LJ as family

[susandennis]

When I decided I wanted to keep a journal on the computer, I looked at various options. I wanted it online so I could get to it from the office or home or Mom's or wherever. And I wanted it painless. I first set up a webpage but I never got into it. Then I hunted around. I looked at blogging stuff but it wasn't developed enough yet or too complicated and I didn't really understand the blogging thing and I wanted a journal.

So I looked at Live Journal. At the time I had no clue about commenting or community. I didn't know any LJers but, it looked like a nice place. I liked it for the tools and the look and the ease. Plus, I read some of the other LJer's stuff and it was fun and interesting and I wanted to play, too.

It took about 3 posts I think for me to 'get it'. And to find out that 'it' was the one of the most enriching and comforting and sympathetic and fulfilling and validating and often the funniest experiences of my life. "It" of course is the community.

I still post for me. Mostly. I am constantly thinking of entries and things to say and share and save. I actually do go back and read some of my own stuff to remember and rethink. It's a good organizer, a good grounder, a good way to noodle out stuff.

But, the community of LJ friends is what has taken center stage. When my friend, Connie, was here last weekend, I found myself often saying things like 'my friend, Anne in L.A. says...' or 'my friends who live near Fenway heard... ' or 'my friends in Canada or Rhode Island or England or all the other places...' Connie probably thinks I have actually met all of you face to face and you know what, it doesn't matter that I haven't. You are all part of my family of friends.

Today you have provided support and advice and insights and help and guidance and major guffaws like no group I have ever known before. If I knew how to spell verklempt, I'd probably say you make me all verklempt.

But I am so very grateful to have the richness of what you give me every day. Thank you.

Comments

[sylphishone.livejournal.com]

We love you too!

[susandennis]

Thanks!

[pookfreak.livejournal.com]

You have said, in your inimitable eloquent way, what I've often thought and wanted to say.

I agree with what you said and thank you for sharing that.

[susandennis]

You are welcome and thank you for not making me help you unpack!! (FYI... photos of the innards of the new house coming soon???)

Friends

[pinkrose70.livejournal.com]

Since I've been physically unable to return to work yet, and don't see many of my friends from work, my family is all back East. Everyone's busy with their own jobs and lives, and aside from my 3 neighbors in my 4-plex, and the little lady next door, and my very close guy-friend in Montreal, I consider many of YOU my friends. And hey, LJ allows us to post, and read about so much of each other, sometimes more than we would ever know about a local friend who we may visit or have lunch with.

Thank you!
(hoping that I'm "Anne from L.A.) ;)

Re: Friends

[susandennis]

Right you are and, of course, you are Anne from L.A.!!

[thegreggory.livejournal.com]

I could not have said it better myself. I even starting my journal on my website, but it was diffcult and clumsy to keep up.

I joined LJ, because to people who kept online Journals swithed to LJ and I wanted to be able to comment.

Even though I've never met anyone on my friends lists, and have only AIM with a few of them, They still feel like real and close friends.

it really is a enriching, comforting, sympathetic, fulfilling, validating and at times one of the funniest experiences of my life

I also spent a good amount of time thinking of things to post. Course it took 6 months for me to get it!!!

[susandennis]

And you are one of my greatest examples. How in the world else would our paths have crossed? Yesterday, Kenny and I were going out to lunch and he was being pokey and I actually did say to him 'giddy-up!'... that is totally your fault and if you could have seen the confusion on his face you would have been very proud of you.

[thegreggory.livejournal.com]

That makes me feel good, my saying are spreading across the country. :-)

Isn't that look priceless?

[thegreggory.livejournal.com]

That makes me feel good, my saying are spreading across the country. :-)

Isn't that look priceless?

[nitemirror.livejournal.com]

A community. I like that. Thank you for this.

That is *exactly* why I joined lj. I wanted to be part of a community. Although, I'm not sure I fit in well in any community, even lj's. When I expressed a bit of envy for the amount of replies someone on my friends' list gets to her journal entries compared to mine she responded politely that it's only because I'm a "very private person."

I wanted to argue, but couldn't. I'm not so blind as to know that, especially lately, I haven't had much topic in my journal for someone to comment about, but I still want the community that lj offers. You said it well.

[susandennis]

Your commenting and your comment are so ironic. I just finished reading about your day and I hit "make notes" to leave a comment and could not figure out what to say. I wanted to offer sympathy and understanding and nothing I wrote sounded anything but lame. I cannot imagine how you can get through all you are going through but I appreciate so much your sharing it. It gives me balance. It's a life lesson and I'm grateful - thank you.

Next time I will leave a comment, however, lame... just know that I know it's lame and I really wanted it not to be. ok?

[nitemirror.livejournal.com]

I know the "lame comment! Abort! Abort!" bit well. Paraphrasing something tsjafo told me a long time ago (I'm too lazy to look up the exact quote), but I think it's in one of his comments to me in my journalfrom some time last year.

Anyway, he said something to the effect, sometimes it doesn't matter what you say in someone else's journal. It is the fact you expressed that you wanted to say something that matters.

I don't think I did his words justice, but that was the best advice I've gotten from lj. (and because of it I made many replies in other's journals that I wouldn't have otherwise).

As for being ironic, maybe it was just my "blue funk" talking. He's been visiting me more than I'm trying to let on lately.

[susandennis]

Excellent advice and I think I'll just use it. :)

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

I say my friend in Canada , my friend Susan in Seattle etc etc too !! It is a Good Thing I reckon :)

There is someone who added me to his friends list who is always bemoaning the fact that he has NO RL friends ..he is lonely and that web friends are not the same ass RL friends....well *I* say they can be better!

Lovely to count you as one of my friends Susan :)

[thalamic.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling you have filtered me out, and I don't blame you for it. I just wanted to say that your way of writing is so simple, natural, and what you say is specific to you but not apart of general human behavior that I am compelled to read your journal, even if I feel envious of you after reading almost every entry.

What you say about LJ is true. I have never met you, and you probably don't even like me, but I still consider you my friend because of what you share with us. Thank you.

I am sorry that I don't comment often but it is mostly because I don't want to spoil anything for you.

Anyway. In place of a real one: *Hug* :)

[susandennis]

Honey, I filter EVERYBODY! I'm a filtering fool. I don't comment much in your journal but I do follow along with your highs and lows and decorating and family frustrations. I do. And I appreciate your sharing it all. And, I thank you for the hug.

[drood.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww! I'm grateful for you too!

[1forward2back.livejournal.com]

The feeling is certainly mutual.

[joyofmacs.livejournal.com]

Oh this is EXACTLY how I feel about LJ. Thank you for writing this.

I too speak of you and others on here as though we have met in person. I don't bother to explain unless they ask.

I cannot tell you how much I love to read what you write and how much it helps, especially during my work day where there is, for the first time in my work life, hardly anyone for work friends.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this post. Pretty much sums up our LJ adventure. I talk about everyone like my friends too. I have learned much, and met many people I truly like and care about.

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Though we're not frequent mutual-commenters, I read you because I noticed that so many other people I like had friended you, and I found they were right to do so. I enjoy lurking in and out of your life immensely.

Hear, hear!

[minimac.livejournal.com]

As so many have already expressed, I couldn't have said it better. I remember when i first stumbled across LJ and I thought, "well that's kind of interesting...maybe I'll check it out"...and a week later I was a paid member. And then, of course, I came across your name and, well, we know the rest! 'Tis great fun and rewarding to boot...can't beat that!

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

What a super entry. I too frequently refer in daily life to friendships that are difficult to explain to others not familar with LJ. But what an important part of my life they have become! Just like yours, in other words.

And, btw, I often think, Susan, that we would actually make good real-life friends, despite our very different backgrounds. Meirion ([Unknown site tag] thinks the same. Funny eh?

[susandennis]

I absolutely think we'd make very good real life friends. And, what's more, I've often had the thought that if I were to ever get off my butt and go somewhere, it would actually be Nanookville (although, now I'd have to stop off in Toronto first to do the seedy bars with Mickeytor). He doesn't think I'm seriously considering it but I am.