Please welcome this week’s featured blogger, Varda of The Squashed Bologna.
Dear Friends I’ve Never Met
I’m thrilled to be here at Shell’s today. But I have to say also a little anxious. Her blog is called “Things I Can’t Say” and her guest post feature is “Things They Can’t Say.” But the thing is? I pretty much say EVERYTHING, am fully “out there” on my blog. And the few things I don’t say? I’m not going to go into here, either, as I DO want to stay married.
But one thing I don’t think I’ve ever quite done is put my love of my blogging friends into words. So I will rectify that today… starting with Shell:
Thank you so much for being such a good bloggy friend to so many, for creating this wonderful community here, for being a connector-of-people of the highest order. You are special my friend, very special; and I am honored to have been asked to post with you today.
I have the most amazing friends I’ve never met.
My real-life friends? The ones whose children did or do go to school with mine, the ones I met on the playground in those early days of figuring out how to survive motherhood, the autism/special needs moms I’ve met in support groups or on SN school tours or recognized via their kids with my “ASD-dar” and sidled up to seeking connection (and the precious few from my worldly past who have stuck with me through these crazed child-centric years)?
All these I cherish. They are probably getting tired of hearing me declare, at least once a month, that I have, right now, the best group of friends I’ve ever had in my entire life. Ever.
We drink coffee together, fortifying ourselves for our too-full crazy days. We laugh. Sometimes we grocery shop in tandem, turning a chore into a communal experience.
But they are not my blogging friends, whose inner lives I am so constantly keen to, whose private-most thoughts I have swum in since the moment I first laid eyes upon… their words on a computer screen.
I don’t know how I can adequately describe this immediate intimacy unless you are one of this tribe (and as you are reading this on a blog, you may well be).
I have been a part of so many groups in my long and varied life. But being a blogger is a different type of belonging, one that crosses so many seeming boundaries.
One of the things I love the most about this tribe is how all encompassing it is. We are Jews and Christians, Muslims and Hindus, Pagans, Buddhists, and devout Atheists, Mormons, secular humanists, and, I believe, at least one Zoroastrian. Doesn’t matter.
We live in cities, small towns, farms, near wilderness, seacoasts, mountains, deserts, America, Canada, Ireland, France, Turkey, Brazil, Australia, Korea, and a thousand places in between.
Some few I have actually met in real life… the ones that are local New York folk, or when we have gathered at blogging conferences. And these meetings are always too brief, too fleeting; but ecstatic, filled to the brim with feeling.
For some, blogging is a lifeline, their local friends few and far between; a way out of isolation. Others, like me, are part of a large and lively community in their home town, but still they seek something more. We are a goup of driven over-sharers, who also want to know each other; for we don’t only write, we read, too. A lot.
I know the pain of your divorce, how your joy at the birth of your third child is tempered with the sadness that she will certainly be your last, the devastation of the loss of your only brother, the torturous childhood you barely survived.
I know the wrenching details of your PPD, ADD, PTSD, infertility, addiction, betrayal. And also the depth of your strength as you have overcome, shone through. And the fierce love (with teeth) you have for your children, family, home.
You know my struggles with my own ADD; the many fears and frustrations surrounding my one son’s autism; the pain of my beloved father’s death, the days I am mourning him, still; and yet also the joy of my sons’ many triumphs and happinesses; the thrill of my autistic son’s progress.
My friends at the coffee shop, we don’t go there, often. We tell sweet stories about our children, commiserate about homework wars, complain about our husbands, make each other laugh.
This is not to say these are superficial relationships, fair-weather friends. We ARE decidedly there for each other, support each other through thick and thin. It’s just we don’t dive deep every day, there is no need.
But you, my bloggy friends? We go there. Every. single. day. Sometimes, yes, you are light and frothy and make me laugh until I snort coffee out my nose. But I also know what lies underneath your humor, I have read those – other – posts, too, where the fear and pain leaks out.
I consider you my friends. Not my “online ‘friends’ ha-ha” but true friends. Friends of the heart, and the mind. I may never deliver my cyber-hugs in person to you who have oceans and continents dividing us, you who have a child you cannot leave for even a day.
But know this: I am here, loving you. Whether you are one of my daily must-reads, my most intimate beloveds, my more-than-once-a-day tweets, or my occasional reads, my on-my-radar-but-loosely-tethered connections… you have touched me, changed me, forever.
This parenting journey, with its mad twists and unexpected turns, is something I had never imagined would be quite like this. It has taken me to places wondrous and terrifying, and none more strange and strangely beautiful as this: the (mostly mom) blogging world.
My need to share my parenting joys and sorrows has lead me to you: my blog friends. You, who I would not trade for anything; not even for a magic carpet to fly me high over the bumps and chasms in the road, straight to my presumed destination.
For I would rather trod along the earth, its every up and down, with you at my side; discovering what lies ahead as we come upon it, laughing and crying our way through this terrain together.
Together, my friends. Together.
Please leave Varda some comment love here and then go follow The Squashed Bologna. You can also find her on facebook and twitter.
P.S. I need lots of help for next week’s Things They Can’t Say- please check out my facebook fanpage today for how to participate.
Well said…this is so true. Thanks for putting my thoughts into words!
Rebecca @ Unexplained X2 recently posted..Just for Girls? Just for Boys? Who Cares?
Thank you so much. I’m glad it resonates with you!
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
So well said… blogging lends itself to a level of intimacy you don’t often achieve in person.
Sorta Southern Single Mom recently posted..Friday Fragments: T’was the Night Before Christmas Eve
Yes, yes! And people that don’t get it are just baffled. But WE know, don’t we?
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
Spot on. Sometimes I think my blog readers understand more about what is going on then my sudd-muffin.
NayLahKnee recently posted..The Laws of In-Laws
Thanks! It is lovely to be listened to & known, isn’t it?
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Great post, Varda.
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..Perth, 2009
Thank you so much my friend. You know you were one of the ones I was thinking of when I was writing about people we hold dear who are “oceans and continents apart,” right? Cyber-hugs to you!
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
Oh my, you. This? Is stunning. True words of the heart, and completely true. xo
Galit Breen recently posted..Interfaith Hearts
Thank you. This means so much coming from such a wonderful writer as yourself. I was actually a little nervous about this one, afraid I sounded a bit “preachy.” I’m so glad it has touched you.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
Amen, sister friend! So very well said. And so so glad to have another awesome blog to stalk…um…I mean read at a socially appropriate frequency. (I’m also the crazy lady at the park with the a-dar going who will find some way to talk to you.). =)
Ashley recently posted..A Year on the Spectrum
Amen, back atcha, sister! Would love to hang out on a park bench with you sometime. Wait, that’s really not as creepy as it sounds
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
this is one of the most perfectly written posts…
Not a Perfect Mom recently posted..I Am Definitely A Mom
Blushing. thank you.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
This could not be more perfect. Every word of this rings true for me. Since I began this blogging journey there is always someone here for me, every single day. There is no way to measure this type of support and, I thought, no words to do it justice, until I read yours Varda. Perfect.
And you, my friend, are another of the legendarily supportive bloggers I was thinking of as I wrote this piece. You have been through so much, are so honest and true on your blog, and are there for so many. Hugs to you again and again.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
Every single word of this is true, and you are just such a wonderful writer Varda, and I am very proud to be one of your friends here in the on-line world xx
Blue Sky recently posted..Last Christmas
And I feel so lucky to know you too, to count you as “in my corner,” always.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
Beautifully said. I couldn’t have explained it better myself: especially to those who ask why I am so immersed into this bloggy world. Wonderful Varda, simply and truly wonderful. One of the best posts I have ever read in my 4 years of blogging.
RoryBore recently posted.."In a hole in the ground there lived…"
Thank you. (Starting to hyperventilate, not sure I can handle this much praise.)
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
“This is not to say these are superficial relationships, fair-weather friends. We ARE decidedly there for each other, support each other through thick and thin. It’s just we don’t dive deep every day, there is no need.”
I found this comment so true and relevant in my own life. Thanks for sharing.
And thank you for letting me know I’ve touched you. It’s what this blogging stuff is all about (for me at least).
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
What a beautiful sentiment, and such a gracious view of the blogging world. The real life friends don’t really get that the people who seem to live in my screen are as real to me as they are – even if I’ve never met them. After a year a blogging, and attending a few conferences, my life has been blessed immeasurably by so many kind hearts. Friends that I hold near and dear who are so loving and supportive, my life is so much richer!
Much love to you xxx
By Word of Mouth Musings recently posted..The Christmas Story Wiki style
Oh, Nicole, much love right back to you. That I count you as one of my readers and supporters makes me immeasurable happy! And next year (you are coming to BlogHer12, right?) more than ONE hug!
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
Varda, This is so beautifully said, well written and so true. I have made some wonderful and abiding friendships in my less than one year of blogging, I couldn’t be more grateful to have them in my life.
Jen recently posted..santa’s been reading my blog
Isn’t it so nice to have something to be so grateful about in our lives, so enriching? Glad it’s been wonderful for you, too.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Leaps and Bounds
I love the way blogging allows me to meet people and really get to know them in a way that I wouldn’t if I were in real life. Sometimes, we can write to strangers what we cannot say to friends and that allows us to make real friends in a way we can’t face to face, or at a pace we couldn’t face to face. Well stated!
Jessie Powell recently posted..Swap
Isn’t it wonderful? And now we have met, too!
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..I’m Saying Things Over There
So very, very true. I love this:) I also l love finding another mom of kids with special needs.
nice to “meet u”
Nicole DeZarn recently posted..Did I say Crazytown? I meant the 7th Ring of Dante’s Inferno!!!
Nice to “meet” you, too. Us special needs parents are a particularly wonderful sub-set of bloggers, a fierce and supportive tribe of our own.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..I’m Saying Things Over There
Beautifully written and so very true. We dig deeper here because we can. Because we know we will not burden others with our innermost thoughts. Because we know we will find support.
Thank you. Yes, anyone that doesn’t want to go there with us? Just doesn’t have to read our posts. Better than bending someone’s unwelcome ear at a party anytime, I say.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..I’m Saying Things Over There
This is so well-written and true. I love it!
Jocelyn @ ScooterMarie recently posted..To the cloud(s)!
Thank you so very much.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..5th Night of Hanukkah
Wonderful post! I completely agree. I have gotten to know some very dear friends through blogging.
Grumpy Grateful Mom recently posted..Review Extravaganza: Shaking Mormon Tales
Amazing, isn’t it? (And I love your name – can completely relate to both the grumpy and the grateful.)
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..5th Night of Hanukkah
How you manage to be so articulate and get-at-the-core on point about everything you write about, amidst the swirl of “regular” life (you want to make god, or the secular humanist equivalent, laugh, say you have a regular life) amazes me. The fact that you can do it during the tornado of holiday craziness is gift-giving at its very highest level. Thank you so much for this post. I agree cubed. Wish I were there.
K A B L O O E Y recently posted..How to Tell That Your Mom’s a Covert Hoarder, Or: Anyone for Comet Vinaigrette?
OK, now you’re making me blush. I wish you were here, too. So close and yet so far. But we will see each other soon, come hell or high water. See, you’re exactly the kind of new-blogging-friend-who-feels-so-much-like-an-old-friend-I-can’t-believe-we-just-met-this-year I am talking about here!
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..5th Night of Hanukkah
This gave me chills, tears, and a very warm heart. Sometimes I think you are speaking my words from your fingertips.
Barnmaven recently posted..I keep talking
Oh, friend, you know how I love you. Cyber-hugs to you from across the continent.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..5th Night of Hanukkah
What a gorgeous post! This made my night. Thank you!
Victoria KP recently posted..Proof
And now your comment has made my night. Thank you right back!
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..5th Night of Hanukkah
Yes! So grateful I can call you a blogging friend! And perhaps we will meet in real life again someday.
Jennie B recently posted..Domestic Drift
It really is amazing how close we can feel to our blogging friends. The distinction between IRL friends and online friends is becoming very blurred.
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..Have a Very Merry…
No way could I have said it better… GREAT post. Although I have only 9 followers and only blog once in a while, I am trying to blog more but since I don’t have kids or an exciting life, it’s hard to find things to write about, I LOVE my blog friends.
I love having a window into their world. As you said, seeing things about them that we probably wouldn’t see in real life.
Your writing is beautiful. I’m definitely on my way to check out your little corner of the blog world.
Hope you and the amazing Shell enjoy your holidays!
Jessica recently posted..Just for…
Yes unless you are a blogger it is hard to understand how real and wonderful those connections and friendships can be
Oh Varda, how I adore you….and I consider YOU a friend in my life, in my heart…in my world. xo
Kir recently posted..Merry Christmas from The Kir Corner