This thought came to me last night as I was watching "Survivor". My favorite player on the show pulled off yet another brilliant move and I thought - "I bet Paul is jumping outta his seat right now!" Now that thought isn't much really except it dawned on me how my first thought was about someone - namely Paul - that I have never even met. Paul's someone I only know via the Internet who, I also know, happens to be the biggest fan of Survivor ever.
Something else happened yesterday too. I "know" a group of people from a website called "Community of Sweden". I joined there because I am trying to learn Swedish and all things Swedish for an eventual move to Sweden. Anywho...what I found was this great, funny, caring little group that always keeps in touch via email. We call ourselves the Fikagänget which loosely translate to the "coffee break gang". Yesterday, Asa - one of the gang, shared some good news. Some of her nature photos were chosen for her local newspaper and she was being featured as the photographer of the day. I was genuinely thrilled she got this honor and, again, I have never met Asa. Or Celia, who shared her woes about having to move from Sweden back to her native country due to financial issues. Or Lilly, who is working double duty to finish school and struggling because Swedish is her third or fourth language. Or Sherry who's house in Rhode Island is flooded right now due to the inclement weather they've been having.
There are others too. People I have never met who I think of as if I knew them. Take Van, for instance. I "met" Van on a site called DMusic. Started following his blog and love reading about his adventures with Abbe and the kiddos. He shares his ups and downs and his strange and wonderful links. Then there's Esther, now in Sweden but longing to be back in her beloved Niger. She's shared some of the most amazing photos and stories of Africa and, lately, some very personal turmoil.
My point is, I've come to think of all of these people as friends. I really do come across daily situations, like that Survivor moment, when I think to myself "Oh I have to let so and so know about this one!" and so and so is someone I know only on the Internet. Hell, I met my husband on the Internet so I do know what a powerful tool this is to draw people together. It's just always a pleasant surprise to feel like my small world has gotten just a bit bigger - one interesting person at a time.
By the way, if you do not watch Survivor, you really should. Just ask my friend Paul! :)
1 comment:
It is pretty amazing Mary. And you are correct, they should be watching Survivor, it's EPIC!!!
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