Spring

I met Blythe September 23, 1996. It was my first day on the job at Evangelicals for Social Action. Blythe was fairly new as well. We hit it off, her and I, and were like two different peas in a pod for quite some time. We emailed constantly at work (this is when it started, folks. If you wonder why I am addicted to email, I think it began here, with my first email address and Blythe). We got so tired of creating new subject lines for our emails that we started going through the alphabet. Subject: M

Blythe was there when I was sorting out my new world view. She helped shaped me. She challenged me, encouraged me and loved me even though I am ...well, even though I am me. She introduced me to Sun-Dried Tomatoes and now I love them. Of course, now I am also allergic to them.

Blythe married Peter (they met on an airplane!) and I moved to Michigan. We've been in and out of touch over the years with random emails. Blythe lived in Portland, the Netherlands and Taiwan. Last Spring they moved back to Portland.

Thanks to Facebook Blythe and I have REALLY been able to re-connect through long chats late at night. Last fall we decided that I should go to Portland to visit her. And so I am, in less than 2 weeks.

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I've been talking on the phone and exchanging emails with Penny for two years now. We've never met. She is my editor over at Burnside Writers Collective. It is because of her that I gave up clothes for a year. She is the one who invited me to write in the first place. And it's because of her that I am still involved in this Story. Penny lives in Seattle.

Last fall I emailed Penny and told her that I am going to Portland in the Spring and I would so very much love to meet her. Over the months more emails have been exchanged. Penny is traveling down to Portland to meet me, face to face. I cannot wait. I really cannot wait.

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Susan and I are both in the BWC Writers Group. I stayed up quite late several nights in August while Susan and I chatted away on Facebook. She lives in LA. She's the one that wrote that book that I keep telling you about. We email and we skype and we talk on the phone. Susan makes me laugh a lot.

Last Fall I emailed Susan and told her about my trip out West. I told her I would love to meet her, you know, in case she could work it out and go to Portland while I am there.

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I am going to Portland from April 2-April 9. I am staying with Blythe the entire week. We are going out for coffee and on long walks. She is going to tell me about Raw Food. We will talk about old times, faith, politics, travel and food. She has 3 children now and I cannot wait to meet them. I want to go on long walks with all of them. I hope her oldest will show me how fast he can ride his bike. I so love it when little boys show me how fast they can run and ride bikes.

It's interesting how the trip came together. To be fair, I told Blythe that I would like to meet with other people while I am on vacation, but may I please stay at your house the entire time anyway? "OF COURSE, diane. Of course, I think it's wonderful that you will get to meet so many people." And a few weeks ago I got an email from Susan. She's speaking at Imago Dei on the 3rd and I will get to be there! Blythe is coming with me. And Penny will be there too...and hopefully others that I have only exchanged emails with. I look forward to meeting the personalities behind these people. I want to hear their tone of voice and listen to their nuances. The following night, April 4th, about a dozen of us (near as I can tell) are going out for dinner. I am nearly beside myself with JOY at the thought of it.

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