T and Meg, I’m sorry that your names and ‘hand raping’ appear in the same post. I really am. But it couldn’t be helped.

I am often amazed at how the Internet really can be so supportive and wonderful. I know some people feel that People Inside the Computer are just that– not real friends. In fact a very good friend of mine said to me last weekend, about someone I think I’m quite close to and have known for years (we were discussing wedding invitations, and this person’s name came up), “You guys never see each other– like maybe once a year. How can you be friends? Internet stuff isn’t ‘real’”. Meanwhile I consider this ‘not real’ person one of my closest friends, even though we don’t see each other often at all, and most of our relationship has played out over Messenger or through emails. Boy, I’m maybe starting to sound a bit pathetic? I do not know.

I am smart enough not to be like “Everyone I meet on the Internet is my New Best Friend!”, but I have to disagree with the thought that you can’t be friends with people online. There are quite a few people out there, who I’ve ‘met’ online, either through my ‘blarg, or via other avenues, who I consider great friends. Sure, it’s possible that every single one of these people is putting up a false front of niceness and is actually a horrible hand-raping murderer who is only out to embezzle every penny of my vast fortune, but hey, I’m an optimist. Give ‘em the benefit of the doubt, I say! Brioche for everyone!

I also have ‘real’ friends in real life who never use the computer for anything, and we actually do leave the house and do things, so please don’t think I huddle over the Interweb Machine all through the day and night, my pallid skin shining in the glow of the screen, posting to the Joey Fatone Bulletin Board.

Ahem.

So many of you who read this blog are just great people. I feel like almost everyone I’ve ‘met’ through this thing have contributed something to my life. Almost all of the comments I receive have opened my eyes, informed me, made me smile, made me laugh, made me cry (yes, I cry sometimes about blog comments!) and most of all, made me think. That’s the biggest gift. Many, many people contributed squares to my Blanket Statement project– enough squares to make 5 blankets for the homeless and underprivileged.Yes, some of you have sent me gifts in the past (be it the treats that Terry sent for Judd Nelson– which came last week by the way, thank you Terry! He loves them! When he sees us coming with the dandelion ones he freaks out and does a dance!– or birthday gifts or a card or whatever) for which I’m immensely appreciative but in no way do I feel like they’re my due. In fact it surprises the heck out of me when people do stuff like that. Then I freak out and do a dance!

My point is, y’all are awesome. I could go on and on naming everyone and talking about how much you’ve each contributed to my life (in fact I might, sometime, but not today) but I won’t, because probably right about now is when people are starting to stare glassy-eyed and drooling at this post wondering why the heck they even bothered clicking here today.

But! I had to make a couple of mentions. First of all Terry, who is now Judd Nelson’s Patron Saint. Seriously. He loves those things.

Secondly, Meg. Meg is my birthday twin (although she still has the fresh dewy bloom of youth upon her, while I’m swiftly becoming a dried out husk of a woman). She is also an inspired artist. I’ve always admired the sketches and drawings and paintings she’s posted on her site.

So, way back when we got engaged, Rob and I asked her if she would mind doing a small piece of art that we could use in our wedding. I had absolutely no ideas, nothing. She was immensely helpful, and unerringly patient with me (I love to draw… doodle…that kind of thing… but technical terms and well, really drawing just aren’t my forte) and my questions. She sent a scan of her hard work last month. And yesterday, in the mail, came the actual painting itself. It’s just so beautiful, I don’t have the words. It’s already found its home in a frame on our livingroom wall. We’ll also be using it on our wedding programs, and you can check it out here on the other website (that site’s still under construction but feel free to poke around).

So thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone. I hope that I give out 1/10th of the beauty and kindness that you all do.