Front row from left to right: Tracing, Sara and Meee!! Back row from left to right: Amanda and the chick with the pink hair! Kymm.

I know Amanda, you're eyes are shut but I couldn't bear not to put the picture up with Kymm's WHOLE pink head. Just the five of us..

Have you been thinking I've been holding out on you because I've not talked about meeting up with such famous stars of our online community?

Well. I have. I'm sorry though. I don't do it on purpose. I say nothing only when it means the most to me.

Seeing Kymm and Tracing again, it didn't seem possible that 4 years had elapsed since the last time we sat across a table from each other. But these 4 years have flown by. Being able to read their journals helps...it makes me feel still connected with their current lives as well as the people they were 4 years ago.

And meeting Sara for the first time was just incredible.

Sara and me at Vynl's in New York City.

I'm so lucky in having met the best people through this online thing. I've wanted to meet Sara forEVER now and I was so excited and flattered that she came to the dinner gathering we had at Vynl's.

I thought we'd have to part ways right after dinner and I wanted the time we had there to go on for a long, long time so I was thrilled that we all took off to find a warm place to get something to drink and to warm up.

I wanted to bring Sara home with me. I told her that I have a room available at all times if she ever comes through NC or wants to visit. I just wanted to bring her home with me so I can take care of her.

Walking on the streets of New York City, walking beside Amanda and Jeff all day site seeing (No I didn't go see the site of the WTC.....I have many reasons why but I don't want to talk about it right now) the New York I've only ever seen in pictures or on television was surreal enough as it was.

Amanda and I speak so often during the week and spend so much time in contact with each other that it was just sort of a natural extension to our friendship that we've always had. Being able to spend actual TIME face to face is precious and rare and I wish we were able to do it more there is never any awkwardness after not seeing each other's actual FACES whenever we do happen to get together. It's just a flow that we settle into very quickly.

Walking down the streets of this magnificent city beside Kymm and Sara and Tracing (though we sort of were a train actually......side by side and we'd just sort of migrate next to one person and back to the side of another and just talk) was just simply UNREAL. It happened so fast and it was over so quickly...too quickly.

Kymm is always KYMM and she rules the room. She has the stage presence of a star and she carries it around with her without jumping up on the tables and announcing that she is INDEED a star. She's just got the best personality and charisma. I'd love to see her perform one day. It would be incredible. I'm just in awe of this woman.

And Tracing. Geez. Talk about feeling like picking the hayseed out of my hair while standing next to her. She is so very cultured and so REAL. I just can't believe it's been so long since I've seen her face and heard her voice which surprised me all over again. The accent and the tone. I'd forgotten how lovely her voice is in the time that has gone by. We've got to do better than that!

Waiting another 4 years is just a bit too long in between visits!

The only proof I really have, that the whole thing really, really, really happened, is that other people witnessed it, I have the photo's to prove it AND thanks to Kymm, I know the proper way to pronounce both heretic (hair a tick) and execrable, when I didn't before.

Kymm thinking: I KNOW you just didn't pronounce that word with an extra "c".
Tracing thinking: And she found her way to the plane all by herself. Amazing.

heh. Just kidding y'all! :)

The things you learn when you go to the big city....

I love these people! I will be going again! Just not in JANUARY. Or any winter month preferebly...I'm a delicate flower now.

to be continued....