Face-to-Face
One of the side benefits of digital scrapbooking is that we get to meet like-minded women from all over the world. We can share scrapping techniques with one another, ask questions when we need help, get feedback on our work, and share our stories through the pages we create. Sometimes, through this process, we are fortunate enough to make a great friend. This has happened to me.
In 2010, I became acquainted with Rebecca, who was the Quality Control administrator at a store where I was a designer. I recognized her talents in so many areas, and sought her advice often. I appreciated her common sense and knowledge; her gentle and direct way of offering advice; her generous spirit, and her sense of humor.
Throughout the years, as we have worked together, we have discovered that not only do we share the same work ethic, the same business aspirations, but we also have a lot of personal interests and history in common.
The only problem in what has become a valued friendship, is that I live in California and Rebecca lives in Texas, 1500 miles away.
But that is not a problem this week. On Wednesday, I boarded an airplane, headed to Texas. Rebecca and I would finally meet face-to-face.
I admit to being a tad nervous as the plane was landing. Would it be awkward? Would a face-to-face friendship be different than an internet friendship? In reality, I knew it would be. But would it be the “better” kind of different, or the “Oh-no-what-have-I-done?” kind of different?
As I came down the escalator, I saw Rebecca with a big, welcoming smile on her face. I immediately felt at ease, and knew everything was going to be just fine. And it has been.
We’ve shared personal stories, eaten great meals, and stayed up way too late. Rebecca is coaching me on how to work more efficiently, and I am teaching her how to chalk paint.
I could not have asked for anything to be better than it has been. Except, maybe, for the visit to be a little longer.
I know I am not the only one who has been fortunate enough to meet an “Internet friend” face-to-face. If you have, will you share your story in the Comment section? I would love to hear it!
Comments (16)
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I am so happy that you two finally met! Rebecca had told me you were coming and she was so excited! Meeting internet friends face to face is truly an experience. I once was able to meet with some internet friends, and yes, staying up way too late seems to be the biggest culprit! I’m sure that Rebecca will be chalk painting everything in sight now!
Thanks for sharing, Mary! We will be painting this afternoon! So fun!
I was SURE this would be a wonderful moment ! I’m happy that you both had fun ! Vero
Thank you, Vero! It is wonderful. I hate to leave on Monday!
I loved your story. It is great meeting online friends! I got to meet my scrap booking buddy Chris of Katelynn Designs 3 years ago when I flew to Florida to visit my brother. We enjoyed a girls night out and I loved meeting her in person. She was funny & sweet and it felt like I had never NOT know her “face-to-face! I was blessed and grateful for that wonderful chance. I saw her the next year when I went back and hopefully, I can see her on my next visit!
This is so cool how digi-scrapping has connected so many people. You two will have to plan a ‘retreat’. Now wouldn’t that be so much fun!!!!! Don’t stay up too late tonight 🙂
How wonderful you met your friend. In 2006 we flew from Australia to New Zealand where we met an online scrapping friend – fabulous, then onto Vancouver to meet another two, one in Vancouver and one in Victoria BC – had wonderful days with them, then over to Calgary where another picked us up to drive to Red Deer. We stayed a week and had the most awesome time – also met another in Edmonton. Everything was as it was online – we laughed, we shared, we enjoyed each others company – husbands and partners got on well and I met the little kiddies I had got to know through scrapping layouts. I recommend it and would meet more of my online friends in a heartbeat!
What a wonderful time the two of you have had!! I, too, met an internet friend and have we gotten together several over the years to have lunch together. Unfortunately we both have had jobs that interfered with getting together more often. 🙁 We do keep in touch though. She and I live 30 minutes away from each other!!
It looks like it really went well and yes I have met online friends in person. Years ago I had a secret pal at 2Peas who lived in AZ. We met at her sister’s house in Chicago along with several other secret pals. A friend of mine went with me because she considered it a bit dangerous lol. We had the best time and all of us have been friends ever since!
I am waiting to meet my internet friend…scrapbooking brought us together and it has been an absolutely fun, unexpected ride! Some day…