In real life, part 4
When a day with a new friend is like a day with an old friend…it’s a really good day.
I met Melanie online in the usual way, through our writer blogs and a sequence of links and clicks. Then at some point she realized I lived in Chicago and I realized she used to live in Chicago. She used to work for the same organization that I used to work for, although in different offices and in different departments. But that just about sealed the deal. We stepped out of the comment section and into email chatter. We asked questions. We shared stories. I don’t remember when it started but for some reason some how I knew that we got along in the bigger sense. That even though she is younger than me (by a lot) and living in Mexico with her husband who has six-pack abs (hi Ibis!), we were connected by more than wifi.
And I was right.
So when Ibis threw Mel on a plane Melanie decided to visit friends and family and said she was staying in Chicago for a few days, I waved my arms and she could see me all the way in Mexico. No, truly. We planned our day and not once did I wonder if she would 1) be a weirdo (huge fear of mine usually) or 2) that we wouldn’t pick up where we left off like we were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while.
Damn if I wasn’t right again.
In the rain I walked from train station to Chicago’s Millenium Park — and since it was raining it wasn’t hard to spot Mel, because there wasn’t the usual swarm of tourists. And anyway, I knew who I was looking for. And there she was.
We hugged and had tourists take our photo like we were tourists.
Then we did it ourselves.
We walked to Macy’s-used-to-be-Marshall-Field’s and ate sushi and talked. For three hours.
If you don’t know Melanie I’ll tell you that she is smart and funny and I thanked the goddess of expletives that she talks like I do. Not like a sailor, mind you. Just almost. And you know it’s a solid connection when your conversation doesn’t stick to the topic (ours would be writing) that brought us together in the first place. We talked about writing. Heck, we had our photo taken in the bookstore in Macy’s.
But we talked about everything else too. And we talked about some of you. (Don’t be scared, it was all good)
Then we headed toward my train station but were sidelined when we encountered cupcakes of epic amazingness. And then of course, while we were on our sushi and sugar high, there was a shooting right where we were having lunch. We had no clue. Engrossing conversation and laughter will do that to you.
I didn’t want to leave – I could’ve walked around and chatted with Mel all day. I hope that she and Ibis end up back in Chicago (but I will not ask about their status because if and when there is news, she will tell me) because I know we’d be fabulous In Real Life friends.
Oh right. We already are.
My recipe for Suburban, Spicy, Spinach Enchiladas, in honor of Mel’s visit, is here.
Aw, wonderful pictures! I’m so excited for you both, and also a little sad, because I feel like I missed out. *little tears*
I’m really glad you had such an awesome time!
Yay! I love this story! You have an amazing way of making friends like that and I am the beneficiary of that talent! Glad you guys had a “real” day to complement the virtual ones! Validating to know people can read each other in the e-world sometimes as well as they can in the dimensional world.
I can’t wait to meet her! I saw you posted the link to that bakery on facebook. I made the mistake of clicking. OMG!!!! I cried, they looked so good!
PS: I KNOW! Those six-pack abs are something! I try not to notice, given that they belong to Melanie, but…
PPS: Macy’s has a BOOKSTORE?
PPPS: I can’t wait to meet you!
Amy! This is so great! I forgot you took the picture of me while we were eating. I did take a picture of my cupcake so I’ll post that when I get home.
It was so great to meet you, and you’re right — we totally talk the same and we really did fall into conversation like we’d known each other forever.
I LOL’d at a couple of your comments here — you know which ones.
Love it! Melanie’s fabulous, isn’t she? And I get to see her in the Detroit area on Tuesday! (Hi, Mel!)
I’ve been fortunate to meet a great many online writer friends in person because of my Backspace conferences, but one in particular stands out. I’ve known Tom online for close to 10 years. Like you and Mel, we got to know each other when we realized we’d lived in the same place (Cass Corridor, in downtown Detroit). Tom is smart and talented and uber, uber funny – the kind of supportive person who, if I suddenly murdered my entire family, would say, “I’m sure you had a good reason for it.”
Last year, I did a couple of book events in Boston, where Tom lives, and he came to one of them. He didn’t tell me he’d be coming, and I wasn’t even sure what he looked like, but when this ‘stranger’ greeted me using my nickname from our emails, holy cow! I’m sure the store patrons thought I’d suddenly found my long-lost brother, and in way, it felt like that. We had a fabulous time talking that was over all too soon.
Hooray for Internet-turned-Real-Life Friends!
Anyone who gets to hang out with Mel this trip is truly lucky. I was thinking about what made the visit so great – and it was the comfort level. There were no boundaries. It’s not that we weren’t nice to one another, on the contrary. But we met and Mel said “I’m hungry, let’s go eat!” When I needed to go to the bathroom I said, “Watch my stuff.” We didn’t skirt any issues, tread lightly or start with any nonsense like “oh you go first — oh no — you go first.” We just went. I’m big on directness. It saves time and energy. Mel can make a decision. (Orange soda with ice) and I like that.
And yes, Mel, those LOL moments were there for YOU!
Aww, you all are too nice! Karen, I’m glad I get to see you — gramma wasn’t sure… (of course). Amy, it did cross my mind when we went to the bathroom that it was nice we didn’t feel the need to carry our purse with us. I was more concerned that the wrinkly little lady in the pink sequined hat would bother our stuff!
How very cool! Like you said, meeting a good buddy makes for a really good day.
Great story! I had a similar experience recently and am so glad I didn’t let my fear of meeting a “virtual” friend get in the way of a wonderful “in real life” conversation. Sometimes, you just *know* you are supposed to connect.
I love a story with a happy ending.;-)
Okay, I had to comment again because I saw the old lady with the pink sparkly hat again today!
Sounds wonderful!
I am so jealous! BOTH OF YOU COME TO VIRGINIA!!!!!!
E