Virtual Friendships

We live in a very interesting age. It's safe to say that the internet has reached into every aspect of our lives and brought some kind of change, good and bad. If you are reading this post, you have been favorably affected by it, in a way that I find very curious. I'm talking about Virtual friendships.

For about four years I have been regularly visiting a discussion forum on Ebay that is dedicated to a little rescued Westie in Illinois. The majority of folks who visit and post on this board own (or are owned by) dogs and/or cats - in other words, they are all animal lovers. This love of animals has given each member an empathy that cannot be explained in any other way. And though most of us have never met in person, we consider ourselves to be good friends - such good friends that we have even named our Virtual community Tessville, in honor of the little rescue Westie who brought us all together.

The last year has been rather a tough year for Tessville. No sooner had January begun than little Tess went into a health crisis and passed away. Our community was in shock and grieved for weeks. Every post was accompanied by tears and support for not only Tess's owner, but for all of us who felt the terrible loss of a pet. We worked through our grief with words of encouragement, with photos and memory books, and continued sharing of our lives with each other. Soon, the sadness began to fade and life moved on with births, weddings, and vacations to share with the community.

Then, sadness made another appearance in the life of one of our regular members whose Scottie became ill and quickly passed away. This was too much, too soon. Once again our little band of virtual friends banded together to support one another and move through another period of grief. Human illnesses and disappointments seem almost secondary to the canine dramas that entered our "town."

At the end of summer, I received news of Treasure's cancer and dire prognosis and I went directly to my community of virtual friends for support and encouragement. I remember the words of Tess's "mom" after Tess died when she said this community had given her more sympathy and love than even her own family. And we all understood, because we all share the same love for our pets. And that is what has held us together.

The year had not ended before one of our members received the worst news a parent can get, the death of a child. Not a doggie, nor a cat. This time it was a deep, stabbing pain. Once again our community came together, blending hearts and souls in support for our virtual friend - a friend many of us have never met face to face, but one we hold dear. This one will take more time to heal. Words and photos will not make the pain go away. But we will be waiting in our virtual community, ready to embrace our friend when she's ready to come back.

It is indeed a curious world we live in.