I try to live my life as a series of firsts, so I don’t get stuck in a rut. With that being said, I was thrilled to cross another first off my list last week when I met an online friend in real life for the first time. Actually, make that two online friends that are both Sweet Lemon Magazine team members! (Yes, you’re allowed to be jealous.) Fellow Zesty Digest blogger contacted me about a month ago to let me know she’d be visiting New York for a few days and wanted to meet for dinner. I quickly suggested that we loop in Editor in Chief , who moved here a few months ago. Sadly, our other city blogger, , couldn’t make it that night. We took a rain check.
I was coming up with a list of restaurant suggestions, when it occurred to me that I’d never met an online friend in real life before. This made me both nervous and excited at the same time. What if the girls were very different in person than they presented themselves online? What if they thought I was incredibly awkward? What if they didn’t like my restaurant choice? All of these hesitations quickly melted away when I met Abby and Carly at The Smith in the East Village for a late dinner. We greeted each other with hugs. They were exactly as I imagined them to be. In fact, Carly made the point during dinner that it bothers her when people are very different online than off. I don’t think they thought I was awkward, and we loved the restaurant. The three of us enjoyed our food as we talked for hours about everything from weddings to complications of city life. The hours of talking led to ordering ice cream sundaes for dessert. Finally, we ended the night by cramming into a tiny photo booth for pictures filled with silly faces. Meeting online friends in real life is not something to be nervous about when you’re meeting girls that you would have easily called your friends no matter where you met them.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the SLM team. Everyone is so creative and supportive. While I’m really looking forward to meeting in New York at the end of the month, I think the team is secretly hoping we can plan a 2013 get together for everyone. Perhaps you have a crazy recap post from that experience to look forward to.
By
College Prepster
I LOVE THIS!!!! I had so much fun