tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post2852296767077861933..comments2020-04-13T04:15:27.829-04:00Comments on The View from Thunder Ridge: My Friends in their little electronic boxesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11137413128188261428noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-90333861688185831782013-12-13T17:58:33.252-05:002013-12-13T17:58:33.252-05:00This post really touched me. I don't have any...This post really touched me. I don't have any friends. In my middle life, I'd never have expected this turn of events and it surprises me quite often. I've gone down the road of considering online people my friends, and in a sense, they are. But I grew weary of sitting in a chair - I want people to go to the grocery, I'd like to know that I have someone to call if I run out of gas. But, I've no idea how to accomplish that. I have just moved to a different state though and I can sense, feel, see, imagine friendships on the horizon. I think the community around one makes a huge difference and NM is warm and friendly while my previous home state was (to me) cold and intolerant. I didn't mean to get so personal, but I did want you to know that I understood your feeling of isolation and I think we're not alone in this. I wish I knew how to change it.Librarian Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899555415894018916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-69015862876415178852013-05-16T22:31:00.392-04:002013-05-16T22:31:00.392-04:00Many of my friends in Second Life are disabled and...Many of my friends in Second Life are disabled and homebound. I love the way hanging out with friends in SL *feels* like doing so in real life. Going dancing virtually, swimming, shopping for pretties, working out. Hanging out with them helps ME (no car, no bus after 6pm). I spent a lot of years living a lifestyle that involved going to work, home, and church, with occasional shopping trips to stockpile things until I get another chance. This year is the first year in 10 that I've been getting out a couple times a month. If your wife would be interested in SL, I'd be happy to show her around a bit! Also, check out http://www.virtualability.orgPerplexity Peccablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07907490858636982647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-40664833566788009342013-05-13T00:35:23.721-04:002013-05-13T00:35:23.721-04:00Thank you, Robyn. Your feedback matches with the c...Thank you, Robyn. Your feedback matches with the comments I got on FaceBook. This seems to be the new normal. Simply knowing I'm not alone in this does a lot to alleviate the loneliness I was feeling.<br /><br />Out of curiosity, how did you come across my blog?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11137413128188261428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-47132284415949699602013-05-13T00:28:18.161-04:002013-05-13T00:28:18.161-04:00Thank you, Carolyn. I got lots of feedback from FB...Thank you, Carolyn. I got lots of feedback from FB friends that showed me I'm not alone in this. Seems lots of folks have more online friends and less real life friends today. It's nice to know that these social media connections mean 30 years later I can still be in touch with fraternity brothers even though I'm a 3 hour drive away.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11137413128188261428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-12021731160015854182013-05-13T00:09:46.335-04:002013-05-13T00:09:46.335-04:00i have never met you, never heard of you or this b...i have never met you, never heard of you or this blog until today. i commend and admire your courage. you are not alone. there are millions of "us," people who for one reason or another, haven't managed to make those "connections" that seem so natural to others. but where i enjoy my "solitude" and have a small family (spouse and 3 children), others wish for more. i suspect that the isolation also has a lot to do with your wife's health and the guilt one can feel in "living" while their spouse can not (on the same level). i would suggest a local community group that meets on a regular basis. take your pick - it can be social, vocational, religious, health, whatever. give yourself a break. baby steps. yes, it will be weird. and if you don't like it, don't do it again. find a different group. but try. and know that i and others who read your blog (of which i now am a fan) are here for you. and should we meet, we shall chat and drink and be merry. robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430764308139527204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-59438751926524792672013-05-11T12:45:32.880-04:002013-05-11T12:45:32.880-04:00You are not alone in this situation. I have no wor...You are not alone in this situation. I have no words of wisdom, but I thank you for sharing this. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666544072331412238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-11191626002025028592013-05-10T10:52:06.082-04:002013-05-10T10:52:06.082-04:00Thank you. Thank you. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11137413128188261428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-60452447458014812392013-05-10T10:51:22.048-04:002013-05-10T10:51:22.048-04:00Thomas Maluck pointed out a very similar post by R...Thomas Maluck pointed out a very similar post by Roger Ebert: http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/all-the-lonely-people Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11137413128188261428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716041983946997567.post-79434342164205037662013-05-10T10:22:43.296-04:002013-05-10T10:22:43.296-04:00I need you to know that I'm one of the people ...I need you to know that I'm one of the people you can call on. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com