Tuesday, July 10, 2007

This one's for you

One hot summer afternoon when I was 15, I answered a phone call. It was a wrong number, but intended for someone I knew. That got me talking to the caller for a little longer and we ended up having a wonderful conversation.

It was the start of an intense friendship. He would call every day and we would talk for hours. He was smart and really, really funny. We talked about absolutely everything. I thought nothing of asking him things that I would be embarrassed to ask my real life friends. We shared secrets and confided in one another. We engaged in animated debates and freewheeling discussions on topics that ranged from profound to utterly banal.

And of course, it didn't hurt that his voice was deep and friendly, and that he possessed a delicious laugh that warmed my heart.

We talked every day for about 5 months. And then he went abroad, and I didn't hear from him again. We never met.

Knowing him was like having an imaginary best friend, only for real. And my life was certainly richer for having known him.

Now 13 years later, in a city where I have no real life friends, where life is sometimes terribly lonely, I find myself surrounded by real imaginary friends. A welcoming circle of friends I have never met, yet know so well.

The warm voices, the teasing laughter, the consoling pat are all imagined. But the friendship, the empathy, the concern - that's for real, I know.

For that, to all my real, imaginary blogging friends, I say thank you.

24 comments:

Sue said...

What you've written, it's not so different really.

Oh and blogbuddies and imaginary friends are perhaps similar -- V said you all may be syndicates, and who knows but he's right?

the mad momma said...

ok sue has a syndicate theory which i am not going to refute.. let her be happy :P

but we're happy to have you too!

Anusha said...

oh, you brought a tear. you do that just as effectively as you bring laughter. hugs to you. imaginary ones, but truly from the heart.

Mystic Margarita said...

When I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I had an imaginary friend whom I called M---. She still comes talks to me in times of stress. (Hope you don't think I'm a psycho!) But I agree, mommy blogging friends can be a wonderful source of support and empathy.

Sue said...

It's V's theory really. But I liked the idea of a whole syndicate of ghost-writers pounding out MM's posts!

Sukhaloka said...

:). It's a nice feeling all right!

Site manager said...

funny you should write about this, I was just thinking the very same thing last night. When I didn't have internet access I wondered about all of you, wondering what was going on and feeling foolish to admit it out loud.

:)

Terri the terrific said...

When I read the "13 years later ..." part, I thought maybe you met the guy finally, like a rain-drenched Mallika Sherawat did in a certain movie on a wet street in Bangkok.

You murdered my theory in one fell stroke :(

Maggie said...

Sue: Who's to know indeed? On some days, I might even be inclined to agree with V. But you see, that's the beauty of y'all being imagined - I can make you whatever I want you to be! :-)

MM: Your not refuting the syndicate theory makes you suspect! I've often wondered how you do it all, and now it seems the truth has been revealed! :-p

K's Mom: Thank you. I know it's heartfelt.

Mystic: Of course you're not psycho! Heck, you should do a post about M, and then she can join the collective too! :-)

Suki: Yup!

Grail: That's exactly it!

Teri: So sorry to disappoint :) But your theory has promise - I will incorporate it into my further imaginings ;-)

Squiggles Mom said...

I have to agree with Terri... you built up the anticipation really well. I was expecting this really romantic ending (and wondering what R would think about it!). Maybe you can find him online. Do you think we should start a campaign. I'm sure it's possible... but I'm getting carried away :)
I'm in a new city with no friends either so I know what you mean. But do you think the online world is so comforting that it prevents us from making the effort to make friends in real life?

Fuzzylogic said...

Such a sweet post. A welcoming circle is certainly what the blog circle is to me. I have met so many wonderful people through this that it does make me thankful too!

Asha said...

hmm.. getting sentimental? But the post is so true. This mommy blogger circle is such a good thing to have!

Unknown said...

So very true...hugs to you, my dear blog friend...

Swati said...

Toucvhed my heart.I also dont have real frieds in this city. All of you are my only hope ..:)

Gauri said...

Yes - I have oft wondered too, how much I would have missed out on had I not started blogging.
Have "met" so many of you wonderful friends - thru blogging.

This was a very touching post - and yes, true to the core.

Hugs

Gauri

Collection Of Stars said...

:) This is what I feel too.

Just Like That said...

Truly. And I feel I know the little ones on blogosphere better than I know my 'real'friends' kids!

;-) For a few secs I was wondering if the owner of that deep voice ended up Moppet's Dad ...
then in typical Bollywood twists I wondered if after 13 yrs, the deep voice had surfaced in your life again... and you found yourself as attached to him as before... and...?

And then I found that it was all a prelude to this WARM post. I truly do treasure the few imaginary friends I have on blogosphere. A BIG hug to you, Moppet's Mom.

Sunita Venkatachalam said...

Oh what a lovely post. Like the others, I too thought it was leading to your marriage to hubby..

It's a wonderful feeling to read someone's thoughts everyday, to read their comments on your thoughts and to imagine the unknowns.

This blogging thing is mighty addictive

Warm Hugs !

Maggie said...

Squiggles Mom, JLT, Poppins: I wish my life were that romantic - as you will see from my next post, that sort of stuff just doesn't happen to me!

And Squiggles Mom! No campaign to find him please! I have a feeling he's way better in imagination that he would be in real life :-) and I'd rather not find out.

Fuzzy, Asha, Kiran, Swati, Gauri, CoS: It's not a substitute for real-life friends, of course not, but it is a wonderful world that adds to much to real life, don't you think?

Hugs back to all of you wonderful, wonderful ladies!

Pixie said...

Wow! Such a sweet post and you have a lovely daughter! :-)
Very cute...
The comments, the thoughts and the various posts which echo our thoughts all help...
Warm hugs to u :)

Neo Geaser said...

Amazing!

Tharini said...

You touched a chord, I think, that we all feel. Most of my smiles these days are derived from this new circle of warmth online.

anja said...

While Anika was awake I did a quick overview of my digital life and saw your comment on my blog earlier in the day and it made me so happy. Finally many hours later, Thumki was asleep, dh was gently snoring it was time for me to sneak to the blogzone i was thinking to myself I wonder what moppet's ma wrote today? And then I see this suspenseful post, I was so sure it was about your dh too but kya twist in the tail of the tale wah wah! You echoed my thoughts. i know exactly what you mean, i'm in a new city too and have acquaintances but no real friends in my life, I enjoy reading about my blog friends..who seem so familiar eventho i've never even see them...as someone said this stuff is addictive.

noon said...

Lovely post MM. Enjoyed it..