Today was the coolest day! I got to meet my very first Gather friends in real life - Phyllis R. and Marianne R.
We met today around twelve-thirty near the dumpster (hehe) in the parking lot of a nearby hotel. We stood around and chatted for a while before we set off to do some geocaching (my and Phyllis's first time doing so, but I'm going to put all those photos in a separate article).
I'll admit I was a bit nervous about meeting them. I really like both of them and consider them good friends here on Gather, but I was afraid I would be awkward and not sure of what to say or talk about in real life. Not so at all! It was like we had known each other for the longest of times. No strangeness about it at all. Reading your connections' articles and viewing their photos really makes you learn about them and their personalities and their family and their real life lives. You really get to know them, maybe even better and more closely than you would in real life.
We went and found three different geocaches in two different parks and then headed off to McDonalds to eat. We sat outside near the little playpits and chatted while Haley and Parker alternately ate their Happy Meals and played in the tubes. They enjoyed themselves too and liked my "Gather friends".
It was a great day! I enjoyed it, and Marianne and Phyllis both totally rock, not only here on Gather but in real life. I hope we can meet again sometime and have another day of laughs and fun, and Phyllis and I are hoping to go and meet Gloria (Nana To Seven) sometime too. I've read other comments here on Gather about having a Gather reunion, and I think that would be so much fun, because the connections we make here on Gather are just as much my friends as the people I know here in my real life, in many ways even more so.
Thanks Phyllis and Marianne for a great day! I loved meeting you guys!
(Stay tuned for my geocaching photo essay!)
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Comments: 63
Really, there are lots on here I'd like to meet, and I never thought I'd say that of internet friends until I found Gather.
A gather get together in East Texas would be a lot of fun as well!
Victoria, that photo is really horrible. Maybe I should have brushed my ratty hair for it or something cause I am scaring myself here, lol. It was SO great meeting you two today and your adorable kiddos. You and Phyllis rock too! I had a blast. Of course now I am dead to the world from all the driving (and the 3 other caches I hit before dark, lol).
I bet it was a great time!!
Marriane, and Phylis both seem like they would be wonderful people to meet (well and you too ;) ) Plus I have always wanted to try geocaching, I had never heard of it untill I found Gather and saw all of Marriane's wonderful articles about it!
Ellie, before you can go geocaching, you must have the latest 'caching shoes'!!!
that's sooo exciting... good for you all... Blessings...
Girly Comments & Graphics
We need to get us a bus and go from state to state filling it up with 'gatherites'!!
BTW, I loved Vicky's comment too, Victoria, - that was a good one!!!!!
Phyllis, you really should promote Aynor's Harvest Hoe-Down and extend an invitation to your gather connections to attend in September. I don't think your town would ever be the same after, ha ha.
Sure hope you, Parker and Haley have had a great day too.......take care and God Bless.
(Tell the kids I said Hello)
Now we are all jealous. I think you 3 may have startd something here. ;-)
It's been too damn long and I need to meet and spoil your children.