Air Quotes No Longer Needed

When I talk about my Facebook friends, it’s usually with air quotes... you know, “friend”, and a little chagrin too wondering if I sound like that crazy cat lady. Well, I’d like you to meet my new FB friend, Sue Elliott, air quotes no longer needed. Sue lives in the Napa Valley—I love the Napa Valley. Sue writes an inspirational blog—I love inspirational blogs…but that’s only the beginning of this story.

I met Sue over brunch at Bank Bar in Napa. It was everything I expected it to be… I just knew. We became FB friends last year. We chatted via Wall Posts, Comments and Messages. All good, all fun, but last fall I had a gut feeling that I needed to connect with her face to face. Not surprisingly she agreed, and this weekend we made it happen on her turf, because I’m always up for an adventure.

She felt like an old friend from the moment we greeted. Our paths were different but somehow similar. We were kindred spirits long before we met. I could share with you the various conversations that consumed our short time together, because talk, we did—for three non-stop hours. But the conversation was secondary to the extraordinary energy that wrapped around us as new friends. Friends that would not have happened, had it not been for the internet and social media sites…the perfect medium for an introvert like me.

Where else can you meet with someone consistently on your time frame, in your comfort zone without sharing too much space and energy except you’re ready and willing? I’ve heard debates about how social network sites isolate us from the human connection…I find just the opposite. Without social network sites, those of us who are shy or reserved find it nearly impossible to generate new friends outside of our immediate circle. No, I do not use FB in place of friends, but I use it as a stepping stone to more involved, quality friendships. I certainly could never be with this large of a group of people so easily and happily in a physical space and time. And as with all social groups, I can enjoy many and cherish the few that I have been lucky enough to connect with deeply.

Sue, thank you for your friendship--from virtual to reality--and a fine adventure too.