"Being online"

This is my tenth year of being "online". I've learned alot of different things since being here, not the least of which is that "being online" means a lot of different things to people. I'm not sure, even now, that I have the ability to explain what "being online" means, even to me.

For me, "being online" has offered me myriad opportunities that are probably not possible offline. Opportunities like...participating in telephone interviews with the likes of Tom Clancy, Nora Roberts, Paul Simon, the cast of "Touched By An Angel", and many others. Opportunities like...managing a staff of more than 100 volunteers of ages ranging from 13 to 70+ who served as chat hosts. Opportunities like...meeting countless now real-life friends, from all over the world, including my precious Hubby. :)

Yes, my husband and I met online through a :::gasp!!::: DATING SERVICE!!!!!!!! From the first email, we were both hooked, and after a whole 3 days of emailing, IMming, and talking by phone, we met in person. And, basically, we've been together ever since. Within a month or so of that first meeting, we were engaged. Oh, and let me clarify here -- we lived in different cities, 200 miles apart, so we even long-distance dated. We will celebrate our 3rd anniversary in December, and are more convinced by the day that we are most definitely made for each other.

The friends I've made out in cyberspace do mean a great deal to me, whether I've ended up meeting them in person or not, though I have met quite a few of them in real life. This October I'm hoping to meet a friend who was one of my chat host volunteers -- I've known this woman for 10 years, consider her one of my dearest friends, but we've never met in person. We went through the loss of my spouse and the loss of her youngest child, online and sometimes on the phone. We've continued to keep in touch, though by no means daily, through remarriages on both our parts, the birth of another child for her, and moves by the both of us. Finally I will get to hug her neck. :) I can't tell you how exciting this is for me.

Another friend who started out as a volunteer in my area ended up moving to Memphis, where I then lived, to go to college, and lived with me while she did. She has since graduated and is now entering grad school, for which I could not be more proud. I have gotten to witness her growth from teenager to adult, in a way that I couldn't have otherwise, being childless myself. Her life intertwined with mine in a very special and unique way -- I don't think this would have happened with any other person. Apparently, we were just meant to be lifelong friends/family. She tells me I know more about her family than she does (which might be true!), but that's because I've been fortunate enough to be included as part of their family. She is also included as my family, so much so that she and my good sister fight with each other (playfully) like actual siblings. They worry me sometimes. lol Not really -- it cracks me up. Also, my nieces and nephews, in true southern tradition, call her "Aunt So-and-so", because they love her dearly. My mom has adopted her, as has my late husband's family. :) I always have liked having one big happy family, especially when they include my family of choice.

"Being online" has allowed me to research things, to connect with people near and far, to learn new skills, to see the world more broadly, to find better deals on things I need to buy, to view places and things I'll never see in person. And as technology advances, I look forward to the new places the Internet will take me, and you, too, since you're reading my blog.

One thing I did want to add about meeting people in person that you've come across online -- don't be stupid. Just like with any other kind of encounter, don't give out too much info, don't meet in private, don't forget to use your common sense. There are good people and bad people everywhere. Yes, I've met some crazy/stupid people, and yes, I've had bad experiences, but the good FAR outweighs the bad -- FAR FAR FAR! Let your gut and, again, good common sense be your guide when thinking of meeting in person. If you rule out really meeting folks you've connected with online, you are doing a disservice to you both.

Peace, people.