Get a Life Online...

I was going to have dinner with a friend last night but he wasn't feeling well. When I was younger, oh so much younger than today, that wouldn't have stopped me. But Brent and I both had LONG recoveries from Covid and are a lot more cautious about illness than we used to be. That and Brent has some work things this week that need him to be focused and being sick doesn't lend itself to that. So out of an abundance of caution we didn't have dinner last night. If he woke up feeling well this morning we would grab lunch today instead. 

He did not wake up feeling well, he woke up feeling sicker. 

Boo. 

It's not one we can just reschedule for next week because he lives in San Diego. We haven't seen each other in six years. It will be awhile before we get a chance to see each other again. Or at least face to face. 

We see each other a few times a week online. 

This morning I was texting with more than one person who was super excited that someone else's cat came home after being missing for two weeks. All of us has been so upset when he wandered off and couldn't be found. I think only one of us had actually met the cat in question. Or even met the owner face to face. 

But online? Online we know each other well. 

I've written about this before, the people that don't understand online friendships. The ones that think you can't have a real connection with people unless you are sitting in the same room with them. 

I feel badly for those people. 

And I know those people have no idea what it's like for those of us who are more introverted. Who do our best socializing when we don't have to make eye contact. Or worry that we laughed too much, or at the wrong places. Or were too blunt when someone asked us our opinion. 

I'm best at being social when it's done in small doses. Comments online. A quick text message. 

And over the years, a lot of years, I've grown a family in those spaces. Friendships that are incredibly close. People that I love dearly. The longest lasting bonds I've had with such a large group. 

I've talked about that being the reason why it's impossible for me to fathom leaving Facebook completely. Too many of my connections are there. Each time someone else leaves I lose them. And that's always rough. I don't want to lose most of them in one fell swoop like that. 

It's always nice to see people face to face when we get the chance. And I am sad that I won't see my friend while he is here. But I also know it won't make a difference in our friendship. 

Nothing major to talk about today. Just that. That gratitude for my friends that live in the magic box. That and gratitude that a wandering cat made his way back home. Seriously, Bubba, don't do that again.