Living in a Virtual World 'Cause I am a Virtual Girl

The internet has been one of history's most life-changing technologies, right up there with the invention of the telephone, radio, and television. E-mail, instant messaging, and Skype have changed the way we communicate with each other. The web has opened an unrivaled pathway to information, transforming the way students complete research projects. Of course, with the good comes the bad. Newspaper readership is at an all-low and many daily newspapers have folded or at the very least, have become a sparse collection of AP wire stories. People talk about the demise of the bookstore in favor of Kindle and other downloading technologies. While I quickly adapt to the changes, I am a strong proponent of the written word. I grew up browsing our World Book Encyclopedia and its annual updates. Many times, I would get lost in the library after school; my mother would contemplate filing a missing person's report. Alas, this was an era before cell phones and texting. I was the first to applaud the addition of Starbuck's to Barnes & Noble. A latte or even a drip while browsing the stacks of books? I think I do believe in heaven!

The internet has created a fourth virtual dimension. Initially, sites such as Classmates.com presented an online class reunion. We could Google and Zabasearch our way to find old boyfriends, girlfriends, classmates, roommates, and work colleagues. Of course, the reverse was also possible. We could no longer hide from the folks we may have decided to drop like a hot potato.

The advent of social networking sites such as Facebook has created a virtual community where we can reminisce with hometown chums, share ideas and conversation with a wide group of "friends." We no longer need to wait for annual holiday cards to post photos of our kids. We can even browse our elementary school class pictures or college era photos others may have posted. We find new friendships among people we may not have seen in 25 plus years.

Yet, the reunion aspect and comment-sharing applications of Facebook are just the tip of the iceberg. At a late night birthday dinner with a new friend, we discussed social networking. My friend profoundly noted when we reconnect with those from our past, we are looking for pieces of ourselves.

An intricate highway of experiences have led us to this stage of our lives. We would not be who we are today without the sum total of our past relationships. In order to move forward on life's journey, we need to stop at traffic lights along the way. As we come to an intersection, we must often make difficult choices. Reflecting on our youth, we may lament a time when the road was entirely ahead of us. We may become nostalgic for simpler times. Reminiscing with our childhood and high school friends provides comfort food for our souls. Our journeys may be far from complete. We will continue to come to forks in the road which will determine our futures. As the map unfolds, we write our own stories. Along the way, we may be surprised with relationships rekindled from earlier days. Finding a precious friend among those whose paths we may have crossed in the past is most extraordinary. People come in and out of our lives for a reason. We guide each other through difficult times and laugh through the good times. We nurture and inspire each other.

A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” (William Shakespeare.)