The world is a funny place, the Internet doubly so.  About 15 months ago I was browsing around iTunes looking for some short-form video content to put on my 5th gen iPod (iPod with Video).  When I got the iPod, video was the feature that sold it to me.  I wanted to be able to watch shows like “Lost” and “Battlestar Galactica” away from home.  It never occurred to me that ultimately my discovery of video podcasts would be a much bigger benefit, and one that would go far beyond occasional entertainment. As I perused the offerings, I came across what seemed to be a tech-related show called GeekBrief.TV.  It sounded fun, and technology has always been an interest of mine, so I downloaded an episode to give it a look.  When I watched that first show (first for me, #141 by actual numbering), I encountered a friendly, instantly likable young woman named Cali Lewis (Luria Petrucci to the analog world). It seems a surreal way to meet someone who would go on to become one of my best friends, but such is our world. I knew almost immediately that I had to write to Cali and tell her what I thought of her podcast.  I waited until I had seen a week’s worth of new shows, then I wrote to tell her she had a new viewer and how happy I was to have found the show.  That first note began a string of communications that just keeps on going.  Around January, Cali’s husband, Neal Campbell, began to be active on Twitter.  Soon he and I were swapping emails regularly as well.

Last weekend I took the opportunity of the iPhone 3G release, to fly down to Dallas (I live in Seattle) and share the fun with them on a long weekend.  It was a wonderful experience.  In addition to the adventures associated with line-standing for the iPhone, we watched videos, played Wii, had genuine Texas barbecue, and talked long into the night.  Just the kinds of things friends do.  By the time I had to leave on Sunday, we were all sorry to have to say goodbye, but we know before too long we’ll have the opportunity to get together again.

Cali and Neal will probably never live in the same town as I do, so various electronic aids to conversation will always be a very important part of our friendship. Whether it’s email, chat, or the miracle that is  long distance cell calls, the technological world that caused me to meet them will always allow us to keep in close contact.  As private video communication gets better and more reliable, the distance will seem even less significant.

We’ve all heard people dismiss the notion of Internet friendships being real friendships.  Certainly some are closer than others and some are really just slight acquaintances.  But it’s a mistake to think that a friendship that begins online is of lesser quality than one in the “real world”, or that they can’t move into that real world if issues of distance can be solved.  Even if the friends can never meet in person, an online friendship can be incredibly close and rewarding.  I’m just grateful that Cali, Neal, and I have been able to move our digital friendship into the analog world.

Tags: Friends //