If you've been reading, I've been discussing meeting various triad members on the internet. Today I will share a fond memory of meeting one of my favorite adoptive Mom bloggers and friends in person. Who am I speaking of? Everyone's favorite: AfrindieMum! WOO! Yes, I've met her and I am thus cooler than you are. Unless you've met her, too, and then we're equally cool.

I got an email one day from Miss Susie, stating that she would be in and around my area. She asked if I wanted to meet up. We had been talking back and forth via blogs for awhile; I liked her style of parenting and her style in life. I also had free time on my hands. And! I wanted to show off my beautiful Son! So we decided to meet at Starbucks. Mmm, coffee.

Time has passed and I don't remember what any of us were wearing though I usually pride myself on my photographic memory. (For example, I know what I was wearing on the first day of kindergarten.) All I know is that, throughout the meeting and delightful conversation, I found a connection to the woman across the table.

It's hard to take a friendship from the screen to real life. For example, I didn't know what Susie sounded like until we made phone contact about what time to meet. What if she would have sounded like the teacher from Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Bueller? Bueller? I think even if she would have been monotone, I would have loved her. Why?

The passion in her voice for her daughter, for adoption and for life in general was contagious. There are certain Mothers I bond to with more ease due to our views on certain topics. We meshed instantly. I could hear the love in her voice for her daughter which translated into a love for her daughter's birthparents, though they, at this time, have no contact. She wishes that they did and you could see that longing in her eyes. When I was discussing certain things about my relationship with D and the Munchkin, she got a wistful look. Even now, she bounces things off of me in regards to certain birthparent issues. I also turn to her a lot for some parenting advice. She's good people.

Though I must admit, and I didn't say this before, watching her beautiful little Z run around Starbucks made my heart ache. Z and the Munchkin are similar in a lot of ways. They look differently but present a similar bone structure. They are both full of life. They both love to laugh. Part of me wanted to snuggle Z up into my lap and tell her how truly blessed she was... but you don't do that with strangers' kids, even if you are friends from the internet. She didn't know me from Eve! Kids can bite, ya know!

We talked about adoption; my story, her story, reform in general. We talked about the not-so-nice people that exist in the adoption world. We dissed on the agency through which I placed for a bit. We talked about parenting. Nicholas was quite young and just stared at Susie for most of the conversation, watching Z at other times. We talked about life in general. We talked. We laughed.

Often times, I hear people asking what birthparents and adoptive parents could possibly have in common. Susie and I bonded on so many different levels that I can't help wonder why people continue to want to place birth and adoptive parents on opposite sides of the boxing ring. We're not enemies. Actually, we have far more in common than many would like to admit.

In short, I have a friend. I met her on the internet. And she has pink hair. And a beautiful daughter. And she gives me good advice. I'm pretty darn lucky. Jealous yet? ;)

PS - WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK TO OHIO!?