People I've Never Met, that I care about more than I would have imagined.

It was tough to finish the post last night the way it started. You see, I started that blog in a certain mood. I wanted to make a point... with an edge. I had it (the edge), but then what happens? That's right, you start messaging with someone across the country and they completely change your mood... for the better. How dare they? ~gasp~

Some of you know who they (she) is. You may also know that I have never met anyone like her. As a matter of fact, I haven't officially met her. I haven't officially met several people whom I gladly call friends. They are people in the digital world. I may know what they look like CALYN, GRIN, MISSING, PHILLY, and THE VET, but I've never seen them other than a picture here or there. As a group, those listed above have had an affect on my life in ways that I could never have imagined.

Sometimes their affect was as simple as hanging out and playing games... til 4 am falling asleep at the controls: MISSING. She's great. May be the best girl gamer on the net... right CALYN? lol. And, for those who read and don't know... when you're getting beaten down... she isn't an overweight, geeky gamer girl - she's actually really cute too. There is currently a line forming to get beaten down - I'm sure of it.

Others gave me self-esteem when I may not have been at my highest points in history. The first 5 of the last 9 months were the toughest in my life. A lot of nights I'd hang with GRIN and she'd help - a lot... apparently she deals with adolescent head cases everyday... I was an easy exercise. lol

She was there nights when everyone else was asleep and I could have called any one of them, but I didn't need too. I was at my wit's end. I'd had kids non-stop for a couple months by myself - all still fairly new to me at the time. It was also the worst time of the year for a jeweler, not to mention the worst time in a lifetime for a Dad. The stress really mounted sometimes. She helped make it bearable. So, HEH8ME, you and some of the others need to thank her for at least one extra night's sleep (GRIN if you work on them, you may get flowers). I've thanked her before, but it doesn't hurt to do it again... Thanks, I may owe you everything.

As for, PHILLY and THE VET. One is my favorite stalker... the other, well, I almost blush to say, but I've never had a marriage proposal online, you are definitely an original. I think I'm going to turn you down for now. You have a good alternative right now anyways.

The two of them basically came out of nowhere. I was just chatting with a few people and all of a sudden I have new friends... that want me to actually come visit. Well, I have yet to take either of you up on the offer, but you never know when I'll be in your neighborhood... maybe next week - for a diamond cert. meeting.

Now, as for CALYN. Some know this story but, I really don't think she has heard how it truly goes. I have told people that I associate with, that I have gotten to know a girl online... with rousing ovations of "...that is amazing, wonderful, and perfect." "...I'm sure she's honest, beautiful, actually female, smart, and has a great personality to boot."

I wish.

It's actually been a great deal of the exact opposite of what's above. The people I have around me are... cautiously optimistic. Their initial reaction is something like this: "...well, uh, do you think she might be a psycho, stalker, killer, fatal attraction type person?" She'd find it comforting to be lumped with serial killers I'm sure. lol.

Let it be known, I'm glad I have a support system like this. They've seen me through tough times, and that's why they are skeptical of anyone around me they don't know... implicitly. This story is funny though because of the shear beauty of the story itself. You see, I met CALYN... on the phone. That's right - I MET her on the phone. I can't say that I've ever met someone on the phone that I continued speaking with afterwards. Normally, if I meet someone on the phone they've screwed up my insurance and I don't particularly want to meet them. They probably don't want to meet me either - I don't blame them.

She didn't help me fix my email problem... turns out it was my fault in the end, but she still didn't fix it - and probably still got paid. lol. Her fatal mistake was that she gave me what appeared to be a personal email addy to test my settings. I'm sure she's done it 100 times. It just so happens that this time someone caught on. Or at least i thought i did.

I took a chance, did something I've never done before (KAYA KING thought it was unbelievably brave, I thought it was out of character in a good way. More on him later.) I emailed her. I mean, we hit it off on the phone, we were laughing and talking. It seemed like it'd be fun to get to know her better. I already knew she didn't live in the same country... so what could possibly happen? We talk via email, and tell our friends about the crazy girl/guy who I met on tech support/at work on the phone, afterwards, and drift back to anonymity enjoying a couple of funny stories and a short-lived, pen-pal-like relationship.

Then, I didn't get a reply for a few days. I had told my friends what I did, and I don't think any of us honestly thought she'd ever reply. Why should she? "What if he's a psycho? It's a lot easier not to reply then have to deal with him." So, she probably wouldn't, no big deal. There are lots of other ways to meet people... too bad, she was pretty cool.

Day 4: I get an email from an addy I don't immediately recognize. Hmmm... she did reply:

Dear Mo:

I can't believe you actually emailed me you psychotic lunatic. I'm changing my email address directly after sending this to you so that more deranged people won't make any attempts to accost me outside of work. I have called the proper authorities and the FBI (lol) will be knocking down your door any minute - FCC violations.

"What?" You may say. "I thought you liked these people", and I do. You see that's exactly what I THOUGHT the email would say.

Turns out she was very nice and actually invited me to email again. So, I did. Then again, and some more after that. I learned that she likes the vikes, and has a lap dog that weighs what she does. Sounds pretty cool, but I'll never actually meet her.

What?

You're coming to D.C.

Washington D.C.?

I know that's the only D.C. in the free world. (I'm taking liberties with the actual convo for comedic effect.)

Do you think we could meet? (Here's where you get shot down Mo... cringe)

Yes?

As in, yes we can meet in D.C.?

Awesome!

Now I'm going to spare you the details of the rest of the convos, but I'll say this. I have never met anyone quite like her. If she's half as funny in real life as she is online my drink will undoubtedly shoot through my nose. And, if she's half as tough as she'd have me believe then I'm definitely not going to give her a hug in D.C. without lots of warning. (call it self- uh preservation). She's had a tough couple of weeks, and I could only sit back and hope she was well. Seems that she'll come through this as others... even stronger than before.

GRIN asked me what I liked about CALYN, and I gave a few things, but it was easy to sum up...

CALYN likes jazz. On CALYN's birthday she went salsa dancing... on a leg that was broken the week before... while playing tackle football.

The moral of the story:

Keep your eyes open... you may never physically meet some of the greatest people in your life, but you NEVER know where those great people will be digitally or geographically.

Take care...