Reconnecting when you’ve had a coming out of sorts (in my case as a writer) is a funny thing. I wasn’t overly arty in high school, nor quite so obviously naked (though some of my friends knew). People either thought of me as smart, or associated me with my (not always nice) friends--[they're all nice now... y'all remember what high school does to many personalities...]
Coming back to these core people who I’ve known a lifetime, I find it very curious who is INTERESTED in the fact that I write. It isn't the people I would have named, had I been asked to generate the list of 'who cares what you're up to'. I mean I think those closest friends CARE on some level, but... they don't get it. People though, with more artistic vents, or in many cases just genourous spirits, have been FABULOUSLY supportive. I won't name them, as I'd surely forget someone, but... the crew who are both my PERSONAL friends on Facebook, and my author friends...
And I find it interesting what some people have ended up DOING with themselves. Just to give a couple examples...
Dave, Kathy and Denise are actively artists. The OTHER Denise is in a band and does graphic design.
Burt still plays trumpet, but also teaches science… ONLINE.
I have managed to reconnect with a ton of old friends and am extremely grateful for that, and am also extremely grateful TO the people who’ve been so fabulously supportive, no matter HOW strange I’ve ended up.
23 comments:
Is Mike naked too?! :):)
But seriously, it's a wonderful thing to be able to reconnect with old friends...
I know a couple of Denise's and they are both artists/writers...hmmm must be something in that name
The two meanings of the term "old friend" would asymptotically converge to the same, but with implication going only one way (since old people can get new friends) >:)
Cold As Heaven
Hmmm, the trouble is in my case that old friend is starting to converge in both senses of the word. Next year it is 30 years since my senior year graduated and headed off to University. Now that is a scary thought.
Charming post. Couldn't get the Simon & Garfunkel song out my head when reading.
... and STRANGE is a positive valued word to me. It's a lot more interesting than NORMAL >:)
Cold As Heaven
Grandpa-Yeah, I think Mike is pretty naked most of the time!
And I agree that more and more my old friends are getting to be older friends Mike and I were in 3rd grade together, which makes it a 35 year friendship--I have friends from earlier--age 3 or 4... so of course those are all at least as old as I am....
Simon and Garfunkle? Okay, Mark, you've confused me... do they have a song about a bath in a field? All I'm getting is 'Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub.'
CaH-I feel the same way about strange versus normal! (you probably knew that)
I agree with Cold. I use the word strange as a positive.
I love that picture of Mike and his friends in the bathtub. And that hawk? I'm always in the car when I see hawks and never have a chance to get good photos. Nicely done.
I've really enjoyed getting reacquainted with my old friends. I come from a small town and we thought we knew a lot about each other, but it's only now that I feel like I'm really getting to know them. They're full of surprises. Good stuff.
Awwww this is so sweet!!! My closest friends are from my previous jobs that I still keep in touch with. I'd hate to discover anyone I used to go to school or uni with online! LOL!!
It's great that Facebook has brought you all together!
The eagle is lovely - I imagine him/her wondering at the three men in a tub scenario! LOL! But I think s/he understands the concept of getting NAKED! Take care
x
But I've discovered that reconnecting with the ones who owe me money is rather more difficult.
Re The three men in a bath photo: Please don't jeopardise my fantasies like this.
Fun post, as always. Thanks for this.
All the best, Boonie
FB has brought a lot of lost friends and family back together! Then I ask myself why do I let these people slip away?
Busy. Different paths. Lazy.
T
Lisa-I think Mike was driving, too, but he always has his camera. he said the hawk was on the ground when he stopped and looked very put-out to be approached, so he flew into the tree. And Moscow is small too, so I think we've had similar experiences there.
Jenny-I seem to collect about a friend per job I stay close to, though I have a few extra from my pub job, as there were a lot MORE of us near the same age and with stuff in common. *giggles at idea of baffled hawk watching men in tub*
Boonie-you have your fantasies, I have mine *snicker*
Teresa-it is totally a time thing. I hate the phone and I just couldn't do letters at that range (plus a lot of them don't really write)--facebook is perfect for the sound bite, everyone at once communication, then you can talk MORE when the time is there.
omg, FB is insane w/the blasts from the past it provides. But you're like insane w/all the friends you've got there! :D lol~
no, love me some new friends, too! :o) <3
I think that's true of friends we have now as well. The ones we least expect offer support and understanding. What's up with that?
Leigh-my FB friends draw on a lot of places and sources... I'd bet a quarter are high school friends, maybe 1/8 college and 1/8 work after college 1/8 people I know LOCALLY, 1/8 writers who've managed to cross that friend line, then the last quarter from my online friendships over the last 6 years (those were my earliest batch as we were already online together so they were easy to find.)
Alex--strange, isn't it? I know a lot of my early friends are just very busy, but sometimes it really surprises me--I love the nice surprise of someone totally unexpected taking a real interest.
So funny, because I was just thinking about this! Some people I thought might be interested just... aren't. And those I didn't suspect would care, do! Strange, hunh?
Do I have to tell people that I write?! I don't wanna. : ) They might ask me what I've had published. Um. Nothing. Yet. Can I wait and tell them when I'm making six figures and can be all high and mighty?
It's wonderful you've been able to connect/reconnect with friends.
Talli--and your'e published already! I would think they'd all care to some degree!
Megan-you still in the closet? I had competing goals of coercing people I knew to follow my blog so I didn't look so lame and keeping quiet... when keeping quiet and confessing compete, I always confess...
Holly-it is! I love that most people really end up great after a decade or so...
I had a dream last night about a high school reunion. It was kind of a nightmare because I wasn't please with my outfit. But, a couple of people popped up in my dream last night that I haven't thought about in a while, which was nice.
My close friends and family know, but I haven't told many beyond that. Might inadvertently commit myself to reality!
Megan - You aren't alone, I'm with you in that closet. My husband and one son know, that's it.
Good post, Hart, and good luck with NaNo! "See" you tomorrow!
Greetings watery tart. I came over from Rach Writes. I must say, anyone who loves Harry Potter is fab in my book. I love that you were chosen to write cozy mysteries because of your blogging voice. Very cool.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
MP-too funny-I've done that and I suddenly really miss people I haven't even thought of for years!
Megan-see, my close friends and family were the last to know *shifty*
Erica-you two both need to come out!
Nancy-WELCOME! Yes, I ADORE Harry Potter (and more than than, JKRowling--Glad you found your way over!
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