Do online acquaintences count like real ones?

As you may have guessed, I have several  "online friends".  Most of them I call friends because I do not want to be bothered spelling out the word acquaintance.   Since AOL automatically adds any one who emails me to  my address book, I have a very full address book.  I also have a category that is marked "If I croak" and Bret has instructions that if I do suddenly cease to exist, he is to notify these 2 people.  Only two.  The first one will no doubt tell anyone who will listen and she knows which chat rooms I go to so that aspect will be covered.  The other one will get his "flushing finger" warmed up since I want to be buried at sea and that is the shortest, most direct route I know.  Just having a little trouble getting him to wait until after I am "gone."  And this, my friends, brings me to the crux of my missive today.
As you know, I sell on eBay.  eBay has chat rooms and a year or so I went to visit for the simple reason that on every post I make there is a link to my listings.  Good business sense, I thought.  Of course after a period of time I got to know people.  Some more than others.  One little gal in Florida and I were working on our html skills and the room we were in got very upset with us so we moved to another more liberal room.  The point here is we started emailing outside the chat room and are very good friends to this day.  I send her cookies and she eats them.  She in turn sends me little tokens.  I am as close to her as if she lived next door.  But I have never met her. 
A couple of months back I noticed that one of the regulars was not popping in at all.  So I mentioned it.  No response.  I mentioned it several more times and then let it go.  Then someone else mentioned it.  Two months!  Then came the announcement.  Seems the guy had "passed".  How sad that no one noticed he was gone for two months!  Had this group been here in my circle of friends, his absence would have no doubt been noticed right away, but the Internet is a very big, fickle place.  Friendships are made easily and just as quickly dissipate.  Yesterday's news, so to speak.  Had he been in my "real" world I would no doubt have at  the very least sent a card. 
There are many in my online address book that I hear from or contact on rare occasions.  Only these two hold special meaning for me. Now, I can not help but feel these friendships are as meaningful as if they were right here beside me.  Am I wrong?  Do we need flesh and blood contact to connect with people?  This Internet is a wonderful place if we use it correctly.  Am I doing that?  I have several friends who think I spend too much time on the computer, but it is what I do. 
I think that I am as close to Amy as any of my kids.  I would like to bring her to Colorado and take care of her.  Teach her things she needs to know to get by in this life, like proper nutrition.  ;) And my other friend and confidante knows me as well as anyone and way better than most.  He can see past my facade to the real me and point out my faulty thinking.  How he does that I will never know, but he is the first man I have ever "not met" that can do that.
I guess what I am really asking here is why we call it "passed" or "gone" when it is really "died"?  And if someone dies that I have never really known, do I still "know" them?  I realize that I was never close to Dan, but I still feel a twinge of sadness.  And I know if anything happened to my Amy or Oscar  I would be inconsolable.  Does that make me abnormal?  I think not.  Life is full of relationships on every level and in every degree.  My online friends are just as important to me as my real world friends.  So, maybe I am abnormal and maybe I am not.  Time will tell.
In the meantime I will hold on to the online connections and trust that they will be holding on to me.  And some day, I am sure, I will see them.  And when that day comes I can toss the computer, but for the moment it is my connection and it is here to stay, as real and vibrant as the friends in town.  So to one I sign off "Mountain Momma"  and the other, "Bella".  I love you both.  Just never get to say it often enough.
And all you others out there reading this,  I love you, too.  Love is a well that never runs dry and the more you give away the more you get.  So start spreading it around!

Is this a bucket list item or just an I want?

The Good Lord and I sort of have an agreement.   It works this way, when I want or need something I just tell him and then he sort of shows me a way to get what I need.  It has worked for a whole lot of years, even when he gave me something different than what I was hoping to receive.  Many times he just sends me down the right street or manuvers me in front of the answer.  So the last couple of days there is one young girl in particular that I have been thinking about.  I want to know where she ever went and how she and her sisters are today.  I can not tell you her name, but I will outline the story and she or some one who knows may contact me.  Sure hope so.
I worked at the Red Carpet Resturant in Hutchinson, Kansas for a couple named Bob and Thelma Bailey.  It was shortly after I divorced my first husband so it must have been about 1969-1972.  Maybe later.  Lot of foggy parts there in that period.  There was a lady that worked as my helper.  She had 3 lovely daughters.  She lived North of town with her husband.  He was a very handsome man and to all intents and purposes they seemed to have a wonderful marriage, but I do not think that was actually the case.  I am not one to judge and that is not why I am here.  She came to work several times with injuries she explained as "falling off a tractor",  "slipping in the bathtub" and I am not sure just how she broke her arm that time, but I do know it was "all her own fault."
The day finally came when she fell off the porch (as I recall) and wound up a parapalegic and had to be cared for at home.  Her husband hired a woman to take care of her and when she died he married her.  These are enough facts that if you know who I am looking for you can contact me.  I am especially interested in the oldest daughter.  She lived with me for a brief period after her mom died.  I have said lots of prayers for these girls and would dearly love to see them.  The oldest is the one that may remember me.
So there it is, out there for the Universe and God to deal with.  Please know that any information I receive will be held in the strictest confidence and nothing will appear on this blog about what happens after today.  OK,  Big Guy, do your thing!

Report on the Cuban Caravan and Scot's whereabouts.

In a message dated 7/8/2011 10:28:59 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, kriskross******.com writes:


Scot is in Milwaukee tonight. Sounds like the bus is behaving with a little help from Scot and assorted others. It is getting filled up with aid and a few caravanistas. Scot also participated in a radio interview about the caravan.

More later!

I will make dessert, no problemo!

 

Bret had a little friend pop over last night that we had not seen in years.  So I wondered just what I could throw together for dessert and I quickly took stock and knew Cream Puffs were the answer.  Butter, water, flour, and eggs.  Milk, eggs and sugar for the filling.  No chocolate for the decoration but that was because chocolate is endangered around here with Amanda on the loose!  Oh, and I am currently waiting for the next batch of Vanilla to finish whatever it is it does in there with that Vodka!  Now I am completely out of Vanilla.

If there is one thing I like to do, it is cook.  Kind of wish I had a cooks helper to clean up after me.  That was the fun part of owning my own restaurant.  I could just make the biggest messes and Carolyn or Esther or someone would clean them up for me.  Only one rule every dishwasher has is "Never put a knife in the sink!"  Lady named Edith taught me that one and instilled in me a deep rooted fear of knives in the sink and big tall women named Edith!

You know, I look around at this mess that eBay selling makes of my house and I really miss the restaurant business.  The Red Carpet was the most fun because it was really big and classy.  Someone actually called me a "Chef" when I worked there.  The best part was the big bakery in the back.  I baked when I finished my morning shift.  Not the rolls and stuff because we had a baker for that, but fancy stuff.  I have a whole album full of beautiful wedding cakes.  That was really fun.  I loved making Roses.  It is a real joy to take a plain old cake and slather on the frosting, the flowers, garlands and leaves and end up with a four feet tall masterpiece.  My biggest challenge was a family who had brought their own cake across country , only to drop the second layer.  I managed to match the colors, design and all that so closely that no one knew!

When I had my little "Lou's Kitchen" down town it was all home cooking and the only baking was the Cinnamon rolls and Dinner rolls.  Oh, and the pies.  The lady who had the State Sales Tax job and came to see me on a regular basis loved the Cherry Pie.  Course she also loved the Pecan Pie, Chocolate and  anything that would hold still on the plate.  The biggest problem I had with her is she wore these half glasses that set on the end of her nose and she looked out over them and just made my blood run cold!  See I have this guilt complex and that woman could make me squirm like no one else.  Something about being closely scrutinized through spectacles on the end of someones nose that make me want to confess every wrong thing I had ever done and inflate my sales so I could pay more tax!

But she was a lovely lady and I enjoyed visiting with her, just that she had the power and  I knew that.  My customers were the best.  See, this little restaurant only held about 50 people and set right across the street from McDonald's.  There was a bakery on the street behind and I got all those guys three times a day since it had 3 shifts.  I really miss that place!  

But back to reality.  I got to go do the chore thing and get ready for the day.  Just know those were really good Cream Puffs and if you pop by unexpectedly, I just might make you some! 



Update on Scot for July 4, 2011

As promised.

From: kriskross******.com




Dear All,

On Sunday, Scot got to go to church at his "born into" church, Plymouth Congregational in Minneapolis. Today he worked with artists who painted the bus. I hope to get pictures to share. If you happen to be on Facebook, look for IFCO, Pastors for Peace for more info.

Kris

Lucky you! I will keep you abreast of Scot and his travels!

Well, it is Cuban Caravan time again and today I got this from Kris.  None of the Pueblo Churches were involved this year for some odd reason.  Could it be that Max, Maureen and Faye are no longer prodding them? But my friends, Scot and Kris remain true to the cause. 

Today's missive:  In a message dated 7/2/2011 12:54:13 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, kriskross*********com writes:


Dear All,


Scot took off yesterday to, once again, drive a bus for the Cuba Caravan. I can't remember if this is the 20th year, or what, that the caravan has brought donated humanitarian aid to Cuba. Anyway, Scot flew to Branson, Missouri where he picked up the bus and got started on the route. A really nice lady named "Akeejee" ( can't spell her name correctly ) gave him some snacks and goodies for the road. There are no riders on the bus with him yet, except for a hitch-hiker.



Today Scot got through DesMoines where he refuled himself and his laptop batteries at the Catholic Workers House. He is headed north and will send updates frequently.



Prayers for safe travel and dependable vehicle much appreciated!

Kris

Koury Truck Stop really is a thing of the past.

I went to Colorado Springs last week to spend the day with Pastor Faye which is always a rare treat for me.  Since I had another engagement in the morning, I was later leaving so it was after lunch when I got there.  We visited a while and I was surprised to learn that they have had less rain then us which is very unusual as they are higher altitude and the mountains usually get more moisture.  But that is a bit of useless information that I just threw in for you.
Then we decided we should venture down the street to the Country Buffet because that is what we always do.  Women are such creatures of habit!  By this time it was getting to be mid afternoon and I decided I should perhaps head back down the highway to home, so I departed.
Soon after I got on the Interstate I found myself behind an 18 wheeler which is nothing new in itself.  I drive with the cruise control set on 72 MPH so I notice if traffic is erratic, and this guy was  just that.  I passed him, but watched in my rear view mirror as he sped up and around me.  I decided to just stay back where I was and watched as he sped away, then slowed, then sped and I knew immediately that the fellow was having trouble staying awake.  So for about 10 miles I kept him on the road with prayers and positive thoughts.  Then I remembered that the Rest Area was coming up so I decided that I would get in front of him and wave him into the Rest Area  and I actually started to put that plan into action.  Then I played that scenario out in my head!  Here we have an old lady trying to flag a trucker over into a Rest Area.  Now, I have never done that, and in my younger days I might have pulled a few shenanigans in my time, but flagging down truckers was never one of them. 
I knew that the next stopping place was Koury's Truck Stop, but I also knew it was closed after being there like forever.  I had intended to tell him that, but I watched as the rest area exit shot by.  Then I watched as he slowed for the exit to the truck stop and watched as he slowly drove down the ramp into the parking lot to join 5 other rigs that were there.  No doubt there were 5 guys catching some much needed sleep in that parking lot as I drove past.
The sight made me very sad as Koury had been there for so many years.  When we first started our excavation business it was one of our first jobs.  A truck had driven into the parking lot and straight into the fuel storage tank.  The fire could be seen clear into town and when it was done there was nothing.  Our job was to clear the area and excavate for the new truck stop.  And when the new truck stop opened it was a mecca for the lonely truckers on I 25.  A southwest adobe design with a restaurant, gift shop, shower area for travellers, a small motel, a tire shop and fuel area and a very high berm around the fuel storage area.  Fred Koury held sway and what a wonderful place it was. 
But, as with all things, time marches on and things change.  Fred Koury's kids grew to adulthood and Fred got tired of working, kind of like you and I.  I think a couple of the kids took over the Truck Stop, but it was not a passion like it had been with Fred and I remember seeing that it had closed and I was a little sad,  but seeing the emptiness when I drove past last week sure brought it home to me.  For so many years it had been a regular stop for the big rigs that travel our highways and now it stands as a grim reminder that time and tide wait for no man.
That night I was very sad as I recalled Frank letting a coyote out of a trap when we were working there.  I remembered Kenny almost stepping on a Rattle Snake when getting out of the truck.  We had gone there for lunch a couple times and it was a real family restaurant  that just happened to be a truck stop.  No greasy spoon there!  Then I remembered something that made me smile.  If you were southbound on I25 you were alright.  Northbound was a different story.  Northbound traffic exited and had to make a left turn under I25.  The opening under the highway to the parking lot was exactly the height to allow a tractor/trailer through  and not one inch higher.  There were several scratch marks on the top from trailers with over inflated tires!  Now if you think I am exaggerating, you do not know me very well, do you?  I will go take a picture the next time I am in that area and post it on here.  Of course to get back on the North bound one had to reverse the procedure.
  So there you have it.  Another milestone in my rear view mirror.  But I figure there are going to be a lot more  of those then there are the images  in front of me.  So, as long as the old gray matter keeps perking along we will have lots to talk about.  See you next time something strikes my fancy!