesh!
I look forward to more breakfasts, and hopefully a nice chat in August. Meeting online friends just solidifies what we already know – we really ARE friends.
One of my mom’s best friends met her husband online and moved HERE from New Zealand to marry him.
Heather, I am so glad we had such a wonderful breakfast together a couple of weeks ago! Don’t worry about not finding time to blog, girlfriend, you have more than enough on your plate in the upcoming weeks. Give me a call or shoot an email when you’re heading north. It will be lovely to see you again.
I knew other bloggers were my friends – you have proven it
Yep, you’ve got real friends in the blogging world, even beyond the home front. 🙂
How exciting to meet people in person that you’ve gotten to know through “letters”. Though, even though I haven’t met any blogging friends face-to-face yet, they are all very real to me! Thanks, my friend, for this thoughtful and thought-provoking post!
Cindy, I’ll bet lots of your blogging friends would love to come over to “your” island and visit you, too! Just wait. They’ll be lining up at your door to admire your gardens. 🙂 And thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for introducing us to your blogging friends! I love seeing faces to match the names! Yes indeed our on lines friends ARE real! I’ve met several of my facebook friends and other online friends 🙂 I met the love of my life online and am frantically trying to get ready to go see him! I leave tomorrow and will be gone for 3 weeks ♥ When I get back, I’ll click over and read the links about your blogging friends and let it all sink when, but right now I need to pack. Just got back from spending the day with Dad ♥ Please tell Barry Happy Father’s Day and please enjoy the rest of the rainy day. (well, it’s raining here…AGAIN! I thought 10 inches the other day was plenty but ohhhhh noooo Mother Nature has other ideas!) Oh and don’t get me started on the no-see-ums that bite! That feasted on me while I was working in the garden too!
Be good while I’m gone Kathy! I’ll be anxious to catch up when I get back! 🙂
I am so glad you’re going to spend time with your once-online-only love of your life. Enjoy yourself, dear Brenda, and come back with lots of fun stories to tell. (We got your rain this morning, well, not 10 inches, but enough to water the garden and perk up the soil and trees.) I will try to be good. Thank you!
Wow – Kathy – who knew you were so colorful! Yes, I’ve met some fellow bloggers. Some contact me when they visit CO, but I also met a favorite blog friend when I vacationed on the west coast. I have a feeling that someday we’ll meet – or maybe I’ll have to send Mary as my emissary.
Who knew, Barb, lol! But, yes, I suspected you have met some fellow bloghers or bloghims. (ha ha, little joke.) Seriously, I want to meet you, in Colorado OR the Keweenaw, whichever the Universe allows. And Mary, too! Actually, I would like to meet your fox visitor, too. 🙂
Great post, Kathy. Nice to see your blogging pals! 🙂
I’ve met just one blog friend, quite some years ago from a blog I had on another platform. She visited me when she came to the UK from her home in Norway. Lovely person.
I’m also in touch by email with quite a lot of other bloggers, so there is some continuity and they’re not ‘just readers’ to me. I’ve never regarded readers of any of my blogs as anything other than real.
If you ever come to Wales, let me know and we can meet too! 🙂
Hi Val, so good to “see” you. (I always feel like I’ve been in the same living room with you commenters. That’s how real you are to me.) Happy to hear you have met a blog friend. And, yes, Wales sounds lovely! Perhaps need to win the lottery and then go visiting ALL my blog friends!
G-R-E-A-T post, Kathy — and phenomenal photographs. I just loved reading this (well, that comes as no surprise. I always loving reading your blog).
Dear Ms. Laurie, have I told you lately how much I love you? You ALWAYS say the most lovely things. You are so present…I am often in awe of your presence.
Awe, shucks 🙂
thanks…………………
Oh blog readers can definitely be friends! I have meet one – when we were in San Fransisco last October Ellen and I made a point of meeting, and though it was only for a short walk with her dogs, it was so much fun. We like the same things, photography and dogs and hiking, that it was just a natural fit. I hope someday I’ll be able to visit with her longer. There are many others (including you) that I hope to meet in person some day, but even without that meeting I feel like they are friends already. I also read Bree’s Mackinaw blog, and the one she writes from Georgia. I think she has the ideal lifestyle; Georgia in the winter, Mackinaw in the summer!
I remember the blog you wrote about Ellen! (And, gosh darn, it’s hard for me to remember things, so that’s something.) Hope you can visit with her longer some day. San Francisco is such a cool place. So you read Bree’s blog, too? And her Georgia one? You keep up with so many blogs, I swear, you should get an award. (And I think her lifestyle sounds kinda ideal, too.)
This is really cool, Kathy – all the online folks you’ve met. I’ve met bloggers in person too! My sister (also a blogger) and I actually went away for the weekend with a blogger we had never met in person! Isn’t that wild? We met her and another blogger in Newport RI. I also went to a big food-blogger meet-up last summer with my sister. They weren’t really MY peeps though, you know? The only blogger in “my community” that I’ve met so far is Rebecca the Housewrecka, who actually lives in the same town as me.
Oh, I meant to say that I’d really like to meet many more online friends in person! I wish so many of you didn’t live so far away!
I remember you saying your sister is a blogger, too. How very neat that you went away for a weekend with an “unknown” blogger. I think you can sort of feel the energy of people and know if they’re compatible or not. I usually like to meet blogging friends in restaurants or coffee shops and get to know them in a public setting first, although not always. A Housewrecka lives in the same town as you? **smile** What a blogging name! (And wishing we all didn’t live so far away either. But our far-awayness is sometimes part of our blogging appeal.)
Remember the long “pen pal” friendship Julia Child and Agnes de Voto shared for years before they ever met? Of course our blogger friends are real! I fondly recall your visit to my bookstore, too, Kathy!
Recently one of my other blogger friends, Peter from “Collecting Children’s Books,” died suddenly. He and I were also Facebook friends, so when his brother John started writing from Peter’s Fb account and sharing his grief with Peter’s online friends, a huge support group spontaneously formed. I am very sad that I’ll never meet Peter face to face, but knowing him through his blog and Facebook stories was very special to me and many, many others.
And hey! We read books and don’t doubt that the authors of those books are real people, right?
What other bloggers have I met? You, of course. Gerry from Torch Lake Views. A young man (his parents live in Northport) who blogged for a year from his teaching job in Russia. And, oh my heavens, my bookseller/blogger/birthdaymate Helen! We spent a fabulous week together in Arizona in April, and we are friends for life!
I am very happy to read your passionate comment supporting our “real” presence in the world, Pamela. So sorry to hear about the death of one of your blogging friends. It seems that one of the values of Facebook is that you can hear about this death and mourn together with others. I sometimes wonder if one of our blogger friends died suddenly…would we ever know? Would we ever hear why they stopped writing so suddenly?
It was a delight to meet you that rainy summer day in Northport. I am so glad to have driven a bit out of the way to see your bookstore and spend some time with you. We can’t pass up opportunities to meet the people whose words make them very real to us indeed.
Great post Kathy,
Before moving to Nova Scotia, I found a blogger who lived there, and after a brief intro, began peppering her with questions. She answered them all, and what’s more, after I arrived, she took me for a wonderful introductory tour of the area. She showed me all the places “she wished someone had shown her, when she’d moved here 20 years ago”. She’s my best bud. She’s Amy-Lynn of Flandrum Hill.
After I’d lived here for a year or so. I got contacted by someone in England who was thinking of moving back to Nova Scotia. Three visits later, Lynne of Five Good Things, will be moving here permanently in August. She will be my 2nd bestest bud after she arrives. That’s what ya call “paying it forward”, and I love it.
And now … I’ve been contacted by a blogger from Ontario who arrives here in another week or so. I’m really looking forward to showing her all the marvellous places Amy-Lynn showed me after I arrived. Her name is Dallas, and her blog is Being Real in Nova Scotia.
I am glad you enjoyed this post, Sybil, and that you were able to meet Ms. Amy-Lynn.
I can remember reading her blog and seeing someone named “Sybil” posting under her comments and wondering who the heck Sybil might be. And to think that you will have two best blogging buddies (and maybe three) from Nova Scotia. It’s hard to explain to non-bloggers what this all means to us. When we meet fellow bloggers, we totally get it.
Great post!
Glad you enjoyed, fellow blogger & photographer. Thanks for stopping by Lake Superior Spirit.
How lucky you are to have met so many of your blogging friends! Somewhere along the line I hope I can find my way onto that list. I’d love to sit and sip tea with you.
I, too, hope it happens, Lisa. We’re kinda neighbors already, with only one state separating us, right? I am sipping tea right now. Raising my cup to you right now.
Awesome, Kathy. It’s so exciting to meet people in person from online. Years ago I made friends in a support forum and have met many of them, but I haven’t met any bloggers in person yet. I’ve been at this blogging thing for about 6 months now. I would love to meet people though. Maybe some time if you visit your parents in FL, we can meet half way? That would be cool. Thanks for sharing this and I look forward to more photos.
You’ve only been blogging six months, Lori? I would have thought it had been much longer. Oh you will meet some fellow bloggers, I am sure! The only problem with meeting people in Florida is (sigh) that we don’t have a car when we’re down there. And it’s been so far impossible to borrow my parent’s car, as they need it for their daily errands. But you never know! The Universe is often good at arranging blogging meetings. 🙂
We’ll see what the universe bring us. 🙂
Kathy, you are even better in person! Now if there was only enough of a market to get you to write a book on how to speak Baragan. You taught me so much in one night. I imagine something where I can sweep some electronic wand over a word or a name and your voice comes out pronouncing it. There are both aestetic and utilitarian bonanzas that come from spending a night with you and Barry. You fill both the soul and the mind!
OK, John, you are the coolest. I feel like just the most ordinary person on the planet in person. Just your average Baragan, not even too much of a storyteller. Mostly like to listen to the stories of other people. Isn’t it amazing how much we can learn from others? We learned a lot from both of you dat night in da Finns.
I actually have not met any blogging friends in person, but maybe someday! 😉 Next time you’re down around this part of the state, you will definitely have to let me know – I’d love to hang out with ya!! 🙂
Holly, you gotta know it! Too bad it wasn’t a few years ago–when K was still in college–we were traveling to your area quite a bit. My maid of honor also lives in your neck of the woods and would like to see her again. Even thought a bit about detouring your way last trip, but didn’t have any more time. (I do talk to reps from state offices a bit. Talked to someone in Lansing today, as a matter of fact…)
What a fabulous blog, so many good friends met electronically then in reality, don’t let anyone diss (disrespect in street talk) blogging friends, tea and cake anyone? I was excited to see and hear about Mackinac island as I have just read Voyageurs by Margaret Elphinstone for my book club where Mackinac island features prominently. Thanks for this.
Claire, I am glad you enjoyed and I don’t let anyone diss blogging friends any more! I just show ’em pictures. Please stay tuned. More Mackinac Island photos coming up within a day or two. Hope you will enjoy them. Haven’t read that book but am now intrigued.
OK, I am definitely going to buy that book!
Hi Kathy! I have met a few bloggers, but only ones who live in Victoria so far. It’s very exciting to meet people that we already “know” pretty well from online. Maybe one of these days, Marty and I will venture WAY over to the UP. It would be wonderful to meet you and Barry! 🙂
Hello, Ms. Dana! I am glad you find it exciting to meet fellow bloggers, too. It WOULD be a joy to meet you and Marty. What a happy, happy thought! 🙂
P.S., guess what we’re doing today? We’re going to a Model A convention. (I have very little interest in Model A’s. Is it possible to write an exciting interesting blog about old cars? That’s the question of the day… I know you could do it.)
I started out as an online forum frequenter. I remember hearing that the internet was dangerous and you can’t possibly know anyone from the internet. Some of those friendships endured years of only virtual hugs but when I finally met a few it was awesome and the people I called friends were just like they were online, in person. I’ve yet to meet any blogging friends, but I have found some bloggers who are frequenters of the real life places I frequent so I imagine it will happen pretty soon. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.
Feather Story, I remember hearing the same thing about the dangerous Internet. thank goodness it’s proved otherwise for so many of us (although I do think we still need to be careful and listen when our inner radar alerts us to possible dangers.) May you meet some blogging friends soon. I am sure it will happen! And thank you for visiting my blog.
I just had reason to mention your blog, with a link back to here, in context with a Question of the Day at A New Gaia for June 23rd, that I suggested, after reading an article that was negative about “virtual reality”. Just wanted you to know, I mentioned your blog there.
Thank you, Deb. I appreciate that you let me know!
I haven’t met any blogging friends yet Kathy, and I blame that on living in deepest, darkest, remote Australia! Nearly all of my blogging friends are in the USA, so I will just have to pay everyone a visit some day. 🙂
As you may know, I’m hugely interested in tracing my family history and even began a new website to record stories from my family, just a few months ago. I’ve make a lot of friends through family research websites and a few years ago, I met a wonderful English couple for the first time, when they visited Australia to see their daughter, who had just moved to Adelaide from the UK. I only met the lady the one time, as unfortunately she passed away, but her husband had been back since and stayed with us for a few days.
And those hugs, from your online friends? Oh yes, they are SO real when you meet them! 🙂
Hi Joanne! gosh, darn, it sounds like where you live is the coolest most mysterious place on the planet! Glad to hear about your meeting with that English couple. It’s lovely, isn’t it? By the way–I feel hugs coming from your way EVERY time you comment. And I LOVE them!
I like the direction you took blogging. Cool that you were able to meet the talent behind the posts. I have still not been able to meet up with anyone but you never know!
Good luck! It has been so lovely to meet fellow bloggers. If you get the chance, go for it!
hehehehe
This is what you get for leaving and adding things back in! Happy Freshly Pressed AGAIN! hehehehehe
Elisa, I just discovered this fun! Hoping that other folks will be inspired to meet some of their blogging buddies, too. Love you…
I love you too! (why else would I chortle or tease?)
I definitely agree that strong friendships can be built on reading and learning about each other, it can take out so many of the preconceptions or bias that people might otherwise have. Nice post!
Those preconceptions are so often necessary to release, Rae. Glad you enjoyed. Blessings!
OMG–you’ve been FPed, my friend. Congratulations. I’m jumping up and down for you!
Hugs,
Kathy
We keep jumping up and down for each other, Kathy!! Thank you.
By the way, Sara and I have a blogging friend and her husband coming to stay this weekend. Can’t wait. This will make the 4th blogger we’ve met this year.
By the way, I want to meet Jeff, too, and you, of course!
Hugs,
Kathy
That sounds really good! Hugs back, Kathy.
I liked your text, and YES – we are real! 🙂
So glad to hear this! **grin** Thank you very much!
Regards from Serbia, Europe – if you pass by 🙂 I will be there 🙂
That would be a fun place to visit! Serbia, imagine…I suppose Upper Michigan and Lake Superior feels as far away to you as Serbia does to me.
Oh, yes! 🙂
I have some photos from one lake in Serbia –
to give you an idea how it nice is here 🙂
Really nice. I love write at the blog because I feel I travel around the world with the best friends.
What a lovely way to express this! Thank you.
You’re FRESHLY PRESSED!!! I’m so excited for you — congratulations!
Isn’t it fun getting excited for each other, Editor? Did you have fun during your recent Freshly Pressed hoopla?
Yes, it is and yes, I did, when it happened to me last week. It was amazing to get comments from all over the world, to share information with other people and to hear about new blogs to visit.
I loved this post when I read it and I’m so glad it made FP. What are the odds, you think, that you and I got FP’d within a week of each other??!!! 🙂
It’s amazing! I am glad you had fun. Barry said he liked this post a lot, too. (I had to go back and re-read it and remember what I’d written.)
I really do love this post. I am a blogger who just began blogging but my interests seem to lie with sharing information and stuff about building communities and supporting the development efforts of NGO’s. Apart from this, I really look forward to a day when thousands of hits would land on my blog. I know it takes time and willing to be patient, but from your experience, what is your advice to me on this. – you can all me Michael
Time and patience, Michael (and a little luck!) Another thing that seems really important is visiting and commenting on other blogs. If you comment, folks comment back and you can get a momentum going. Posting FREQUENTLY is another must. When I post once a week, my blogging hits decrease tremendously compared to much more frequent posts. Good luck!
Hi I appreciate the advice that you gave Michael. It is very helpful information for me as well because I am new about two days new. I feel so lost, but I am not giving up. I decided to start blogging because I seem to be the one that everyone come to when they need advice or just an ear. I’ve have been out of work for the past few years and needed a break in between looking. It has been a challenge but God is good. Love your post and your pictures. Stop by my post and say hi.
Glad you appreciated the advice, Honey. It sounds like blogging will be a perfectly fun pastime for you. I usually go visit the blogs of all my commenters, but am going to be way behind now. If you comment on current posts, I will be more likely to visit sooner. Thanks!
You mean bloggers are real people! *Gasp* Lovely post. I enjoyed your trip down memory lane. Well done for getting your blog up on freshly pressed! 🙂
I know it’s hard to fathom, Mike. **grin** I could hardly believe that some of my friends wouldn’t believe in the reality of on-line folks. Guess I showed them. lol! Probably not. Thanks for the well wishes and enjoyment of this memory post.
Not a problem! I love well written posts! I know it’s a shameful addiction. I’m going to have to stop by again. Congrats once again for making the Freshly Pressed page! 🙂
That’s true…I hadn’t really thought about blogging friends in this way! How fun to have met so many 🙂
Cheers!
It’s been a blast! Thank you for stopping by and commenting. May you meet many blogging friends in your future…
How nice you get these chances.
I hope you get chances like these, too!
It’s amazing that you find the time to meet up with blogger friends! I think making fellow bloggers your friends is special because people often share or create things on their blog they would never otherwise mention to even their closest friends. Making friends via such a forum provides a lot of insight into what a person is like.
That is so true, chembelle. I have been lucky to make the opportunity to meet blogging friends. It’s good to meet a person after you’ve known them in a forum or on-line. Thank you for commenting.
How cool that you’ve actually MET all of your blogging friends! (You’re quite the traveler). Any time you are headed to Utah, just let us know!
Congrats on being Fresh Pressed – 🙂
Gosh, well, not ALL of my blogging friends. But I have met quite a few of them. Luckily, I have friends and family in many locations. So it’s easy to call up bloggers and say, “Hello, want to meet?”
Cool!
Fun post, and congrats on being freshly pressed.
Thank you, Richard. I am really glad you enjoyed! (It’s fun to be Freshly Pressed–wishing the same for you.)
Yes blogging friends are pretty awesome! I’ve only been blogging since January, but I feel I’ve already made some nice acquaintances! Lovely post and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!!
Indigofletcher, thank you for the well wishes. Glad you’ve made some nice blogging acquaintances–and hope you get the opportunity to meet some of them some day. Happily enjoying being Freshly Pressed with a big smile. Wishing that for you, as well!
Congrats on getting Freshly Pressed (Again!). You deserve it for this wonderful post! 🙂
Thank you for your kind comment, C.B. For once I am simply feeling grateful and not feeling all crazed & excited & out-of-control and overly delighted. Just glad that people are perhaps hearing the message that bloggers can be friends and that the world can be a kind place sometimes.
Oh, I truly enjoyed reading this post Kathy. I haven’t met any of my blogging friends in person yet, but can’t wait to do so. I have thought about eventually organizing a vacation retreat where we could all meet at the same time. Wouldn’t that be fun? Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed – well deserved. I plan to follow you now and who knows, maybe one day we will meet.
I am glad you enjoyed stopping by, Dorannrule. I am CERTAIN you will organize that blogging retreat one of these years. What a fun thought! Thank you for following. I will hop on over to your blog, too.
How great that you got to meet your blogger buddies in person, and got to be Freshly Pressed too!
Hi Huffygirl, it was so fun. I had to make the effort, though. Otherwise it’s just easy to drive on by or find other things to do when you’re visiting a different city. Glad to inspire other folks on Freshly Pressed!
What a great way to travel – it would be an experience for you if you ever get to Melbourne, Australia – Pam
Hello, Pam, gosh now I have ANOTHER reason to go to Australia! (Already have a blogging friend from there who keeps reminding me…)
loved this the first time I read it – am so jealous and happy for you at the same time for being Freshly Pressed
It is fun to be on Freshly Pressed. I know what you mean about being envious–so many of us have felt this desire to be on FP. You’ll be on there one of these days! Hoping it’s so for you. And thank you for enjoying this.
I believe that some online friends are really, truly friends, but not all. I wrote a book entitled ‘Grandma Wears a Running Skirt’, and when a lady from Texas (I am from Indiana) read it, she looked me up on Facebook. We have been communicating since that time, and have found we have much in common. I look forward to meeting her in person someday!
“Grandma Wears a Running Skirt” sounds like a great title for a book! (Wondering if you were writing about your grandma or if you’re the one in the running skirt…) Glad to hear about your on-line friendship. Surely you will meet your friend in person. Life can be so fun, can’t it?
I am the grandma! I have an 8 month old grandson. I also like to wear running skirts, which my friends make fun of, so I felt the title was appropriate, and maybe a little catchy! Life is what we make it; I choose to make it amazing! 🙂
I like your attitude!
Glad for you all bloggers to meet and chat up over coffee. Wishing you inspiration that feeds off each other and some laughs.
Inspiration sure does feed off one another–and, oh, laughter is the best part! I am always amazed that we can learn something from each and every person we meet. Thank you for pausing to comment, Jean.
Yes online people are real. You have proof now, lol. Great post
Thank goodness for that proof, butchering saint! (What a name you have!) Glad you liked the post. 🙂
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! And yay for our “real” friends…. ♥
Thank you! It’s so lovely to be Freshly Pressed, stuffitellmysister. But I think it’s even more lovely to share joy with ‘real’ friends every day!
😉 I am a relatively “new” blogger and have been amazed at the folks I have met. It’s like have neighbors, afar ~ ♥
Hi I am new here too, to Word Press and you all seem to be very laid back and friendly. I hope to meet some of you on my post as I find my way around. I am still trying to learn some of the features and this blogging is new to me. Wish me luck!
Wishing you luck, Honey Brown!
🙂
Congrats on the FP! Now who’s the celebrity? 😉
Tee hee, Miranda. This kind of fame comes & goes so quickly! By tomorrow, I’ll be just another simple blogger in blog land writing about ordinary every day happenings. (Unlike writing about meeting blogging friends. THAT was not ordinary!)
how’d you do that? meeting other bloggers?? it must be real nice to see them much more connect in person, your meeting them is meant to be… 🙂
How did I meet them? Well, first, we commented and chatted on line for a year or four years. Then, when you feel that they are compatible, and you’re visiting their town or city, you email and arrange for a meeting–usually in a restaurant or public place. The rest is blogging magic!
Wow, i envy you! I am basically shy, thinking i can share my thoughts through blogging and stay “invisible” like as if i’m just voicing out my thoughts. But you are an inspiration! Good luck and wish you many more blogging friends to meet and more travels for you! Godspeed! 🙂
we in india make a function to meet popular bloggers every year
That sounds wonderful! Now I want to go to India, too! I have a dear blogging friend in India.
great post! we’re just starting in the blog world but are loving it so far 🙂
Enjoy your new blogging! It often takes a while to get started and to read other blogs and get connected, but you’ll love it. Especially if your name is “Life & Sunshine”!
thanks 🙂 we’ve had such positive feedback so far!
I haven’t had the privilege of meeting any of my blogging friends in person yet but they are definitely “real” and I really hope I do have the opportunity someday.
If you have the desire, edebock, you will definitely meet a blogger or six!
This is what I call getting the most out of WordPress. Congrats!
I like the way you think, Eccentric Thinker! **grin** And thank you.
Hi Kathy,
It was nice to discover your blogged on Freshly pressed.
Yes! I have met bloggers and nearly all have kept in close touch with me. I have to sit down and think for the numbers but I would say 8-10.
I love reading about other people who also meet their blog friends in person and just drop the word “blog” and say friend.
I much enjoyed your post.
Barb
Barb, we both have had similar experiences, then. Thank you for sharing about the many friends you have met. I also love your point about dropping the word “blog” and just saying friend. The distinction soon disappears, doesn’t it?
Freshly Pressed, Kathy – that’s amazing – congratulations, you deserve it! As for meeting fellow-bloggers, I have not met any of my blog buddies yet, but I’m pretty new to the blogosphere. Maybe someday we can meet somewhere between Michigan and Louisiana. ❤
I would like to go to Louisiana! See, this is how it happens. You meet a blogging buddy and they start blogging about Louisiana and pretty soon you’re 55.9% convinced that you must visit Louisiana, asap. Now the Universe hears your desire and arranges for a child to move to Louisiana. It happens. I swear it happens all the time. lol! P.S. I misspelled Louisiana four times. Must learn how to spell it before the Universe will arrange a trip.
Awesome, you’ve met a LOT of online friends in real life! I also had the privilege to meet one of my online friends earlier this year 🙂
Lucky you, barefoot med student! Isn’t it awesome? Did you have trouble reconciling the person’s accent or physical looks with the on-line presence? Hope you get to meet more.
Great post. I’ve only been blogging a short while but I hope I get to ‘meet’ fellow bloggers as nice as you.
I am sure you will have the opportunity one of these days. Also glad you liked this post.
Good post. I am new to this and this was nice to know. I don’t have any blogger buddies yet. I still learning.
You’ll get blogging buddies if you start to comment on other posts. It’s quite catchy. Have fun!
Congratulations not just for being Freshly Pressed but for the gift of inspiration. I always knew that “bloggers” are real people, with a genuine heart that cares, a brilliant mind that shares memories, dreams and amazing stories. May be one day, I get to meet one in person too. I bet it’s going to be awesome! Best wishes.
Always glad to share the gift of inspiration, island traveler. I know you will meet your blogging friends somewhere in the not-too-distant future. The crystal ball foretells it. 🙂
Hello to you from Leelanau County! It’s so great to see someone from Northern Michigan getting their due on Freshly Pressed — congratulations!
Your post was very inspiring. I’ve only been blogging for going on three years, now, but I hope to one day be able to say that I’ve met as many blogging friends as you have. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Hello, Jason! I can almost see you through the trees and across Lake Michigan! **grin** I hope you meet many blogging friends as you continue to share. It’s a blast. Freshly Pressed is nice, too. 🙂
I love your post! It would be so good to meet your fellow bloggers and talk to them about their real lives and see them in real. 🙂
Thank you, Ann. You can learn so much from meeting our blogging fellows in person. (OK, we can learn so much from them on line, too.) Hope you meet one or six bloggers real soon.
cool pictures:)
Thank you!
Nice to see this! I’ve been doing this about 9 years now and have met about 35 other bloggers in 3D. It’s grand fun! Keep up the good work!
Poolagirl, that is so cool! Over 35 other bloggers in 3D! Have you written a blog telling of all your adventures?
Wow this is amazing. Though I’m new here and your fp post brings me to your blog, I am certainly in awe!
It’s fun, frizbeee. Hope you get to meet some on-line friends in the real world. Enjoy your blogging!
I surely do aspire to make blogging for myself as fun as you have 🙂
I’m real too. 😉 Velveteen Rabbit Ruth
Love this post!
Oh, gosh, Ruth. I forgot about you! That’s because you’re local…I was thinking about local friends who comment here and didn’t include any of them. So sorry! You are SO real. I know you are. Because you’re a FB friend. lol!
oh…didn’t mean it like that! 😉 Just putting in my claim for realness. LOL.
I hope I can meet fellow bloggers some day! This must have been so cool. Congrats on being freshly pressed!
Thank you, second serving. As I’ve been telling commenters here, you will meet fellow bloggers if it’s something you desire. Just may take a little time.
Wow, Kathy! Congratulations on another Freshly Pressed! That’s a nice way to ease your way out of the once-a-week posting commitment. 😉 Have a great day!
Hey, Ms. Dana, I wrote a post today (heck, can’t remember the name of it now) but thought of you while writing it. You might relate, my creative passionate intense funny friend.
Reblogged this on wincharles.
Congrats on being freshly pressed. I am rather new (4 months now) to the blogging scene, but have made a few friends along the way.
DrJeff7
http://heritagebreedsfarm.com
Glad to hear this, Dr. Jeff. The blogging world can be wonderful! It’s also wonderful to be Freshly Pressed. Hope you have this gift some day.
Beautiful Pictures
Fun! I just met an online friend last week for the first time – he’s not a blogger, but same principle, right?
The very same principle, indeed, Lunar. Bloggers, on-line friends…yep, the same thing!
They are real! Before I was married, I even dated several bloggers that I met through our blogs. Haha I don’t recommend that though, since we write about everything 😉
**grinning, natasiarose. I will heed your adivce and not date any bloggers. Fat chance with that, anyway, since I’ve been married a long, long time…
Wow… I’ve never tried it but I have always wondered what it be like to meet the actual person behind the words.. From what I have seen, many writers (not bloggers.. I haven’t met any) have a totally different writing voice than what they are in person.
Great post 🙂
You know, vandysnape, I kinda think I am different in person than on-line. However, many of the folks I met seemed predictable to me. Hmmm, wonder what that says? Glad you stopped to comment. Thank you!
Kathy – You’re sizzlin’ hot. On fire! And I’m TICKLED PINK for you being Freshly Pressed yet again. You are my hero!
Laurie, thank you. You are MY hero, too. So we’re even! Doncha love it?
I’m new at this but I think it would be fun to meet a few fellow bloggers some day! It would put a whole new perspective on their blog.
It does, really, Marcella. It rounds out a person. I thoroughly recommend it! And thank you for pausing to comment.
Thanks for the tips on bloggers on Mackinac and in Northport – my part of the world for a little while each summer! 🙂
You are so welcome, puddlewonderfullife. I loved visiting Mackinac recently–and thoroughly enjoyed meeting Pamela in Northport. Glad you’re able to spend some time there each summer.
This is the sweetest article i have ever seen. It’s nice that you managed to reach out to your fellow bloggers like that, it really shows that you care about what you do. I find that there are alot of nice people on wordpress but I’m sure that’s because it has a very mature number of bloggers and writers. This article by far is the most fascinating to me so keep up the good work -,o
http://wp.me/2aAA8
I am glad you enjoyed this future2020. I do care about blogging~~and about the people who take the time to read and comment. Thank you for sharing your precious time and using the word “sweet”. That is really sweet.
Lol, Anytime Kathy stay high in spirits and keep on doing what you do best cause I’m sure they love you for it 🙂
A very personal touch to the sometimes anonymous nature of virtual communication! Thanks for the lovely post.
Thank you, busandstops. Virtual communication can be anonymous…and then it can enter a new realm of connection!
That’s really neat. Not many people would make the effort to cross the line from virtual to personal connections (or so I think). And even nicer of you to share your experience here about meeting them in person. Made me think…
You may be right, Browsing the Atlas. It seems like some of us want to stretch the limits and actually get out and meet our virtual friends, while others are more satisfied to just let them be virtual friends. I think it’s good both ways.
Congratulations on FP.
Thank you, maxthehandyman. It is fun!
Thank you so much for this beautiful and amazing post. Best wishes and happy blogging!
I am glad you liked this, Julie. It was fun to write. Fun to highlight all these cool people! Happy blogging to you as well!
Thanks so much for making all the bloggers out there come to life. I have received some of the sweetest and most wonderful post comments and often I wish I could get to know some of them better. Perhaps, I’ll just have to try that sometime. Thanks for sharing. You Matter! Smiles, Nancy
Nancy, just by reading your comment I can tell that you will perhaps get to know some bloggers at some time in your life. People can be so sweet…and you can tell, after a while, which ones you might want to meet. Smiles back, Kathy
Interesting!
Thanks, Rakhi!
~~~Logan Smiles~~~
~~Kathy smiles back at Logan~~
Reblogged this on Dave's (almost) Daily Drivel and commented:
Interesting blog. I treasure the long term friends I’ve made blogging – as much as any true friend. As for meeting you guys ….. of course I would if it fitted with what’s going on – you are a bit widespread. I wonder if it would spoil some of the anonymity and mystery. Enjoy ………..
Thank you, Dave. Does it spoil some of the anonymity and mystery? Yes, it does. But what it gives instead is a richness of depth and connection. Thanks for re-blogging.
Its always good to see people you like. After we meet them we feel, we are in the sailing in the same boat!
A great way to put it, Pulin! I think we are all sailing in the same boat, but we don’t always realize that fully until we get to know a person with some depth. Thank you for commenting.
I have yet to meet any fellow bloggers, but a few years ago I did get to meet a few online friends from a messageboard I’m on (three of them twice) and we’ve since kept in touch via Facebook and such. Fun times. 🙂 It’s always fun to be able to put a face and a voice to a username, share some flesh-and-blood hugs and have an adventure or two in person.
And even if you never get to meet them in person, online friends can be just as wonderful as “real-life” friends.
Hi Stephanie, glad you are part of the fun times and adventures! I agree–as someone said up above “on line friends” soon becomes just “friends”.
Hello, Lake Superior Spirit.
I just stated my blog last month-msmcword.wordpress.com
By the way, I am a “looper”-I live in the lower part of Michigan
Hello msmcword! Welcome, looper. I am a former looper. Where are you from? I was from The Thumb.
I have lived in the Detroit area all of my life. I lived in Detroit itself until I was 19 when my parents & I moved to the suburb of Farmington. I still live there.
Keep on blogging!
msmcword
What a wonderful post. Love the sense of community you describe.
Community is a special part of life, isn’t it, Ginger? Glad you enjoyed!
Hooray for you for getting on Freshly Pressed! That’s all – I just get happy for people when it happens for them! Take care – Julianna
Julianna, your happiness for others getting Freshly Pressed is wonderful. May you enjoy this some day, too. Take care yourself.
What an inspiring story of the authentic connections with bloggers. Love this!
Thank you, Washington, DC. I visited Washington DC but never met any bloggers there–only my daughter and her friends when she lived there. Thanks for visiting!
You’re blog post is really amazing. It’s nice to know that you were able to meet some of your blog friends in real life! Congrats for getting on Freshly Pressed! Love and virtual kisses from the Philippines 😉
I am glad you enjoyed this, darkzephyr. How wonderful that you live in the Philippines! That sounds like a wonderful place to visit some day. Thank you.
Congratulations on being FP Kathy. I’m so impressed that you’ve met so many of your blogging friends.
Rosie, were you able to meet any blogging friends during your recent trip? If not–I’m sure you met a lot of precious people along the way. Thanks for your congratulations.
Unfortunately I don’t have any blogging buddies in Spain.
Me, either, Rosie, although I used to know a blogger there. Darn…
As a relatively new blogger, this post makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The internet is a wonderful place 🙂
I am glad, littletash, that this made you feel good! The internet has proven to be a wonderful place for so many of us. Of course, we have to keep our radar alert and let our heart tell us who we might want to meet in person. Thank you and Happy Blogging!
This is such a nice post! 🙂
http://journeythroughhtml.wordpress.com
Thank you, Arnav. Glad you liked it.
What a fabulous post!!! I have not met any of my bloggy friends in person….yet. But I know that I will! Your post was a fabulous view into the real life people who blog!!! Thanks! And congrats on Freshly Pressed……my goal!!! 🙂
Wishing you many meetings with bloggy friends in your future, Beth Ann It’s a blast! (Oh, P.S., also wishing you a Freshly Pressed hoopla…)
I keep hoping for that Freshly Pressed hoopla!!! 🙂
I havent met any of my blooging friends in ‘real life’ as of yet, but i know a few. I have many online friends, due to the numerous amount of forums, writing and other sites i am on. And all my friends around me always say ‘you dont know them, they cant be your friends!’ Yes they can! i talk to my online friends more than i talk to anyone around me, becuse you form your friendships over things you all enjoy doing- for me, thats harry potter, writing and having a laugh. A few of my online friends from around the Uk are even planning a get together later this year so we can all meet eachother.
Thank you for stopping to comment, riverseth. It is so interesting when we talk with our online friends more than anyone else around us. It certainly changes the way our friendships form and grow. Bet you will have a wonderful time with your online friends from around the UK. How fun!
What a COOL idea for a post – and WOW, you’ve met so many fellow bloggers! I’ve only met one WordPress blogger so far (after blogging since Feb 2011), Accidental Stepmom, but I’ve talked to another on the phone (The Monster in Your Closet), and I’m going to a blogging conference next month in NYC, so that number will grow exponentially! Misty’s Laws and Thoughts Appear will both be there, and I consider them close blogging buds. So, yes, definitely ‘real’ relationships forged online 🙂
Congratulations on your Freshly Pressage! Well deserved!
Sounds like you’ve done more than most of the commenters here who haven’t met ANY! I am thrilled that you have reached out beyond just the written word into the multi-dimensional blogging world, Go Jules. Thanks for the Freshly Pressed well wishes. It was fun.
What an amazing idea for a blog posts – and what interesting profiles! I just wonder: do you meet these people first on-line, then in “real” life or the other way around? How does it happen?! So much fun!
backpackerina, I met them first on-line and then arranged to meet them in person. It was fun! Thanks for commenting.
This is an amazing blog post! I commend you for reaching out to all those that enrich your life through blogging. What an inspiration. You seem like a woman who truly knows & understands how to LIVE! Cheers to you from San Francisco…and thanks for sharing your adventures with us;)
You are a very friendly blogger, and I hope if you ever visit the SF Bay area, you’ll blog about it beforehand so I can meet you in the city or Marin County, and we can take a picture on Angel Island (wearing our wings, of course) or Alcatraz Island (wearing our black and white striped shirts?) or on the Golden Gate Bridge wearing something…golden. Fun and friendly post!
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