Meeting Old Friends for the First Time

I first became aware of Shel Holtz shortly after I started blogging.  He sent me a nice email note, suggesting nicely that I stop signing my comments just "Shel" because there were two of us and it would avoid confusion.  Reluctantly, I complied.

Over time, I became much more aware of Shel Holtz, particularly after he and Neville Hobson started podcasting.  I have to say their coverage of people and matters loosely joined to communications and PR is my personal favorite.  I find them both thoughtful and constructive in what they have to say.

But this all started more than a year ago--a century in blogosphere time. And while, over that year Shel became a friend.  I came to know him better and more closely through blogging--we had never met, not until a couple of days ago, when we got together for lunch in San Francisco.

It is the strangest thing, and if you bog for a while, you'll know what I'm talking about. Yo build these trusting friendships, with people you have never met face to face. The you actually meet.  In recent months, I've met face-to-face with Shel, Neville, Evelyn Rodriquez, Tom Raftery, Hugh MacLeod, Loic Le Meur and quite a few others.  I considered each of these guys to be old friends before I ever laid eyes on them.

It is the strangest thing. I really like it.

Comments

[Tom Raftery]

I know exactly what you mean Shel - I felt just the same meeting you, Robert and some of the other guys for the first time as well.

I guess it's a bit like penpals - remember penpals - I think we are the modern equivalent of penpals meeting.

[Matthew Cornell]

Thanks for saying this - one of the unexpected delights for me as a blogger has also been the wealth of wonderful connections I've made. Very neat stuff!