I’ve been away from blogging for a while - a month to be precise - and I apologize profusely. However, I’ve been doing what I call percolating; processing what I’ve learned so I can turn it into a blog. So in reality I have been blogging. Just not posting.
Semantics aside, a lot has happened as of late. I grew my following and followers on Twitter to more than 2,000, finding and accepting people one tweet at a time. It’s been a very exciting and rewarding process. I’d go so far as to call it an adventure. I call it that because I have very eclectic taste. My followers/following run the gamut from cooks and chefs to authors, writers, editors and agents; Navy SEALs and other military men; musicians, business consultants, physicians, philosophers, restaurateurs and poets as well as those who tweet anonymously under an alias with a provocative name and even some with whom I tweet in Spanish.
Most recently, the latter two groups have taken up most of my time, I happily admit. Because with these people I have found amusement, excitement, sincerity, depth and, even dare I say out loud, a friendship or at the very least a kinship that I have come to cherish.
In my virtual world, I have in-depth conversations about very real issues with people who essentially are strangers yet willingly open themselves up to me to share real feelings. I am fascinated by this exchange because of its depth and simplicity. I’ve always said the Internet is both intimate and impersonal simultaneously and because of that, the ability to reach out and connect albeit anonymously is a huge draw.
But I don’t do anonymous. As my mother used to laughingly say “I am me.” I don’t know how to be anyone else. Nor do I want to. I’m fine with me, faults and all. And because I feel this way about me, I don’t want other people to be anything other than who they are. It’s probably why I follow people named loveboobs and lickme as well those who legitimately are who they say they are. I love learning about people. Who they are and what makes them tick. And through that process I become more human and discover more about me.
So far, it’s been purely a joyous experience and I don’t imagine that will change. Removing real world obstacles, such as looks and labels, has been very liberating. One of my friends with a VERY provocative name is really funny. Had I not been amused with his boldness to put that name out there, I’d never have known that and laughed with him. Had I not been curious about the guy behind the dark shades and cowboy hat with the ranting post, I’d never have met the profoundly deep and sensitive guy I talk to nearly every day. Had I not been openly sharing stuff about my crazy life and thrown in a little Spanish I would never have met the beautifully romantic soul I now follow in his language. Had I not been curious about guy asking me provocative questions, I'd never have met the man who I believe holds the key to my success in the future.
So all this brings me full circle to the title of this blog. “Show me everything and tell me how” are lyrics in the song “Strangers Like Me” by Phil Collins in the Disney Movie “Tarzan.” Lately these words have resonated with me because I do not only want to have these friends virtually. They are not imaginary friends that I’ve created. My books serve that function. They are real people and I thoroughly enjoy their company. I would love nothing more than to be face to face; one on one. Let’s get lunch or dinner. Enjoy a few happy hours. Come to my home. Hang out and be part of my life. Why? Because I want to know more. “Show me everything and tell me how.” I’m open. Ready and waiting.
And I mean what I say. We will meet. It's just a matter of time.
