A Circle of Quiet: Cyber-space meets real-life

Every now and then the opportunity arises to meet someone that I have become acquainted with in the internet world. The forums at The Well-Trained Mind were my first venture into cyber-space, and I have made several in-real-life friends through participating there. Last summer a group of us from the boards met on the beach in Oregon for an afternoon of non-stop talking and munching. There were no unpleasant surprises, only pleasure in finally putting faces to names I had read for a few years. The hostess for our gathering was MomBob at WPMs, and we really clicked. It was quite clear that we could spend days and days talking about topics of interest to both of us. That, or just laugh together; that is always a fine option. Well, just this week-end we have had the chance. The whole WPMs family came south to do some Gold Rush history study, and we were able to enjoy blocks of time together over three days.

A trip to Coloma State Park, site of gold discovery along the American River, was our first stop. My husband was the docent for that leg of the trip, and I rested up at home before meeting everyone mid-day. It could not have been better weather - the sky was clear blue, the weather cool enough for a cotton sweater, and the wildflowers were blooming along the river. That night DadBob brought marguerita makings and his own magical recipe -- we appreciated his generosity and fun-loving spirit. Over pizza and "grown-up lemonade", we heard funny stories of childhood in Maine, talked everything from Boy Scouts and mosquitoes, to church-life and home education. The value of geometry in math education, the identity of countless birds in our native area, history, science - what doesn't DadBob know? We learned tons and enjoyed it all.

We celebrated Mother's Day with brunch, more talking, and the joy of seeing our children play and relax together. It was nice to not have to rush, to have time to share favorite stories, and to knit the link of friendship a little longer.

The weather turned on us today, and we found ourselves huddled under canvas overhangs in the middle of Sutter's Fort in Sacramento, waiting for the torrential downpour and hail to end. The rain filled the puddles for splashing, and gave us more time to laugh together. The children, done with the "educational" component of the tour, found little chips of wood and had "boat" races in the rushing little streams next to the walkways.

The WPMs family is kind, generous, bright, witty and deep-thinking. If it is up to all of us, we will meet again (and again.) We exchanged book ideas, magazine articles, new topics of interest. Maybe when our paths cross on vacation in Oregon again this summer we will have the pleasure of starting where we left off -- deepening a friendship that has become precious to me.

Thanks for the visit, friends. And thanks for your generous gifts. (Hostess thank-yous included not only marguerita makings, but Jane Austen as well. How did she know? *smile*)