I have wanted to write this post for a long time. I suspect that I’ve written something like this before, but I can’t find evidence of it. Maybe my memory is just recalling all those posts I’ve written in my head. The internet – or rather, the relationships I have made and developed over the internet – enriches my life. Day by day I am involved in the lives of people I know on the internet – maybe I’ve met them in real life (sometimes before, sometimes after the internet relationship), and maybe I haven’t. These relationships bring me much joy. And love flows both ways.
Examples follow:
- I can be sitting outside on my new deck, and know that friends all over the world have seen the photos (via FB), and that they are all pleased to see how good it is looking at last. (And I know that some of them will remember how long I have been waiting for this. I’m sure to post about the deck some more.)
- I can simultaneously experience summer (sitting on that new deck, at my outdoor table, in shorts and a T-shirt with a chilled glass of chardonnay), and winter (reading on my iPad all about the horrible weather in the UK, and see romantic (to me) photos of snow in the US and Canada).
- A friend I’ve only ever met in Thailand when we were teenagers shares Vermont snow photos and soup recipes on her new blog. Fellow exchange students I said good-bye to over 33 years ago post photos of snow from Maryland or Oregon or Delaware, or of unnaturally cold temperatures (dipping into the low 20sC/70sF) in Bangkok.
- I’m introduced to new old music from the Danforth, Toronto.
- I cheer on marathoners from all corners of the world, running in other corners of the world – from Malaysia to New York, and beyond.
- I’ve learned to adore children I’ve never met, and some whose parents I’ve never met either.
- I get to know my adult nieces, even though we rarely get to see each other in person.
- Due to time zone differences, I learn about major news events from my friends on FB or their blogs.
- Due to the obsessions of a friend and a niece’s partner, I learn about golf results and soccer/rugby/league results sooner than I would otherwise (or at all).
- I learn more about world events and the politics of the UK/Canada/US by hearing what the people in those countries think.
- On pasta and chardonnay night, I often choose a pasta recipe (evaporated milk/cream, pesto and cherry tomatoes) given by a friend in St Louis.
- I’ve made chocolate martinis courtesy of IB’s blog (though I can’t find the reference), also from Vermont.
- I am now a fan of The Big Bang Theory, after seeing that a blogging friend in Florida was excited about a new season (a number of years ago now).
- I have celebrated publication deals, and bought books from blogging friends – in Canada, and California (two) and Washington DC. And I’ve bought books from friends of internet friends (US) and friends (England) of internet-friends-who-turned-into-real-life friends.
- I have been introduced to websites that become an essential part of my day. Most recently, I’m in love with brainpickings. It’s giving me enormous food for thought.
- An internet friend from Liverpool named my travel planning company.
- Due to an internet relationship, I am only two degrees of separation away from the current President of the United States (and the same through a real life friend from his predecessor – which to be fair I’m less excited about).
- I regularly read about the dramas a friend is going through with a young person she is mentoring. I hold my breath in fear and anticipation, I sigh in relief, I shake my head, and I cheer them on.
- I celebrate the love affair of a blogging friend, and start to fall in love too with his new love, never having met either of them.
- I read interesting articles and learn fascinating new things I would never have found otherwise.
- In order to meet an internet friend, I travelled to a new country – Slovenia – and discovered the bonus of a fascinating and beautiful place.
- And now I cheer on the Slovenian skiers at the Winter Olympics, and during our recent trip to Queenstown, try to imagine them seeing my country for the first time.
- I laugh. And laugh, and laugh. And yes, sometimes I cry. I FEEL.
- Even when I’m home alone, I can toast my friends and be toasted in return when I pour myself a glass of wine (as I’m about to soon). So really, I’m never alone.
- I’ve met four different internet friends (and some of their partners) on their trips to New Zealand, and have hosted them at home, and toasted them with New Zealand wine.
- And I look forward to hosting many more of these friends-I’ve-yet-to-meet on my new deck.
- Every day I am amused, inspired, challenged and educated by my friends all over the internet. And I thank them.
I love this! I love the Internet, too, for many reasons but one of the biggest is finding the online community which led me to your blogs (as well as many others).
And – how can I bribe you to share the chocolate martini recipe?? 🙂
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Love you, Mali!
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illanare: Equal parts Stoli Vanil vodka and Bols Creme de Cacao (the absolute clearness of the drink is key—no brown! no Godiva!). For presentation, rim the glass with a little creme de cacao and grated chocolate (we used semisweet baking chocolate, I think), then dust the top of the drink with the chocolate as well.
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Thank you!!! Can’t wait to try it
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LOVE thiiiiisssss. 🙂 And I’ve loved your words, among other things. 🙂
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Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times to this, yes 🙂
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Fabulous post — I completely agree! 🙂
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What a beautiful post. I too am quite smitten with what the internet affords me. I have so many friends via my blog and FB that I have, and will probably never, “meet” but who I feel very close too. My life would be anemic without all of you and I’m thankful everyday for the connection it affords me. We are very lucky to have this amazing tool at our disposal. Very lucky indeed.
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