Beyond the Blogosphere

BossLady and I have a very "eclectic" group of friends. 

Much of that may have to do with living in a diverse city like New York.  However, I think a greater part of it is due to the fact that we like meeting different kinds of people.  We enjoy encountering those off-beat individuals who choose to follow different paths in life, who march to the beat of their own drum, and who could care less about what others really think of them.  It's always with great love and enthusiasm that we embrace the weird, the wacky, and the wayward. 

Appearances can often be deceiving.  So, in hoping to move beyond the pale veneer of superficial impressions and scratch beneath the surface, we always make the effort to unearth the inner passions and interests that enthuse and invigorate people's lives. 

Learning that the quiet dude down the street is actually a gay poet who loves Macs and hasn't used a Microsoft product in 10 years?  Awesome!  Finding out that the straight-laced banker yuppie in the pinstriped suit reads comic books, paints watercolors and tutors kids in his spare time?  Cool!  Discovering that the tattooed redhead with multiple piercings is a doctor who actually loves getting high, playing Scrabble and reading Tolstoy!  Great!

In the coded "couples language" fortified by our years together, BossLady and I have several short-hand phrases that we employ when we meet someone that we think the other spouse will like. One of them is, "he's a total geek but he's OUR kind of geek."  Another is, "she's weird but COOL weird."  In fact, these are two of the highest compliments that we can give someone when meeting them for the first time. 

BossLady and I tend not to judge books by their cover.  We just like knowing that there's something real underneath.  Most people are afraid to show their true personalities to other people.  But I've always thought that life is too short for that sort of attitude.  Fly your freak flag!  Show your true colors!  Give me something REAL to grab onto!  Who cares what the fuck other people think?

In a way, that's what I like most about making friends in the blogosphere.  The artifice and superficial bullshit are often stripped away, revealing the personalities that we might not otherwise reveal to strangers.  It allows us to cut closer to the core and really get to know people better...what kinds of values they have, what their interests are, what they hold important in life or what cracks them up and tickles their funny bone.  And as you go deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole, you learn something interesting---you learn that friendships made in the blogosphere ARE real.  As Wood said the other day, "You know you already like each other. Meeting them in person just confirms it."

Speaking of Wood, I had the great pleasure of meeting up with her, Dutch and their daughter Juniper last weekend while they were in New York City.  Regular readers know how much I love the Sweet Juniper family. So it's safe to say that few people were happier than I was to learn that they were coming here for a long weekend.  Though we'd never met before, I'd often suspected that, should the opportunity arise, I'd get along with them both famously. 

Since Wood was babysitting Juniper, Dutch and I made plans to meet on Saturday night.  We decided to meet at Chibi's, a cool little downtown Japanese sake bar (owned, appropriately enough, by a Dutch ex-pat who named the place in honor of her French bulldog.)  And needless to say, I had a great time hanging out with Dutch. Over a few carafes of cold sake, we spent hours talking about everything...blogging, parenting, careers, marriage, literature, childhoods.  In many ways, I felt like we'd been friends for ages (which, in a way, we had been...via our blogs) and the encounter really felt more like catching up with an old friend that I hadn't seen in a really long time. 

Sunday morning, the BossLady was unfortunately busy but Peanut and I got the chance to meet Wood and Juniper. Along with Dutch, we grabbed some coffee together in Tribeca. And as much as I had enjoyed meeting Dutch the night before, I also had a great time meeting Wood and Juniper.  Though our time together was brief, it was heartwarming to see Peanut and Juniper getting along famously as well. The two of them spent most of their time together hugging, kissing and feeding each other.  The cuteness was too much for words.

One day, many years in the future, when people ask them how they first met and became friends, maybe Peanut and Juniper will say, "Our parents met each other through their blogs."

And the two of them can look back and say that it all started right here...

      

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Comments

[landismom]

How cute are they together! I am so jealous!

And it sounds like you and the BossLady have a great approach to finding friends.

[Owen's mommy]

I love that the Peanut has a french fry clutched in her hand while she gives some love to Juniper!

[Crikey]

If nothing else, this post has just reminded me that I really need to take my boss lady for a carefree night out. We used to do it every few weeks after girl no.1 was old enuff to be left with a babysitter but we kinda forgot after girl no.2 came along that we used to be something other than mummy and daddy.
Thanks for the virtual prod :)

[Chocolate Makes it Better]

Mate that's excellent. I'm still a blog-meeting virgin.

I think it's wonderful that a group of people can meet and get along so well through a cool medium like blogging!

[IFLYG]

For a minute there, I thought Peanut had stolen Juniper's hat!
It sounds like a good time was had - I am a little bit jealous....you've also confirmed my suspicions that all these people on the internet are meeting each other in cool Japanese bars, having great conversations about important things, going to chic parties, and generally living exciting & connected lives while I sit here all alone hunched over my pc like some sort of mutant troglodyte....it's high-school all over again...

[David]

Oh, I always judge a book by its cover. That's part of the fun of it. But I never trust my judgement. The rest of the fun comes from looking inside.
When my son started school, we spotted one of the other boys' parents. "Who the fuck is that troll?" was my instant reaction. He's now one of my best friends.

[AdventureDad]

So cool u guys got to meet. They sound like really cool parents. And very cute pictures. Shame Daniel didn't get to hang out with Peanut. But there's always a next time.

AD

[Mr. Big Dubya]

That's the way it's gonna be isn't it? Our kids will be growing up talking about their parents' blogs:

Little Dub: Is it true what I read that your dad used to look for empty stalls to do coke in?

Peanut: Yeah. But I read that your dad joined the army because he was smoking so much dope.

Little Dub: Ah, true. Touche.

Good times...Good times.

[misfithausfrau]

I think it is so cool that you all got to meet. The girls look absolutely adorable.

I have changed my mind about the validity of forming friendships via the internet. Hell, my friends met on a young widows/widowers chat board and they got married. I was pretty dubious initially, but they are awesome together. And while I am not searching for a new husband, it's great to share common bonds or learn new things through people one may or may never meet.

[knq]

Is your daughter holding a french fry **shock**

LOL

Just kidding. I love your two urban cuties together. My daughter likes to share the love as well...

[Norma]

Sweet babies.

[Brent]

Great post, MD. You have a very cool attitude about meeting new people and interacting with them. It's no wonder that you get along with so many different kinds.

Freaks and Geeks? Greatest TV show ever. Too bad it was so shortlived.

[Matthew]

Oh man, too cute!

I gotta start meeting some of you guys!

[Red]

I agree with you about being open and honest with people but there are some things that some people cannot handle, such as spiritual beliefs and sexual orientation. Even my own family doesn't know some things about me, for instance, because knowing them I am pretty sure they would freak out. lol

And there are people out there who would do real damage to you if they find out things. I know someone whose snakes were killed by people who broke into his house. He, himself, barely got out with his life and his cats. They did that because of his belief systems. It's not right what they did, but it happens all the time. I personally choose not to take such risks so I am careful who knows what about me.

[Leorah]

"Fly your freak flag"? Never heard that phrase before. I LOVE it! What an awesome way of telling people to be true to themselves. I'm so sick of posers, wannabes and fakes (esp. at work!)

Rock on, MD!

[Gia]

Cute photos, you guys do have a cool approach to meeting friends and I wish we all did too. We have some weird friends but they are all cool, crazy, awesome weird too.
Ciao.

[nina]

Gosh, that's so cute.

[Melissa]

Don't you just love seeing two babies togeather. It is always so cool. I think it's awesome that you met Dutch and Wood. Cool weird, I love that saying.

[CityMama]

Heart-meltingly cute.

[amy]

Oh! Those photos! Killing me here. seriously.

[Ryan]

Never even thought about next-generation friendships among the offspring of parent bloggers. Fascinating! Might be enough of a reason for me to start my own daddy blog (you know...for the kids!)

MD,

The babies are too cute for words!

It's a blast meeting peoples like yourself, isn't it?

Leave it to you to spin the whole "Meet New People" scene.

Dude, I like your style!

[L.]

Damn! I`m not cool-weird -- I`m weird-weird. No, wait -- I`m weird-weird-weird.

(And by the way, I have a copyright on the phrases, "Fly your freak flag.")

[sweatpantmom]

Great post.

I just found your blog and was perusing your 'About' section. Like Murakami: check. Dislike Hummers: check. Dislike soy bacon: Oh, love, love it. Sorry.

(I am an Asian American living on the opposite coast - thought you might relate to this post.

[rach]

So, this doesn't have anything to do with anything, but it's a great story.

I thought about you and your blog today at work. I am a cashier at Hobby Lobby, and when I got to my register, I found a little cowboy figurine. I immediately equipped him with the appropriate backdrop of a talk bubble saying, "I wish I knew how to quit you!"

No one said anything about it, but damn did it keep me amused.

[freak lover]

Cuteness beyond words.

and btw, I LOVED the show Freaks & Geeks and think it was totally unfair that it got cancelled while The World According to Jim is still on the air. what's up wit dat?

[Lumpyheadsmom]

My husband’s friends often joke about our children being each other’s prom dates, much like your hopes for Juniper and Peanut to one day be friends.

The idea of "good stock" gives me hives. It's horrifying to think that a person could be judged like a horse by her breeding, and I always thought being from “a good family” was a pretty weak compliment.

But honestly? My friends' kids are the kind of people I want my son to hang out with. They have strong self-esteem and have been taught respect for others. My friends are raising the kind of people I want my child to have in his life.

[lisa]

Those two should have been wearing t-shirts bearing:
"My Daddy's wittier than yours!"

[Liam]

De-lurking here! Can't believe that two of my favorite bloggers met up with one another. That's so cool. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall.

Oh, and the photos? Absolutely adorable!

[the weirdgirl]

You've hit it exactly. This is why I love people, there is ALWAYS something interesting going on.

Great pictures! So snuggly!

[Lucinda]

How cool. Neat to see both sides of the story, especially after experiencing this kinda thing last week with Busy Mom (we're meeting again tomorrow, btw. Helps to live in the same town you know?)

[Pattie]

They are too cute. And the Peanut is already quite the little fashion plate.

[dutch]

Let me say that in addition to having the same urbane wit he displays here in real life, metrodad cuts a dashing figure. he is one handsome man.

I have pictures to prove it. clear ones. grandpa-hatless and sunglasses-free. For $50 you can access my private flickr "metrodad" pool. Ladies, I do take credit cards.

[mo-wo]

dutch -- you greatly damage your hipness with this rampant man crush.

MD, I have turned this post over in my head most of the day thank you for its thoughtfulness. I had noted comments around our blogour-hood about our babies 'recognitions' of digital versions of other. Oddly, I introduced our Girl Friday to everyone a week or so ago. It did not go as described at all. She is a bit older than most of the group, at 18 mos. today! As with other photos e. grappled to identify; identify the known face in the shadow of the unknown. Any resemblence she reckons results in questioning looks to me joined with names of children she does know. I don't know where to go with this. Is it for good or ill? Maybe keep your eyes open for one of my inter-blog commentary posts on the food for thought your friendly children story has offered me.

ps.. you can report my use of recognitions to p-man as part of his current gerund hunt

[mo-wo]

Digital version of one ANother, I meant! You know, I showed her the kids pictures, eh?

teach me to type-preview-edit-post

[gina]

I am overwhelmed by the sweetness!

I am just picturing the glow of the bubble that must have been over your little group when you were together.

Now I have to run over to Dutch and Wood's blog to pay up on those pics.

Do you know if there are any topless ones?

[Sassy]

Awww... you can feel the love!

[panthergirl]

And they will say "BLOGS!!! How old-fashioned!!!"

[OTRgirl]

Hat: $10
Stylin' Pink Coat: $35
French Fry: 10 cents
Cuteness Overload: Priceless

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