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October 2009 
Not only is Susie Q "real".....she's amazing!
Centria
OK, let's be perfectly honest. I probably wouldn't have invited Ms. Susie Q to be friends here on Gaia in the beginning. As I tried to navigate the Gaian waters and determine who to invite as friends, there was one criteria. They had to be a blogger. They had to like to write. A lot. Here was the reasoning: if they liked to write, they might like to read all of my million words. We'd have a good trade-off. We'd all write and comment and live happily ever after.
So that was my personal resonance engine. Fortunately, the universe was already snickering at that plan and doing its own thing. What do they say is the only thing to make God laugh? "Make plans." Susie Q just happened to have some beautiful photos on her blogsite one evening, and I just had to oohhh and ahhhh over the orange flowers (well, in my memory they were orange flowers, but they may have been purple or yellow or red, anyone is free to go check out the actual colors of flowers in her blog back in April.)
She wrote back and it turned out that I live in the same area where she grew up. Isn't that cool? She actually now lives in Wisconsin, but comes back to visit our lovely Upper Peninsula of Michigan quite often. When she announced a visit this week, I invited her to come and stay at our house for an overnight. It worked out especially great because my husband is off on his annual Isle Royale fishing tournament and we could have some time just getting acquainted. We were both excited about meeting our first real in-person Gaian friend. (besides a couple people that we knew previously that are also on Gaia.)
Ms. Q showed up yesterday in the early afternoon. Her name is really Sue, or Susan, but she'll probably answer to all three possibilities. I ran excitedly down the driveway as she drove up in a rented silver vehicle, as her car refused to make the trip, needing some repairs. We laughed and hugged and proceeded to get down to the business of gauging the "realness" of the other. Well, I'm sure she had no doubts as to the realness of a fellow Gaian, but I was already writing an inner blog and needed proof to report to all of you.
We didn't linger too long in our middle-of-the-woods house; instead, we drove north to her old hometowns and explored different sites. We chatted non-stop. She took us to some old mining waterworks and we wandered along the beaches, collecting beautiful rocks. Lake Superior felt cold, but refreshing, and we took off our shoes and searched for special stones. We filled a couple of plastic bags with treasures before eating dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant. On the way back to L'Anse, we stopped at the local food co-op where a good friend works. Of course Sue and my friend bonded immediately over a discussion concerning a beautiful stone called the "Isle Royale Greenstone." If the co-op wasn't closing in eight minutes, they would have talked for a long, long time. I raced to gather supplies and organic vegetables, and Sue wandered through the aisles.
Upon arriving home we signed into Gaia and looked over our separate "friends" list. We have quite a few friends in common, but there are also many, many different friends. We pointed out interesting possibilities for the other to consider. And, picture this!, guess what Sue does first? Do you think she goes and reads blogs? Absolutely not! She looks at photos! What kind of person looks at photos first? I was continually amazed at what a visual person she is. She's intrigued and amazed and awed by photographs. I kept thinking, "just look at the blogs, will you? what about the writing?" And we laughed over and over again at the different ways of perceiving the world. P.S. she does actually look at blogs, and sometimes thinks about them all day; it's just that photos are....you know....
I fell asleep last night with the inner ego beginning its critique about what category this friendship might fall into. The witness just watched the babbling of the ego trying to place Sue into some pre-stipulated category. Fortunately I fell asleep after three minutes of this ridiculous attempt at labeling, and slept through a thunder and lightening and rain storm that Sue apparently enjoyed in the middle of the night.
OK, now we've reached today in this lengthy synopsis. You might think it couldn't get much better, but today blew my mind! Literally! We started with coffee (Peaceseeker, that information is for your benefit) and sat on the couch and began to deepen into the reality of knowing another person. We started going deeper into spiritual connections, our personal lives, what is important to us. And here is one story that she won't mind that I share.
She was attending a spiritual conference at one time, standing by the door, waiting for everyone to find their seats. An older gentleman waited outside the door and she engaged him in small-talk and general conversation. When it came time for the speakers to present, she and the gentleman found seats together. One of the speakers was Edgar Mitchell, one of the first travelers to the moon. His life was changed on his return trip from the moon, and he eventually helped found the Institute of Noetic Sciences to explore and bring together the disciplines of spirituality and science. Well guess what? When Edgar Mitchell's name was called to the stage to begin his presentation, guess who got up off the chair next to Sue and went to speak to the crowd? The older gentleman she had been speaking with. It was Edgar Mitchell himself! She said what struck her the most about him was his sense of Presence. (Don't you love that story?)
Let's cut to the chase. The absolute best part of the day, for me, was the absolute wonderful massage she gave me. I can't say enough about this experience. Actually, I'm not sure I can say anything about this experience. Because when she started working, everything in the world dissolved. All words dried up and disappeared. You know how we can label things like "massage", "hands", "heat", "back".....I might as well shut up right now....because every label in the universe completely disappeared as she massaged. There was an experience of being completely present in the moment, but there was no words for it. I remember my mind trying to put words on the experience like, "It feels like there's water flowing through and around her hands.....her hands and my back are the same thing.....heat and water are the same thing.....there is no such thing as a body....what is this experience?" Anyway, I will cease babbling about this experience except to say it was one of the most incredible things that has happened recently. Simply incredible.
Sue was in a car accident several years ago, and I have a friend who also survived a terrible car accident, so we then drove over to my friend's house. Sue drove; I was still in a state of awe or bemusement or utter amazement. She and my friend talked steadily for almost an hour. Her grandson fed us Ezekiel toast with peanut butter. Sue offered some incredible advice for alternative healing possibilities to my friend. Before we slipped away my friend whispered, "she was the answer to my prayer, you know."
By late afternoon, Ms. Q was back in her rented car, headed back across the Upper Peninsula to collect her daughter and then visit her sister in another town. We hugged, made plans for next time, and off she drove.
So, not only have the Yackety Yak phone conversations with everyone been really cool.......the first in-person Gaian meeting was beyond anything I could have imagined! Come again, Susie Q! Next time we'll go to the slate quarry, I promise....
Access: Public
this was fun reading….I'm jealous.
Me too! But i once had a Gaia friend drop me like a hot potato here for admitting to feeling jealous (how i expressed it was in a light hearted way) so what i will do right now is shift from twinges of jealousy to ….
I am oh so happy for you both! and your other friend too!
what a lovely synopsis, as you put it, of a very special time. makes me look forward to my first Gaia f2f and writing about it to share.
much love and gratitude for this happy union of friendship,
mary
A lovely read dear Kathy.
When you wrote about Suzie Q being a visual person I chuckled a bit as I discovered her through her wonderful photos and her way of capturing ( especially the flowers) images with her camera. They are truly lovely images and am feeling inspired to update to a better camera myself sometime soon as a result.
wishing you well always
Glenda x
How dare you meet with one of those picture people. Come on, Centria… you and I, we're word people. We have to stick to our own kind. Susie Q is a temptress who has beguiled you with beautiful pictures.
Ya know, they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that is why we must stand strong against the temptation of visual imagery. I spend hours writing a thousand words, and what is the point? I might as well just stuck up a pretty picture of a flower or something. What is the world coming to?
If we word people start interacting with the picture people, then who knows what might happen. Before long, we'll start seeing blogs with words and pictures simultaneously. God forbid!
I'm glad we haven't lost you entirely, Centria. I noticed you wrote this long blog about Susie Q the picture lover, and you used no pictures. Ha! That'll show her. :)
Seriously you guys, you are worth getting out of bed in the morning!! I mean each and every one of you provided a smile (and laugh) before my eyes are truly wide open. Now I can go to work happy….
Maze….oh no, you needn't be jealous. Because you were there with us. didn't you “feel” us talking about you? And we talked about so many Gaian friends, it kinda felt like we weren't alone. We were all walking along that beach together, everybody gathering stones….well, maybe at least one person sitting over there on the beach surveying the scene and drinking a beer and…..see, don't you remember now? :)
Mary, you can express your jealousy any time….and I will tell you mine, too….and there will be no friends-dropping between us! I think part of the definition of friends is that we can begin to deepen into more sharing, more intimacy, more truthfulness of the whole spectrum of all thoughts & feelings without turning away.
Glenda, oh you found Susie Q as well through her pictures? Yes, she's inspiring me with the thought of possibly getting a camera. Yet, I have such difficulties stopping the flow of the moment to snap a picture. It's been almost impossible so far (with former cameras which end up sitting on the shelf.) Therefore I am jealous of those who can maintain both… Note to Mary and Tom: maybe it's the way some people interpret the word “jealousy”. If you think of jealousy as all negative emotion of wanting to take from another person, then it doesn't feel as well. If you think of jealousy as some sweet quirky desire to be participating in another's story….well, I like that better!
Ben, Ben! You are the greatest! (no one jealous, please!) How do I answer this one? I'm laughing too hard. There you have it. Obviously the world is completely made up of word and picture people and heaven forbid they meet and actually discover it's one & the same thing!! When Ms. Susie Q returns home, she has promised to post pictures of our meeting on her blog….or picture gallery….or whatever photo lovers do. Until then, all the visual people will just have to imagine pictures of how it all unfolded (or read these words & supply inner pictures.) I can't wait 'til she gets home & gets back to Gaia….
I loved this! Suzy Q and I met a while back, around the time that I met Susan #1. I think they may have changed their names (and met each other) because of me. I was confused about them one day when they had similar icons up and the name “Susan.” I changed my status to say, “I'm confused about the 2 Susans on my list.” They ended up changing their names, and the rest is history…
I love this story for many reasons, and especially because I learned that Sue looks at photos first. That's so…different. It never occurred to me do that. Wow. It makes me think I should add some new photos or something to keep the more visual friends interested.
Anyway…Ms. Q sounds really cool. So glad you (and we) got to meet her! Hi, Sue!
how can we be jealous of Ben? He is the greatest bar none! :):)
And I'm not jealous as you know, Kathy, simply delighted each time anyone here on Gaia gets to experience the joy I have known and will again know in the coming weeks, meeting someone on Gaia for the first time, and then getting to know the person gradually through phone calls, emails, IM chats and maybe… another visit in the future! I hope :)
Hi Centria,
I loved that story! (Btw: I subscribed to your blog because I really enjoy reading it so I hope you don't mind me popping up every now and again to leave a comment). I enjoy meet-up stories in general because it lets you see the persons that you see around Gaia all the time through someone else's eyes and that's very interesting. Those stories also often reveal more about the “live” person, the way they walk and talk and laugh… and are (as opposed to the way they write here on Gaia) - to me, even though I might not “be friends with” (in Gaia-terms) these persons, it brings them closer to me, makes them more real in a smell-taste-touch sense. :))
And I love the part where Suzie Q. connected with your friends so well. That's great and it proves even more that had you gotten to know each other in the offline world, you would probably also have become friends and surrounded yourselves with a similar group of friends.
Btw: I used to also look at pictures first when “checking out” profiles. Now I first check whether the person actively blogs and then I go on to look at their pictures. Unfortunately, I found that people who take or share the most beautiful pictures aren't necessarily into writing and sharing stories and over my time on Zaadz/Gaia that has become the most important thing here - exchange (be it in pods, by commenting on postings or PMs).
It sounds like a wonderful visit!! What a fun post to read. =)
yes, interesting Jenny how some people are more into the pictures than the blogging or commenting or podding. of course i do everything! wear everyone out :)
Yes you do, Ms Nicole, but at east you know you do! You are one hard woman to keep up with–and I dont even do much podding!
Kathy, I love the distinction you make re. jealousy and I feel the twinge of wanting to be there every time, and that is all! yay!
marmalade is too funny! (is that ben?)
now, onto work i go (eventually) after walkign my dog, Tina. I get to go in late today! yippee! sonogram and dental cleaning are to my advantage on this fine friday.
great weekend to all,
amry
Wonderful read,
I would never drop a friend
I might go silent for awhile…when ego pops in for a wake up call.
you can express your jealousy any time….and I will tell you mine, too….and there will be no friends-dropping between us! I think part of the definition of friends is that we can begin to deepen into more sharing, more intimacy, more truthfulness of the whole spectrum of all thoughts & feelings without turning away.
Yea, I get that too. It's called human….;-)
~lars
thanks Mary! hugs and yes, Marmalade is Ben :)
lars… yes!
Oh goodie, more comments! You all must have been some of my original friends.
Lisa, I remember being part of the Susan/Susan confusion as well. Now aren't we lucky to know both of them? But, that aside, aren't you a photographer, too? I swear I've seen beautiful pictures in your blogs. (you must be “bi”….word & visual! oh, goodness, did I say that?)
Nicole, you don't wear everyone out. We're just all in awe of your prowess. We're amateurs when it comes to Gaia friends and we look towards you for guidance and clarity….
Hey, Jenny, I love when you drop by and offer your insights. You know, when Susie Q and my friends started clicking so quickly, those were special moments. You're so right; we probably would have connected in an off-line world as well. Also, I like your distinction concerning learning more about the whole person, rather than just the part(s) that think and write and post pictures. There's so much more of us. And it was a little bit disconcerting for me to take in the physical material aspect of Susie Q the first day. My mind kept a slight background hum, “but is this the same person in physicality….as the other person we know on Gaia….?” But it was all integrated rather quickly.
Emma, so glad you enjoyed this! It was fun to write, too. :)
Mary (amry?) yes, Ben is Marmalade. He's a sweetheart. Glad you like the new jealousy definition! And hope your sonogram and dental cleaning goes really well……
Lars, are you another one of the not-friend-droppers? Shall we start a club? But, no, maybe we shouldn't. You know the part about God laughing when we make plans? Next thing you know I'll be dropping friends left & right and then having to eat crow. I once imagined dropping ALL of my friends, like a yearly housecleaning, and then waiting to see who comes back. Or would everyone be so insulted that I'd have only three friends and then have to start courting everyone back, “please come back, please come back, i didn't mean it, it was a moment of utter stupidity!”
I only know a couple of you who commented on this blog…but I loved it just the same Centria! I found it on the opening page in hot blogs…and decided to stop by. Sounds like a lovely, fun group of folk here…yes Im from the MW so we say folks! :-)
Loved you line Marmalade about being beguiled by photos…when you are word people…
Thanks for the smile all…this is a beautiful community and I see this group is not the exception to that! hugs all around!
So much for the people who question whether Gaian friends are “real!” After reading this blog, I have not doubt that Susie Q is “real,” or that you're “real.” Yes!!!!! The friends we make on Gaia are real–just as real as our offline friends!
Yes, I'm bi (word/visual)–and proud to admit it! :)
WOW..feeling the love here and noting this is the third time this month, people have blogged about meetings, (at least in my world) While Kathy and Susie were meeting, I was meeting Zoey and of course, we all know Nicole is busy meeting lots of folks! It seems to be a true summer of sharing!
What a lovely blog Kathy and it shows we should not limit ourselves to those who see the world exactly the same way we do, but let it be open to other ways of seeing it, (like visually…) and there are no accidents…we are all here as we decided to be before incarnating…and we are all having a damn ball reuniting!
love to all
A
Hi Julia! I always get excited when “new” folks drop by to comment. As you commented, this is such a beautiful community…..and there's so many people and circles of friends that we may have never even run across. Just think of all the circles! Most of us only have a limited circle of friends (even the bigger circles are usually in the hundreds) but there's thousands of people here on Gaia. Now how many potential great friends are there? Wow, it's mind-blowing. Thanks for stopping by Julia, and opening us to your beautiful spirit…
Yes, Lenore, reality of these Gaian friends are no longer in question. Well, it was never really in question for me….just for my friend….whom I will probably see today & relate some of these good times with Sue. Another interesting aside: while I liked the physical/material aspect of our meeting, I can't say it was more superior or less superior to the on-line aspect. Just different.
Lisa: You go, girl!
Aley: Yes, there's been a few meetings recently, and they're so cool to read about. John (Satya Seer) is meeting up with Carla and someone else, as well. So many different meet-ups. I was just as excited to hear about you & Zoey connecting in person….
I am also suspicious about things like resonance engines, just for this reason. A resonance engine can pick possible friendships on similar criteria, but some of the deepest friendships are formed because of differences, ways people complement one another. I suppose there has to be a balance of ways we're similar and different…..some common ways of viewing the world….and some different ways. Even though I chose to highlight the ways Sue and I were different (visual vs. word) there are of course huge ways that we're similar.
Love you all!
Yes, John met with Carla and Stacy. Stacy told me it was simply wonderful…
I don't pay any attention to the resonance engine either. True resonance runs on pure Love and needs no engine. Someone wrote a beautiful letter to me some months ago and part of what he said was that like dolphins send out sonar, we emit our unique call through the ether and connect with … our “kindred spirits”, as Anne of Green Gables calls them.
I may never talk to him again. But I will never forget the sweetness of that heart connection.
Oh I'm glad that John, Carla and Stacy were able to meet up and enjoy a wonderful deepened connection….
Love that quote about the dolphins sending out sonar……and connecting with our kindred spirits. Yes, the sweetness of heart connections (tearing up a little now…….)
What a wonderful blog and I loved the comments too! This is a great way to end a beautiful weekend. I appreciate all of you.
Hi…….I'm home!
What a great week of wonder and beauty with all my friends……old and new and very very real! Thanks for the beautiful words and great time!! I'll be posting my version of our visit tomorrow. Lots of Love, ~*~
Why wait any longer? Answer: I needed time to process my feelings about two sweet r-e-a-l friends meeting up. I feel fairly alone here in the desert and would love to connect as beautifully, tenderly, and spiritually as you both have. Perhaps I made this choice to live apart from family for a reason. A possible reason: So that I can savor the sweet connection I seek out in my inevitable loving relationship.
((((Kathy)))) you feel so deeply about things… I do too, and love that in others…
Helen, I always love it when you “stop by”. Glad you enjoyed this.
And….the guest of honor is here!….glad you had such a wonderful week visiting the U.P. Will look forward to seeing your pics, and words, as well! Rest up, and then share all about your vacation.
Oh, Paul (heart melting) I feel what you're saying so deeply. It's so funny; recently someone mentioned about how challenging it was to live in the woods….and how they thought they needed to live in the desert….. But I truly honor the depth of your feelings, and know you'll find that sweet connection I seek out in my inevitable loving relationship.
Nicole, yes…..I do feel things SO deeply. And for many years that was equally a challenge and a gift. In recent years it's been more like….feeling deeply this moment, feeling deeply next moment, feeling deeply next moment….and not really holding on to any of the moments, just letting them flow like water.
Kathy!
I loved this blog, and I hung on every word of it. It makes my heart so happy to hear that both of you had a wonderful visit. I am also a little bit jealous… and yes, I'm smiling as I type this. Looking forward to more stories of future Gaian get-togethers!
Hugs!
-Susan
Yes, let's keep taking all these “reunion” stories and making new memories happen! I am still hoping K might move to NYC and we can have a grand meeting with all you guys….. But, even if she doesn't move, I still might hop a plane and land amidst you. Can we tour the city? :)