Blogging is Fun!

I’m leaving work feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. The internet is a truly amazing thing.

FIRST — imagine life without it? I can’t. I keep connected through e-mail. I find jobs, apartments, and goods online. Not to mention information on countless things. An online banking — whew! — with BofA, it’s honestly fun. I met Tony because we both were seeking jobs on an English-speaking website in the south of France. I found Tequila through the same site... and I can’t imagine life without her.

The internet has also been an intriguing way to share and network, to meet new people just by telling a little bit about yourself. I even met my friend Lee with help from “Web 2.0”... and he just started off as a pen pal with similar interests. Years later, I’m really happy to know him.

But don’t get me wrong... blogs have gotten me into trouble before. It was a very Harriot the Spy-kind of moment. (Notice how I still haven’t learned though?)

Anyways — today, the internet/my blog connected another circle. I started this by saying I was warm & fuzzy: I’m warm & fuzzy because today life is a little bit more interesting — not only for me, but for my grandparents, father, uncle and aunt... and for their long lost neighbor from some small Texan town.

It started with an innocent comment:

"Hello from Texas, Is this the same Michel Family that lived in Baytown, Texas in the 1950's and early 60's? This is John."

I know my aunt was born in Texas, and I recall Grandma’s story about killing poisonous snakes on the side of the road with a shovel or something. So I asked the family.

Pretty soon, I was overwhelmed with memories — not mine, but theirs. They had detailed recollections of their sweet neighbors... the parents and the children, the goodbye presents, many childhood games, and — by the sounds of it — lots of good times. They talked about how the family was "truly Texan." With eager enthusiasm, they requested John’s e-mail.

I distributed it appropriately, and confirmed John’s suspicion directly. "I’m the daugher of Richard, who was the younger of the two boys."

He capped off the afternoon of e-mail conversations with such a sweet note:

"Hi, Catherine,

This is wonderful. We all remember all of the Michels so very fondly and have many photos and memories. I remember the moment they drove away for their new lives outside Texas. We all had some sort of small present for each of the younger Michels - I gave one to your Dad.

Ask your Dad about the Bay. And cats. The Wahrmunds. Baseball with your Grandad. Good fun.

Isn't the Internet neat?"

Yes, John — it certainly is!