Who says that internet friendships aren't real?

Once or twice, a LONG time ago, Gretchen over at Texan Mama, posted about being afraid of beef.  Somehow this stuck in my mind.  (Probably, because I LOVE beef!  If I could eat it for every meal, I'd be good.  What can I say?  I AM from Texas after all!)

Not much else sticks in my mind.  Seriously.

Ask me what happened at this time last year.  I will look at you like you are crazy.  Ask me what was great about the summer?  No response.  Ask me about the big things that might have happened last week.  Blank stare.  Ask me what I had for breakfast this morning.  No clue.

Because that kind of minutia?  Not important.

BUT, when it comes to my friends and loved ones?  Well, then I remember ALL kinds of random stuff.  Like the fact that Gretchen is afraid of beef.  Or that Julie is obsessed over having the right picture for her (in the very far future) funeral (to be fair, I'm kind of obsessed about which picture Hubby will use for my obituary in the paper.  Yes, I'm morbid.  Or "forward thinking".  Whichever you prefer.  Either way, it is OBVIOUS to me that I will HAVE to plan my own demise down to the last damn detail and leave it somewhere where HE can find it!). Or that Looking Fab At Any Age just ADORES leopard prints.  Or that Kathryn LOVES her Cloudy (which to be honest, I'm still not quite sure what that is, but I'm convinced it's NOT chardonnay).  Or that Daddy Scratches is filled with all kinds of angst; which he shouldn't be.  Or that The Bloggess and The Best Self-Help T Shirt Catalog Ever  is overly paranoid about the Zombie Apocalypse. Or that this "in real life" friend likes her pillows to be firm.  Or that this other friend, prefers dangle-y earrings over hoops.   Or that Man-Child prefers his orange juice to have no pulp.  Or that Hubby prefers calf-length socks over ankle socks.  Or that....oh hell.  Forget it.  This list could go on forever.

So, when I was perusing a magazine today and came across an article that explains all about the different cuts of meat of the beef variety and what to do with them (stuff I'd normally skip right over to get to the shoes!) I had to stop what I was doing and go find the article online.  So I could send it to Gretchen.  (What?!  It is SO not stalking.  It was being helpful! Just ask her; she'll back me up! )

And by her reply, it once again struck me.  Despite our differences; despite the distance - we have found friends.  True friends.  Ones that you wish lived right down the street.  Truly.  You want them "right" there.  Where you could just drop in to say hi.   Or give them a recipe.  Or a hint as to where the best shoes can be found. Where you could hug them as needed.

And that yes, despite all the foibles and ickiness that the internet has to offer (can you say FaceBook?), it is still a wondrous thing.

And knowing that if I want to send a random article to a friend (thousands of miles away; that I've never officially met) that is wonderful.

And knowing that another friend (thousands of miles away; that I've never officially met) can send me all kinds of links to funny stuff, thoughtful stuff or even just pictures of shoes that I might like.  Well that, my friends, is priceless.