No, this isn’t about the Microsoft Kin, may it rest in peace.
It’s about human beings and our need to be connected. I’m going to ramble a bit, but bear with me, please.
I was on a motorcycle ride with my husband and a few others, some of whom are life-long friends. We are connected by years full of trials and triumphs and we’ll treasure these connections forever. In case you didn’t know, motorcyclists have a signal. A secret handshake, so to speak. When you pass on the open road, going opposite directions on your journey, you extend your left hands – not quite a wave – in a low, discreet gesture that acknowledges another member of your tribe. You don’t know each other but you’re connected. To each other. To the road. To the environment you’re experiencing. You know something, you have something that people in cars never will. The connection is fleeting but it’s consistent and it’s satisfying. (By the way, Harley guys don’t usually give the signal to the sport-bike guys – maybe they have their own. That’s okay I guess.)
After the first few exchanges had reminded me how much I look forward to this connection, I started noticing other things along the road:
Cows. Don’t even know what kind they were, but they made me think of @raylindairy and his work to educate people about farmers’ and ranchers’ concern for animals and land.
Corn fields reminded me about @kmrivard who taught me the phrase “knee high by the fourth of July.” She in turn reminds me of all the other #agvocates. (@raylindairy is one of those, too.) Way to go, people.
Hay bales brought to mind @JeffFowle and the sacrifices he and his family (and countless others) make to provide food for us. “Thank you” feels too small.
A decaying house reminded me of this, which told me the house is about 125 years old. Cool. Thanks to Abraham I made a connection to the history of the foothills.
All those old buildings and the Gold-Rush-era landscape connected me to my past, as do the friends I’ve known forever. Technology is helping forge connections for the future. Those connections may be different. They may never be understood by folks who aren’t in the social media space. But they are no less real. And they have just as much potential to improve people’s lives in a big way.
I’m privileged to know so many of you (online and off) and I’m looking forward to the possibilities.
I connected cows to corn to hay bales to ruins to people. Have you made any unlikely online connections lately?
Great post on connections. I like your style. Ironic the mutal connection we made tonight over a tweet on a car that gets 444 miles to the gallon. Keep up the great posts.
Thanks! I think the degree-of-separation issue needs some study – and a future post!
Tonja, this is fabulous. I’m honored to have been thought of, being the little ol’ corn-loving college kid from Illinois. It’s really heart-warming to know that you recalled me and Midwestern Gold.
It truly is wonderful to step back and see how interwoven we all are, as people and as members of this world.
Thanks for the great post, and for including me with talent like Jeff and Ray.
(And for the record, most of my online connections are a string of fortunate accidents. I’ve been very blessed with the people who have come to be a part of my online community.)