Recently, Chila Woychik (aka Maggie) asked a question on Facebook similar to this: How many people really know us, the good, the bad, the ugly, and love us anyway? As much as I love my husband, my mother, my BFF, they aren’t the ones who truly know me. Only one person does.
I wrote that as a response, and some folks thought I was talking about God–so that would make two who really know me. Others thought I was talking about myself. Really, who knows you better than yourself? So I guess that would make three.
Those were great guesses–wrong, but good shots.
None of my cyberpals really know me, but a lot of these folks are people I look forward to “seeing” everyday.
Have you ever noticed how noisy Facebook and Twitter can be? Or any of the sites you enjoy going to. I’m not talking about computerized sounds, I’m talking about the sounds of laughter and chatter. The sounds of folks having a good time.
Maybe it’s just me.
When I’m having a good day of networking, I can hear my cyberpals chatting with me, and the LOL really is laughter, right out loud. It cheers me and makes my day less lonely.
I remember when I played bridge on Pogo how very real the people were, how often we giggled like girls at a sleep-over, how we shared things like best friends often do. I haven’t been on Pogo in awhile, and the folks I knew are probably long gone from the site, but I miss them like I miss the one person who really knows me.
Usually, when I’m home alone with the TV off, the only sounds I hear are the laughter my cyberpals. Isolation is held at bay while I’m connecting with them. When I shut down the internet to work, the house echos with the silence. Sometimes it takes me a minute to settle into the quiet. Most of the time I’m still smiling, still feeling the warmth of companionship. Those are good days.
Even though most of them are acquaintances, they’re priceless. Never underestimate the value of acquaintances. Some of them may make that tiny circle of people you call “friends.”
Several years into it, and this blog still refuses to be categorized. It's eclectic and includes everything from writing posts to snippets from my ordinary life. 
Linda W. Yezak 
Well, who is it? 😀
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I don’t mean it to be such a big secret. It’s my brother’s widow, my sister-in-law, Jo. For the past few years, her work has been wearing her out so much that she doesn’t have energy to do anything, and when she does have the time and energy she travels down to see her grandbaby, of course!
But I miss her. We don’t get to see each other much anymore and she’s the world’s worst at calling or receiving calls.
Can’t wait until she retires!!!
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Ya… who is it?
But I agree, I love the laughter of my cyberpals. And I’m thankful you’re one of them! 🙂
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Thanks, Duane! I’m thankful for you too. I hate it when I miss Thursdays–your blog carnival idea is a riot!
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Amen! Love my cyberpals – you included! ❤ The Internet is a busy, nosy, sometimes time-sucking place, but the ability it gives us to connect with people we never would have met otherwise is priceless.
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That’s so true. I’ve met tons of terrific people on the net! I’m grateful for you. You’ve been a big blessing!
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When I was single I got involved in this online Christian bible study site. It was always crowded and I always knew the cyber pals on there. We came on and talked about life. Occasionally we got the weird ones on there, but they were soon chased away. I neglected to come back for a while and when next time I happened to stop by the chat room was dead. None of the people I got to know by their mysterious handles ever returned. They gave me comfort in a lonely time.
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That is so sad! Like going back to your hometown and not knowing a soul.
When one of my cyberpals died, her husband wrote to tell me, then closed down their email address. I cried for weeks.
Sometimes I worry when I don’t see my “regulars” for just that reason. Something could happen and we’d never know.
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PS Diane: Thanks for hitting the “Like” button! You’re the first to ever do that!–well, the second. The first time, someone was showing me how it worked. It’s a new function on WordPress, so I guess not everyone sees it.
Bless you!!!
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Haha…You are welcome. Cool feature! 😀
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