Reconnecting with lost friends and Lurking

The word "Lurking" has such a bad connotation. But I see that word all the time on other people's blogs such as:
PLEASE MAKE A COMMENT, DON'T BE A LURKER

It is used in the context of someone hanging around, but not making their presence known. To exist unobserved or unsuspected. To me that sounds so evil. Don't get me wrong, I don't consider someone who doesn't comment as evil or a lurker.

I don't always comment on other's blogs. Sometimes when I read someone else's post, I don't really have much to say and just close the window and move on. I understand that very clearly.

But today I got a comment from D3's BEST FRIEND from High School. They played Water Polo together and when they weren't doing that, they were hanging out at each other's homes. They were so attached at the hip that if one wasn't there, we would ask WHERE IS SHE?
I had no idea she even had a blog! I looked on her blog, and lo-and-behold she had us listed on her blog roll!

I was so excited to reconnect with her and see she has a blog. When your children graduate and leave home, their friends leave as well. While exploring, I found several other friends of my kids in links. I had such a wonderful time reading everyone's blogs, that I forgot to comment and became a lurker myself, I guess.

Several times this last week during the course of a conversation I would be surprised to hear a friend say how they read my blog all the time. These were people I didn't realize even had my blog address. It is amazing to me, because I hardly ever get many comments on my blog, and just assume no one ever reads it except my sweet Friend, Sailor, my kids (who sometimes don't make a comment), or my my online friend Lori. My SIL2 remarked once that he checks his blog several times a day to see if anyone has made a comment. I feel the same way.

I loved that my daughter's friend made a comment! Thanks Sarah! You guys just vanished off the face of the earth after your mom moved away. I am glad you are back in my life, even if it is through cyberspace.

I saw on someone's blog a place for a guest book. I just now made up a way to sign the guest book. Just click on the box marked Guest Book. It will link you to a post that I created called Guest Book. I LOVE comments and reconnecting with friends. Thanks to you who DO make comments, and thanks for stopping by. Let me know next time you are in the cyber-neighborhood. I would LOVE to know who visits so I know my audience and can write with them in mind.

~a