This is me in my snappy Shepard-wear and A. Marie--isn't she cute?The only thing cuter than A. Marie is her family. Girlfriend brought the whole gang over to meet me, including her husband, very tolerant son, and her absolutely adorable daughter. We chatted, compared notes on blogs and bloggers, and then had to take a bunch of photos. Oh, and somewhere in there we managed to talk some marching band-talk as well.
When I was waiting for A. Marie to meet me, I was hanging out in the concourse of the stadium talking to my band parent friend, Paul. We were shooting the breeze when A. Marie came up and I introduced him to my blog pally. It's odd, this blog pally thing, because we have this whole other life that we bloggers lead outside our everyday lives. I'm not sure Paul knew that I blogged, but he does now.
Later, Paul asked me who A. Marie was and why does she love my cat so much--which made me laugh. See--non-bloggers don't get this, do they? They don't get what we do, how we do it, or why we do it. Personally, I don't get why they don't blog.
After the loss of Margie and Bruce this weekend (see yesterday's post), I began to really think about our online friendships. Very different from Facebook or online chat rooms, blogging really lets us express who we are---deep down inside. Rarely do we disclose our true identities, but think nothing of sharing our thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
We have the ability to post photos to accompany our words in order to complete our message. We have editing options and post-dating of the written word--just in case we chicken out or change what we want to say. We also have linking ability in case we have found someone else who conveys what we want to say, feel what we feel, or maybe just cracks us up that day.
Blogging is this incredible world of people who share--maybe too little or maybe too much, but we SHARE. And while we let the world in on our lives or adventures (boring as they may be), we put ourselves out there on that rickety limb of doom, as I like to call it. Folks have the option of commenting, joining in the fun, or perhaps drilling you a new one when they read your blog, and they usually do because they know we love those comments.
I got this from another blogger, but I think Margie's message was to live each day the way you want, to take a chance, explore, and most of all....enjoy. I am sorry to hear that Margie and Bruce have been silenced in the blog world for I will miss their photos and tales of adventures, but I am grateful for her message.
So, yes, Paul, I do blog. I love that I have friends like A. Marie who find me in the crowd of thousands to giggle over my cat with me. And I can't imagine my life without them and the joy they bring me.
To A. Marie--I hope you and Jamie aren't fighting over that Hobbes' picture!
When I was waiting for A. Marie to meet me, I was hanging out in the concourse of the stadium talking to my band parent friend, Paul. We were shooting the breeze when A. Marie came up and I introduced him to my blog pally. It's odd, this blog pally thing, because we have this whole other life that we bloggers lead outside our everyday lives. I'm not sure Paul knew that I blogged, but he does now.
Later, Paul asked me who A. Marie was and why does she love my cat so much--which made me laugh. See--non-bloggers don't get this, do they? They don't get what we do, how we do it, or why we do it. Personally, I don't get why they don't blog.
After the loss of Margie and Bruce this weekend (see yesterday's post), I began to really think about our online friendships. Very different from Facebook or online chat rooms, blogging really lets us express who we are---deep down inside. Rarely do we disclose our true identities, but think nothing of sharing our thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
We have the ability to post photos to accompany our words in order to complete our message. We have editing options and post-dating of the written word--just in case we chicken out or change what we want to say. We also have linking ability in case we have found someone else who conveys what we want to say, feel what we feel, or maybe just cracks us up that day.
Blogging is this incredible world of people who share--maybe too little or maybe too much, but we SHARE. And while we let the world in on our lives or adventures (boring as they may be), we put ourselves out there on that rickety limb of doom, as I like to call it. Folks have the option of commenting, joining in the fun, or perhaps drilling you a new one when they read your blog, and they usually do because they know we love those comments.
I got this from another blogger, but I think Margie's message was to live each day the way you want, to take a chance, explore, and most of all....enjoy. I am sorry to hear that Margie and Bruce have been silenced in the blog world for I will miss their photos and tales of adventures, but I am grateful for her message.
So, yes, Paul, I do blog. I love that I have friends like A. Marie who find me in the crowd of thousands to giggle over my cat with me. And I can't imagine my life without them and the joy they bring me.
To A. Marie--I hope you and Jamie aren't fighting over that Hobbes' picture!
28 comments:
It's so true that there are those who blog and those who don't and only the ones that do, truly get why you blog. Tsk, tsk. All those non-bloggers missing out on all the Hobbes goodness. More for me!
A Marie and I are fighting over Hobbes' picture.
We have editing options and post-dating of the written word--just in case we chicken out or change what we want to say.
That should be true in "real life" too-can't tell you how many times I've gotten myself into trouble by not changing what I said :-)
It is so much easier for me to share things on my blogs that I wouldn't even talk about to other people I meet. I guess it's because I see a blog visitor coming on purpose to visit me to hear what I have to say that day, but I'm not so sure people I meet care about what I'm thinking or feeling at the moment so I generally don't share those things with people face to face. My regular blog readers know way more about us than most of the people we actually know.
Fun, fun times! I love blogger meet ups!!!
So happy for you that you got to spend time with a pally.
Your statement is as cogent an argument in favor of blogging that I have ever read.
Nice post...thoughtful, as always.
It is strange. Most of my friends are online any more.
K, I am in full on tears now. I went over to Bruce and Margie's blog and read her entry from the day before they were killed. Man...what a reminder how short and precious life is. I know that sounds lame, but STILL!
Also makes me love blogging all the more. The fact that a simple story can have such an impact among people who would be strangers, except we're not. Blogging reminds me that WE ARE SO CONNECTED and I love that blogging actually DOES connect us.
Thanks for the reminder :)
Wayy way back in the beginning, before blogs even existed and chat rooms ruled the early internet I got my first computer. I sat out to discover what was out there in the chat room world being forwarned about the awful chat rooms which were dominated by nothing but sex talk. Sooo I created the first non-sex chat chat room. In the beginning there was only two kids (romeo and juliet) (quess what they chatted about) and me and an occassional passerby that dropped in to see the "Garden Chat". So I sat there essentially blogging all day since I was the only one there. I talked to silent walls, to flowers, to my cats, people came by and slowly they started leaving me messages and then after three or four months Romeo and Juliet discovered that a bunch of old ladies and a few men were discussing their probably non-existant sex life. That was enough to totally gross R&J and they disappeared forever. That was waaaay back in 1995 and I'm still friends with some of those quirky people. There's best bud Zimelza named after her cat because her husband wanted to make sure no weirdos stalked her, there was grandma Joyce who probably is just about the worst grandma on earth but who lives in a rock pile in northern calif. The was Koala-4,who we thought was a gay accountant from San Francisco because all he could type was How you doing today Babbeee." He was actually a honduran baggage handler who worked at the SF airport. Well we did get one thing right., and no it wasn't the gay part., and weird ole me, garden_angel.
The internet makes it possible for people ,,, cat people, plant people, tin foil hat type people to find other's just like themselves and reassure us that it's not US that are weird but those other people who surround us at work and in our neighborhoods but who never have time to stop and say hello that are actually the truly weird people.
You expressed why we blog so very beautifully, and there's no denying that our relationships with each other are very real.
And seriously, could you look any cuter in that photo?
Blogging friendships are uniquely special. I often find myself saying, "My friend, So and So, oh, she's a blogger...."
Cute picture of the both of you!
How wonderful to be able to visit a blogger friend. Blogland is indeed a special place isn't it? And only those that blog can truly understand the connection I think.
Happy Monday Lin!
xo Catherine
you're so right - nonbloggers do not get this. My family is always surprised when they read mine and see messages for Ginger! lol
No, they do not get it!
T
how cool getting to meet a blog pal. I don't know anyone in person who blog and nobody I know get the whole blogging thing. They just don't know what they're missing because the people who visit me every day in my little corner of the world are the best people I know :)
Hey blog pally! We need to catch up sometime in person. The new photos on my blog just don't do me justice I tell ya. I'm can be free this week any day but Tuesday. Email me and let me know.
I feel an old Girl Scout song coming on...make new friends but keep the old....
A. Marie got a picture of Hobbes! She's so lucky!
I didn't know Bruce and Margie but after you told us about them, I can't stop thinking about how tragic that was. I read some of her posts and now I feel a sense of loss too. You're right in that non-bloggers just don't get the connection, heck even my husband thinks I'm nuts when I cry, laugh or worry over someone out in Blogland. That's okay, I enjoy all my pallies out there whether he gets it or not!
You are so right- I almost feel sorry for those who elect to pay for therapy rather than blog:)
We do let the world in! Most of my blog friends know me better than all but a few of my "touchable" acquaintances.
DG--It always amazes me on how many people have no idea what blogging is! Missing out, BIG time! I mean, how do you live without knowing Brownie and Spike??!
Helene--No kidding! Me too! A. Marie and I were missing you Saturday, Helene.
Karen--I'm pretty open in real life as well as blogging, but I can tell my stories better here. I like being able to have photos to convey what I am saying. Life doesn't have video, photos or captions. Bummer.
Diane--we missed you, pally!
Vanilla--One of these days, Vanilla, it's gonna be YOU! ;)
Grace--:) Thanks, pally.
Pricilla--I really realized how much I care about the pallies with the deaths of Margie and Bruce this weekend. I wasn't really close to them, but I was really affected by that. It's amazing how many online pallies we have, isn't it?!
peewee--Wasn't that just so freaking SAD??! I was crying when I read that yesterday and I don't really know them that well! It was a very sobering reminder that we do have pallies all over the world who care about us and that life can end way too fast. I think we connect so fast because we write our thoughts every single day for the most part. I don't think I talk to most of my friends that often.
Ozark Mtn Cats--I love your chat room story! How hilarious is that group??! You are so right about the "weird" people. So glad it's not us. :)
Violet--Don't I look like a big PEZ? I think my head looks big sitting on top of that hoodie. :) And yes, I feel like we all have something here. Every time I meet one of the pallies in person, I am never, ever let down.
Chocolate--I do that too! And then you get the weirdest looks. :)
Catherine--Non-bloggers don't get it. My friend Paul was all like "WHO was that???" I don't think he understood. Hee! Hee!
Tracy--WHAT??! Ginger is a STAR!
Ann--I just happen to live in a city where I can meet up with lots of bloggers and I count myself lucky for that. I LOVE meeting the pallies in person--they never let me down. They are really, really great people.
Lola--Still crazy, Lola, wrapping up football games and uniform fittings for concert band. I'll give you a shout out soon, I promise! We have to hook up with JD!
Jodi--Hee! Hee! Hey, when you coming to the old stomping ground? I'd love to meet up with you too!
Beaded Tail--She did! But I think her daughter snagged it. :) I didn't know Margie and Bruce all that well, but I did cry really hard when I read that they died. I just feel really connected to everyone when I read them every day. It's hard not to care!
Nancy--I really missed you when you took your time off this summer. It's funny how the pallies become a part of your life. Even my family knows all of you because I talk about who did what that day! It's weird, isn't it?
Sharky--I met CardioGirl in person and I gave her a huge hug which freaked her out. But I felt like I knew her so well! That is how I am with my pallies--I feel like you are dear friends! I hope to meet you someday, Sharky! I think a Sharky, Lin, and Chuck meeting is in order!
I'm looking forward to the day when we meet, Lin! You are so right about blogging. Love the pic. You both look so cute!
Bloggers are kind of like family in a weird way. It isn't for everyone, but I do like to think that the good ones are truly special :)
How fun to meet up and chat with a bloggy pal! Glad you had a good time.
Ha, tolerant son sounds funny. Glad you got to meet up with a bloggy pal! I'm still in the dark about blogging to 99% of my friends and family... they just wouldn't get it. Ya know? I know you do. But you get it...
Veronica--Counting the days.....We have soooo gotta meet up one day! And somehow, I just have this feeling that we will and we will be fast friends. :)
Stephanie--It's so weird how we feel like we know each other, but we don't. But I have to say that whenever I meet someone in person, it has always been a great experience and I have not been let down. The real person and the online person has matched each time. When are you coming to Chicago, pally???? ;)
Hot Rocks--I love meeting blog pallies because you can talk blogs with someone who actually knows what you are talking about! And then you don't feel so nuts anymore. :) Too bad Hobbes can't make the rounds with me.
Casey--I met up with CardioGirl this summer and it sort of forced her to "come out" to her friends about her blogging. We were making up this huge story and then she finally said "ah, forget it!". They didn't know what it was anyway, after all that scheming! We are SO gonna meet up one day too--you are on the list!
There's a bit of the miraculous about blogger friendships; we had the honor of hosting Kathy from The Junk Drawer and Jen from 'Of Cabbages and Kings' here at our house last May and we had a fantastic weekend; it was actually a five-blogger weekend, with my husband and his sister thrown into the mix (Unfinished Rambler and Boondock Ramblings). I've camped with a whole group of people who were fans of my ambulance blog over on Firefighter Nation, met friends for lunch on business trips...I think about all the connections that simply would not exist without this medium of expression. Just one of those things that makes life a little more delicious.
Blog on, sistah!
I loved the one and only meet-up we had with another blogger. It was so fun and random. But wonderful to have someone to talk to about blogging in person without getting strange looks.
It is a unique form of expression - we feel so connected to each other but really, we only share what we want others to know. So, people don't truly KNOW me - the way that my family and friends do - but they know more about certain aspects of me than people in my "real" world ever would.
that's awesome! if you weren't so far away, maybe we could meet up at a contest...and you could tell me in operson how i need to post more sting pics...lol
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