The Kindness of Strangers

I have found the art of blogging to be such an amazing thing. It has connected me to people from all over the world, from all walks of life, male and female...it has allowed me to grow as a person, to learn from mistakes others have made (I'm at an age where I can do that). I've told my friends, those that are a part of my everyday life, about my friends who are a part of my blogging life. I don't think they quite understand how you can have a friend whom you have never met face to face. I try to explain it to them, but unless they blog, they don't get it really. I have found that blogging allows me to open up about my life, my feelings on things and the worries that might confound me. It allows me, in some small way, to share in the lives of others out in Blogland, who may find it difficult to foster friendships in the physical world. By learning to be a friend in the ether you learn to be a friend in fact. Like others of my kind (blogging kind) I find that I spend a good two hours catching up on all my friends posts, responding to each one (commenting is good for the soul) and hate trying to play catchup. I have friends who have recently suffered a cancer scare and have felt their fear and pain and on occasion their great Faith in God that all would be well. They have felt that faith so strongly that it is catching, and you feel it, too. I have learned that most of us are animal lovers, with numerous and sundry pets who are actually family members. Here we don't mind telling how the loss of a beloved pet affects us, how hurt we are that this precious family member has crossed over...for no one laughs at us...if they do, they kindly keep it to themselves. Of course there are mean spirited people out here in Blogland just as there are in the physical world. Here we have the option of cutting them off at the comment pass. We may share the incident with our other blogging friends, to warn them, but for the most part, we can delete any comments that are cruel or uncalled for.







Today I received an award from Vee (Just Plain Fun to Read) and then Lee from Chrysalis Dreams (http://chrysalisdreams.blogspot.com/ contacted me and said this:

The Best Gift of All
Sandi gave me several awards. San gave me a several too. My mom brought me up right. You return a gift with a matching gift as well as a hand written thank you card. Call me an award shopping clutz but I had no idea where to find one that was new and fit my idea of what I wanted it to say. I did keep trying though...every time I looked at one of those lovely awards with pride. Finally, today after typing in several different keywords I found an award that I felt was suitable and that I meant with all of my heart. So, for all their love and support, to my friends San, Sandi, Susan, JS, and David I give the Forever Friends award.I love you guys! You're the BEST! Hugs!

I responded and told Lee I saw editing in my future, to add my new award to the previous post. Then, reading it over and seeing how much thought she put into this award, how lovingly she thought of us, her friends, that I decided that it deserved to stand alone, as well. For Lee is my friend and I think highly of her and regard this award as something special, too. Some people touch your lives so profoundly, that somehow the word internet friend seems trite. So for this award dear Lee, I thank you. I will cherish it.