Most blogging encounters occur out in cyberspace. The meetings of the minds — and photographs and texts — take place in the two dimensions of Flatland. But every once in a while, kind of like a pop-up, an actual meeting materializes in three dimensions, in real reality, not the virtual one.
Yesterday, Random Acts of Writing and Touch2Touch/A View from the Woods materialized just that way. The three-dimensional actual Jen rang the doorbell of the actual Judith for a face-to-face meeting and visit.
There were big broad smiles all around, there was the solid breadth of two human beings occupying space,and an odd sensation of having already known this person whom we were each meeting for the first time, because we already knew them so well from their respective blogs.
40 Green Street Lunch of the truly Parisian baguettes and croissants was unexpectedly on vacation, so we subbed with breakfast sandwiches and scones at Bread Euphoria. Then we went — of course! — to Look Park, to see the actual little train in action coming round the real life little bend.
Conversation bubbled like champagne, and the summer afternoon flew by like the puffy white clouds overhead in the clear blue sky. Real life Hub got in on the encounter as well.

Photo by Jen Payne
It’s nice to know, isn’t it, that for all the wonders of the virtual world, real people in real life still top them all!
I LOVE this story!
😉
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So when are you coming to visit? The door is open!
🙂
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How marvelous was this!
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It really was a kick!
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Absolutely! Sounds like a lovely time together. Kind of like meeting a penpal. Hoping for similar opportunities once we set out on our grand adventure.
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I should think you could go around the world visiting like this, Joss!
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wouldn’t that be a blast
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🙂
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How cool is that? And Bread Euphoria – such a grand place to get to know someone! I have yet to meet a fellow blogger in person (except for you of course, but we already knew one another). Lucky you two!
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Luck of location, location, location, like they say in the real estate market. Jen lives in CT and has a friend she visits in the Pioneer Valley, so it was easy to arrange.
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I loved this story and the photos! Even though we know we are ‘real’ here too, meeting in real life makes it all so different. Still … after all these years online, the only person I’ve met in real is Gerry!
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OTOH, that was a MAJOR meeting!!!!!
😉
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Real friends in real time – it could not have been a more perfect visit! Thank you, again, for sharing your world (and your words) with me – both here in cyberspace and now! in the real world.
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Jen —
A mutual delight!
🙂
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Nice story. If my blog friends live nearby my house, I’ll meet with them. 🙂
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Maybe they will come to visit your country sometime? Maybe you will visit ours?
🙂
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That’s a great idea. 😀
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Irrashaimasu!
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So lovely for you both. Isn’t it nice to confirm that this blogging thing can draw like-minded people together and cement true friendships.
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It’s nice to know that the affinities and like-mindedness really are qualities that exist and can be relied on!
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How lovely!
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Thank you, Gilly!
🙂
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Lovely pictures and story! It’s been one of the totally unexpected pleasures of my relatively short time in the blog world that I have actually met (three-dimensionally speaking) no fewer than five fellow bloggers – two in France, one in Austria and two from the US (either on my travels to their countries or when they were visiting London). All have been delightful encounters with lovely and interesting people, and I still find it amazing and wonderful that these connections have been made possible by my little blog.
If I ever get close to your part of the world, Judith, I would love to be able to ring your actual doorbell, and I very much hope that if you come to London you would ring mine!
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I would be thrilled to visit, or have you visit —
but somehow your identity has been reduced to Anonymous.
(If, as I suspect, you are Karen of the always-delightful Pas Grand Chose, I think the problem may be that WordPress and Blogspot don’t play nicely together.)
In any event, “make yourself known to the management” and we can share a cyberhug!
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Sorry, not Anonymous, but Karen!
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Consider yourself cyberhugged, Karen, until such time as we manage an actual ring at one or t’other doorbell!
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How wonderful to meet up with cyber friends in the real world! Would love to go ring at a fellow bloggers doorbell or have them ring mine 🙂
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It may happen — especially since you travel often, and have “the urge to wander” —
🙂
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Those bright smiles say it all!
Connections are such a tenuous business. Somehow we shift through various layers in finding a comfort zone of commonality but the magic that happens upon such a discovery is truly priceless and I am so happy for you and Jen! And Real Life Hub!
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Thank you, Patti.
And remember — New York is not so far from Northampton. They even begin with the same letter!
Hint hint?
😉
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Wouldn’t that be fun! Plus, if you ever come to NY . . . . returning the hint!
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One never knows!
Glad you’re back on this side of the pond, hope it cools down for you.
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How fun!
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Yes, it was – —
🙂
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Hi, I’m Friko, I came because of your comment on Pauline’s blog.
Like you, I have just had a blogger friend visiting, from the States no less, staying in my valley for a week. We ‘knew’ each other instantly, without ever having met before and now we have ‘real’ friends across the ocean, not just virtual friends. Sometimes blogging is a real joy.
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Yes, it is a joy — and very often a surprise — and a stimulus in many ways. All kinds of good things! Pauline’s blog is one of the best.
I will have to check out yours, Ursula. We used to go frequently to England; now we don’t travel much any more and I miss it!
(Uh oh, Safari didn’t find your blog, can you add your URL to the comments?)
((I found it, and it looks extremely interesting, looking forward to a good browse!))
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This is a geat story, and it reminded me to remind myself (!) that this is only a kind of ‘shadow world’, as Plato might have said. But we’re having our conversations with real people!
And as far as I am concerned (and if I may add this remark here), the pictures I show and look here on the www may have their in-the-flesh existence: printed, matted, framed, and on walls. But hey, virtual sharing is a great thing, too.
Have a nice Sunday, Judith!
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Good to remember that what’s casting the shadows is — real people, walking in and out of the cave.
Thanks for the Sunday wishes, which I return!
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I think you both are adorable
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*blush*
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A brave move but then you are a knight in shining…in the world of blog. I guess these are the kinds of encounters that offer -so much to gain and little to lose – opportunities. Loved reading this along with the pics too!
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I love the ease and freedom to post photos so freely that blogs afford —
But ultimately I am a woman of words, and it tends to show through.
🙂
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This is so cool! How lovely that connections made in the online world has materialized into a wonderful real life afternoon!
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It was truly very special.
(But I’d been following Jen’s blog for a long time, so I already knew she was really special!)
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Great to see face to face meetings 🙂 3D bloggers indeed 😉
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😆
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