You've Got a Friend

The alternate title of this blog was "I WIN!!! I WIN!!! I WIN!!!" but I decided that wasn't really dignified, so I changed it. I was lucky to receive this lovely friend award from Lori, whose blog is saved in my favorites as Owed to Joy, but the current blog title is Owed to Something More Than My Constant Whining. I'm delighted, I'm honored, I am not worthy.

I love what this blog stands for: "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers."

Isn't that wonderful? I appreciate it especially because I love reading Lori's blog - she is funny and real. Along with me, the award also went to some of my favorite bloggers - heck, some of my favorite PEOPLE: Hallie from Wonderful World of Wieners, Kim-D from Lifeafter and Kimmy from Tales of a Blender Kimmy. What exquisite company I find myself in today!

I have been offered a couple of other awards previously, but I didn't really do anything with them. I was still feeling so...NEW, I guess? People have been blogging forever, and seem to have a really good grasp on how it all works. I'm still learning, and I know I have a long way to go. Yet, when I read what this award was about, I had to accept it. Finding friends through a blog is something I was very skeptical about initially, but I was totally wrong, and happy to admit it.

I've connected with people as demographically and geographically diverse as you could possible imagine through the blogosphere. People in other countries, other climates. other cultures. Only a very few very special people in my real flesh-and-blood life read my blog. I'm not hiding it, but I don't advertise it, either. This is a place where I am sometimes very vulnerable, and I'm not in a hurry for everyone to know all my secrets. The beauty of the friends I've made through the blog is that whole 'unconditional acceptance' thing. It's very comforting.

I love how, in the Blogosphere, somebody else always agrees with you - or at least understands why you feel that way. You might think you are the last pathetic human being on the planet who eats red meat, or watches the Bachelor, or is terrified of rodents, or wants to throttle their loving children. But you're not. You're not alone out here. I think that's why blogs and Facebook and other such places are so popular. Nobody really wants to be alone in this increasingly isolated world we live in. Here is where we can share our hopes and fears and embarassing moments.

I've seen people rally around someone in need, do amazingly thoughtful things for one another and put a powerful prayer chain into motion when necessary. It's nice here.I like it.

I'm supposed to award this to eight other bloggers, but how can I? I love you all, for different reasons! I'm going to try to figure out how to put one of those 'my favorite blogs' things up on my sidebar. When I do, check any of them out and you won't be disappointed. Or just read my commenters. They are often much smarter and funnier than I am - just imagine how great their blogs are!

Thanks, Lori. You made my day.