Out of the Blue

I've often wondered who reads my blogs. In my most optimistic moments, I've hoped that my writing entertains and enlightens, instead of being yet another empty rant. And if I stop procrastinating, I'll add the code for a visitor counter someday soon. Likely, I'll be mildly disappointed. But maybe quantity means nothing. Something memorable does.

Like a few days ago, to be exact. Once or twice a week, I go through a ritual with my Hotmail e-mail, clearing out the spam. At least I've got enough sense to set Hotmail to only let e-mail from people I know into my in-box; the rest is considered suspect. And for good reason. Most of it is the usual get-rich-quick or get-laid-quick schemes and other various and sundry drivel. I was doing a scan through the muck in my spam folder when I saw something that stunned me: an e-mail from a long lost friend.

He found me here. A Google search led him to my blogs, and thus, to me. For once, my big mouth actually got me somewhere.

Less than a day later, we were on the phone, catching up with each other. It's strange how good friends can fall out of touch. You move. You get married. And before you know it, you've lost the address, the phone number or e-mail address, and thus, an essential link to your past. That was the way it was with my friend.

He's a remarkable individual. Smart. Athletic. Good looking. Funny. Basically, a lot of things I'd like to be. Catching up with him, his life has had more than its share of highs and lows. But one thing held strong: we're still friends. That's all that matters. I'm the better for it, and all the more thankful for it.

This strange and wonderful world of electronic ether has been good to me. I met my wife chatting on AOL one night some years ago. And now, I've reunited with a dear old friend. Chalk another one up for the 'net.