I live in a fairly big area however, it’s got a small, hometown feel.  And I only say this because Roanoke does not have your typical six degrees of separation.  It’s more like two.

Because of this, and because of my past that I’m not overly proud of, I don’t always jump out of my seat to meet people locally.  I’m always afraid that people will know someone that knows the old me and judge.

At least, that’s they way that it was.  I’m slowly working on actually talking to people that I don’t know, meeting new people, and trying to broaden my base of acquaintances and friends.  Yes, even dating.

I’ve also had the pleasure of keeping my online life and my offline life separate but at some point in time they’ve collided.  At first, I was a little weirded out by it, but over time, I’ve come to embrace it as it’s allowed me to be held accountable for who I really am.

The good news with this is that I am meeting other bloggers in the area.  For the longest time, it was just me.  Then Shane moved here.  (And can I say that she lives like two streets over, we see each other at school, and at sporting events and try as we might, we’ve never gotten together for lunch?)

Then a few weeks ago, I got an email from Katherine asking to be added to my blog roll.  I don’t add just anyone.  I have to make sure that I’m cooler and skinnier… no I’m just kidding.  But I do have to make sure that it’s a blog that I would stand by.

When I read her blog the first picture I saw looked alot like the view from the top of the star.  And it was becuase Katherine lives right here in Roanoke.

Another life blogger, right here.

I was excited.

And then I got to know more about her and realized that Katherine is a Christian Single Mom, just like me.  That excited me even more.  I love my friends here, but I don’t have anyone locally, really, that gets what it’s like to be me.

After a few emails back and forth, we decided that we would meet up for lunch and so yesterday, after I dropped my heathen children off with a friend for a few hours, I trekked across town to dine with her.

And it was delightful.  And we’re going to do it again.  And our daughters are the same ages, and our sons very close, so we even talked about getting the kids together.

I left yesterday, after watching a lady in the parking lot hit two cars trying to maneuver her boat out of the spot, praying that she would not hit mine, feeling good.  It’s nice to meet new people… even if the guy I dated a few months ago is hot after her now… :D  Small town, people… small town.

The night before, I met the woman who moved in across the street from me.  (Remember that new house they were building that kept blocking my driveway?)

She’s a Christian Single Mom too.  We sat on her front porch for an hour just chatting away and have already devised plans to have neighborhood potlucks.

Can I tell you that I’ve lived on my street for over four years and I know very few people?  I know all of them by face, and we always wave to one another, because that’s what you do in Virginia, you wave to everyone you pass, whether you know them or not.

And now?  I’m planning on helping to organize a neighborhood event.

I’d like to tell you that I’m scared to death about actually leaving my house or embarking on new adventures.  But I’m not. I’m actually pretty excited about the prospect of new friends.

I don’t think you can ever have too many friends.

Until next time…

Filed under Heather's Quirks, blogging |