I have a new friend

I have a new friend. Her name is Lynne, and we met on the internet.

Ok, so it’s not how I imagined it would be. Of course I’d have preferred if we had met in less contrived circumstances; if we’d clicked chatting in a coffee queue, or bumping into each other at work meetings. Or even having been introduced by mutual friends. Yes, those would all have felt like more natural ways to meet, but hey, it’s getting increasingly common isn’t it?  I know loads of people who met on the internet, and they’re really happy.  We are all so busy and it’s so difficult to meet like minded people and our lives are so carefully managed and scheduled. So I’m not going to feel ashamed about how we met, and she isn’t either.  Something can be meant to be, but still need a helping hand, right?

And anyway, it’s a really sweet story really. I mean, there is no right and wrong way of doing this, is there? Besides, the ‘right’ way hasn’t been so great for me so far! Anyway, she started reading my blogs when I was on the Camino, and I guess something resonated for her.  I like to think we connected immediately.  She took the initiative and messaged me.  (She takes chances, doesn’t let life pass her by. That’s something I immediately liked about her).  So we messaged back and forth a bit, and it was lovely. Really nice. It was so great knowing someone was thinking about me, you know? And wondering, is this something more? Where might this lead us? So yes, that was a very special time. Of course taking the step to meet face to face was difficult, possibly more so for me than her.  Because inevitably alongside the excitement is the fear: will we have anything to talk about? What if she doesn’t like me? Will the connection still be there? What if there’s no chemistry?

But I needn’t have worried. It was like being with a well loved, but well worn cardigan – entirely comfortable, completely relaxed and a feeling of coming home.

So things are good. Who knows how far it will go or how long it will last, but we are enjoying getting to know each other more. And now, how we met really doesn’t matter because I have a new friend and her name is Lynne.