Admittedly, I have been spending an inordinate amount of time on my laptop.  Between writing for my blog and trying to formulate meaningful sentences for my novel, I have been consumed by the glow emanating from my screen and watching the sentences come together as my fingers feverishly type the words spilling from my brain.  I have also been sucked into the vortex that is called Twitter and I have been sharpening my skills in the #Hashtag games as well as feeling like I am watching a tennis match with all the comments flying back and forth.  It’s good exercise for the brain, but it’s exhausting trying to keep up!

I have met many new friends through this vast blogosphere.  I admire all of you for your talent and humor and I do consider you friends even though we are separated by geographic boundaries.  I value your comments and love getting to know you through your words.  But today I took time from my world wide web and ventured into a light that is not created by my laptop.  Today I shut down the computer and did something I really have not done in a while.  I went out.  I socialized with my three-dimensional friends.  They sat a mere few feet away from me and we had a great time.  Wine was poured, the cheese and crackers were arranged on a platter and the stories and laughter ensued.  Thank you Lyn and Shades for a very amusing afternoon.  I will never think of the Downward Dog the same way again. (Don’t ask!)

I am amazed at how quickly writing has become a staple in my life.  When I leave my job at the end of a work day, I long to get home and fuel the fire of creativity.  I have been so absorbed with words and phrases that I have been ignoring the flesh and blood of the friends and family that surround me on a daily basis.  Today was a reminder that the relationships I have with these people are as important, in fact more so than my relationship with words.  Although sentences and paragraphs can be created to describe the kinship, nothing can replace the moments spent in the company of good friends and family and the memories created within those moments.  Words will only last as long as people will read them, memories last forever.

Life is waiting to be lived and the words may have to wait.  If I ignore my laptop for a few brief hours, it will always be in the same place I abandoned it and we will just pick up where we left off – no hard feelings.  If I ignore my friends and family, they may not be as forgiving.