My (Secret) Friends

My dear blog friends, I must apologize.

I am sorry, but I don't talk about you in my "real" life very often, if at all.  Even if you and I have been communicating for a year, I don't tell my family about you.  I don't tell them the funny story you posted.  I don't tell them of your trials and tribulations.  It's not that I don't enjoy your posts.  Clearly, I enjoy your posts and your comments on mine.  But on the few early occasions that I did talk about you, I was reminded of my grandma.

Oftentimes when I visit with my wonderful grandma, she will regale me with tales of her friends and neighbors.  I enjoy listening to those stories.  But every once in a while, in the middle of a story, I will realize she is talking about a comic strip.  She will talk about these cartoon characters as if they live right down the road and are her best friends.

As far as my family is concerned, you all are my comic strip cartoon characters.  They cannot fathom being good friends with someone with whom they have never met in the flesh.

I get it.  This is a bit of a bizarre world here in blogland.  I could walk right by one of you on the street and not even know it.  I only know things that you have chosen to share.  We don't have shared experiences to lead to conversations beginning, "Do you remember when we..."  I don't know your mannerisms, facial expressions, or sound of your voice. 

I know you know what I'm talking about. 

But recently, lines have been getting crossed.  Real life has been infiltrated by Blogland residents.

The author of a wonderful blog (and star of an iVillage cooking show) made a badge for me without ever being asked.

I got an email from my friend in England, with a photo of herself holding a giant British pen to go with Hubby's giant pencil.

Remember this?  I still laugh when I see it.

She was thinking of us when she saw it.

Lines were crossed, and I started to throw in quick little mentions of you all to test the waters in conversations with my family. 

And then, a blog friend not only crossed the line, she high jumped it.

The other day, I received this in the mail:

Wow, that's some bad photo quality, right there.  Sorry about that.

My blog friend, Jen, sent me a little "Happy Spring" package full of treats and spring décor.  Such a fabulous surprise it was. 

With this tangible proof, my family must now admit that you all are, in fact, real.  And not just real, but ridiculously nice and thoughtful. 

When I started this blog, I had no idea what would come of it.  I just wanted to have a place to journal our lives all in once place.  (I used to have pen and paper journals for each kid, but that became way too much to keep up with.)  I never could have guessed I would meet and befriend a whole bunch of people from all over the globe.  I've learned so much from reading about the experiences of folks in vastly different circumstances than me.  I've laughed uproariously at the funny things you all have written.  I've actually cried from reading about the struggles some have gone/are going through.

You all are a lovely group, and I'm so grateful to be a part of it.

My, I'm extra mushy today, aren't I?  I'm guessing those 25 soccer games did something to me.

During this latest phase of mine in which I thought blogging every day in the mother of all bloghops was a good idea, I did manage to meet some wonderfully interesting and funny people doing the challenge right alongside me.  I'd like to introduce you to a few of them.   

A View from the Edge - Pat and her husband sold their house, packed up their belongings and spent seven years traveling around the US in an RV.  They found the most unusual spots, and during the challenge, she documented some of them.  Hubby and I took several vacations in which we simply got in the car and drove back roads, stopping when we found something interesting.  Pat and Jim are folks who lived our dream.  (minus the RV.  I'll be staying in hotels, thank you very much.)

Two Shoes in Texas - Josie's theme for the challenge was "An Attitude of Gratitude".  Each day she made a list of a wide variety of things beginning with the days letter for which she was grateful.  Her lists included everything from microwaves to old-time photos to QWERTY to Jello.  During the month she was also able to take a trip to Savannah, GA, and through her I was able to reminisce about the times I've been to the area with my family.

The Cryton Chronicles - I hardly know how to explain Jak.  He is basically the opposite of me, being single, male, interested in sci-fi and gaming, and he posted his letter posts right before the daily deadline.  (I scheduled mine sometimes days in advance.)  Despite the fact he gives me the creeps when he writes about his haunted childhood home, I find him enjoyable.

Other's I met late in the challenge:

A Tent, a Caravan, 4 Wheels, and Me

Dancing with Dragonflies

Mama, Schmama

Mothers of Brothers Blog

My Crazy Family Circus

A Word or Two, about a Word

Stretching My Wings

Adventures in the Ballpark

Silvia Writes

None of these folks have given me gifts, seeing as it isn't mandatory for being my friend.  I will say, though, that gifts will never be turned away. :)

I shall leave you with one of my grandma's friends, because I have to admit, I do enjoy some Family Circus myself.



Have a lovely day!