Blogland Friends

It's been two years since I began blogging. Early on, in 2006, I wrote the following:

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I'm starting to wonder about connections and friendships from blogging. It's weird to share, to learn about someone, let alone care about them, without knowing them in some other context, or perhaps never meeting, seeing their face, hearing their voice, knowing where and how they live.

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One of the contributors to Illustration Friday has "disappeared"--she hasn't made an entry in weeks, and I find myself worrying about her, wondering what happened. It feels oddly strange that I'd like to know she's ok.

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For a couple of years I was part of a dog group: we'd meet in the middle of a park every day with our dogs; we'd talk, laugh, catch up, philosophize--all this on a first name basis but not much else. Unusually we didn't know each other's last names,about our work selves, homes, kids, backgrounds etc. But we knew what was happening day to day, as we shared stories about the best shoes for sub zero (ughs), places to take our dogs, the murder of sharon's beloved son, and the rearranging of jonatha's music and career. I remember thinking how lovely it was to have relationships based so fully and solely in the present moment.

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Is blogging the same kind of connection? Can you really come to know someone in this way? How are personal boundaries different, if at all? How can you be who you are and yet be discreet in what you share about yourself?

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These are my thoughts on this fine Thursday night. Any comments?

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Update two years later: The blogs have been very good to me. From across unthinkable miles I have been blessed with a best friend and improbable soul mate; I've made another friend who lives within an hour of me who I can joyfully meet for lunch; I enjoy the comings and goings of several of my "Big Yellow" buddies by reading their posts; I have a local friend who I'm getting to know better from her blog, and despite the miles my days are filled with art and birds and humor and wisdom and, yes, okay, it's true: love.

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I'm not going to name names but I can think of at least a half dozen, maybe a full dozen, people that I really care about. Some I will probably meet face-to-face one of these days. Several I root for and care about in deep important ways. They are my friends. It's not the same as friends down the street but these are folks I "speak" to and "hear" from regularly. They make me laugh, they read my poems, they share information and visions, they offer support when I need it. When I'm down and don't post, they often know something's not quite right. If that's not friendship, I don't know what else to call it.

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I'm interesting in hearing how others view their blog "relationships". I'm willing to bet you are as surprised as I am about how damn meaningful they have become.

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And while I'm on the subject, thanks for being here. And there. Not everyone would understand this, but honest to god, if you needed a hand, I'd be gratefully stretching mine out to you. I hope you remember that, just in case....