AuburnChick's Adventures

Blogging has opened up a whole new world for me.   Because I tend to be a bit of a loner, I don’t have a lot of IRL (in real life) friends.  I don’t quite know why.  I think part of the reason is that I feel very shy and insecure when talking to people.

BUT, put me on the internet, and my inner Nathalie comes out.  I express myself better in the written form, and there’s also a little button called “backspace” that allows me to delete the things I don’t want to say.

My bloggy world has grown over the years, and I have met a few people whose friendships have crossed the border of Blog World to Facebook World.  If you are one of my students reading this, please take heed that said friendships have been nurtured for months on end before I have opened myself up to real-world connections.

Anyhoo…

This week, one of my blog-Facebook friendships opened up further.

I got to meet a friend in person…face-to-face!!

A couple of weeks ago, Mary sent me an email letting me know that she would be in my neck of the woods after Christmas.

She asked if I would like to meet.

I didn’t even have to think about it.  I answered immediately with a resounding YES!

We met at a local shopping mall…the newest and nicest one near me.

We had agreed to meet at Starbucks, and when I approached, I saw her sitting outside.  She was easy to spot because, unlike me, she posts pictures of herself on her blog.  Yay for that!

We greeted each other with a hug, and she introduced me to her husband and MS (middle son).  We sat down and talked as if this was something we regularly do.

It wasn’t long before YS (youngest son) and FEZ (foreign exchange student) walked up.  They had been strolling around the outdoor mall.

After a while, Chicky and Guy Friend, who had been out shopping, stopped by.  After they left, Mary’s guys left, and we were left alone to chat some more.

I’m telling you…it was so much fun!  We had immediately been drawn to each others’ blogs because we share a lot of common interests…soccer, SEC football, education, and band.

She has a gentle southern accent that warmed my heart.  As an Alabama girl who lost her own accent during my years of living in Miami, when I hear the southern twang, I am taken home again.

We finally went our separate ways, hugging as we parted.

I left with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.  God is so good.  He uses every avenue to connect people.  It is another reason why I am in awe of Him.

And to Mary I want to say that it was such a pleasure meeting you!  I just know that if we lived closer to each other, we would meet up regularly at Starbucks, enjoy a cup of brew (or hot chocolate, in my case) and while the hours away.  You are a dear friend to me, and I am so thankful that your family went out of its way to meet little ole me.  Hugs, my Friend!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: blogging, friendship |