Sometimes, the internet is a nothing more than a time waster for me, but other days I am amazed at the cool things that can be accomplished with the technology. I love that I'm part of a community of writers who support each other and provide friendship of people who understand a writer's brain. I love being able to do research from home wrapped in my blanket with a mug of hot chocolate by my side.
The other awesome thing about the internet is meeting people. On October 10th, I was reading a blog by Connie Hall titled "Skeletons in the Closet". In it she tells about a reunion she attended for a great grandfather that came to America from France in the 1700's. As I read her story, the name of the grandfather sounded familiar to me. I quickly pulled out my own genealogical records and looked up the name. Sure enough, they matched. I contacted her and through a series of emails, we discovered that we both descended from the same man and are distant cousins. What are the odds we would end up attending the same writer's conference last year and would both be writers?
I have been searching for an exchange student who lived with my family in 1989.Since we lost touch I do the occasional internet search, but I never get anywhere. Having just her name and knowing that she is from Denmark just didn't give me enough to go on. Yesterday I was doing some time wasting to give my brain a break from the writing, so I went to my Facebook page and caught up with things that are going on among my friends. I decided to do a search for this girl. I've done this many times in the past, but usually only get two people who come up with a similar name. Neither of them ever look right, but yesterday a name came up that was exactly right. I emailed her asking if she had ever lived in Alberta as an exchange student. This morning there was an email waiting for me. It is her! I am so excited to get in touch with someone I consider a long, lost sister. I can't wait to see what kind of things she has been up to in the last decade.
I'm grateful for the technology that makes it possible for me to connect with people and now I'm excited to use the same technology to catch up with a lost and found friend who lives halfway around the world.
6 comments:
Oh, do I get it!
I think it's amazig how we can be connected to the world within seconds without leaving our house!
That is so cool you found your exchange student friend. :) See...you're a stalker too, Stephanie. teeheehee
Technology seriously does rock. Coincidentally I found one of my college roommates through Facebook, or rather, she found me. I don't know how but I'm so glad we hooked up again.
I can't believe you finally found her. That is so wonderful. Tell her hi for me.
Amy, I'll be sure to do that.
Candace, I love finding old friends and seeing where life has taken them.
Ajoy - Now that you put it that way, I guess I am. How funny:)
How very cool. I was on facebook, then left, and now I regret it. Maybe I'll go see about restoring my profile. The internet is amazing, that's for sure.
Colin will be excited to here this - he talks about her all the time too!
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