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.
