I may have mentioned before that Little Man talks almost non-stop and that listening to him can be very entertaining and enlightening.  He’s told me more than I could ever imagine about topics I never thought I’d even consider, much less talk about … and sometimes he’s right! I actually signed up for Twitter, initially, to keep a running record of the crazy stuff he says! [Which so totally ironic that I can't stand it!]

Every once in a while you get a blog-worthy gem. Something that really deserves a bit more “ink” than the typical 140 on Twitter. Something that makes you stop in your tracks and think – or laugh out loud – or both.

I am quoting here.

Mom, you should do something more with your day than Twittering.

Really. I kid you not. He said that to me at dinner last night.

I think he should have warned Husband that he was going to say it because lemonade almost spewed all over the kitchen table. Once recovered, Husband looked at me as if to say, “See, I’m not the only one who thinks so!” [Husband and I are exact opposites when it comes to social technologies. That's an odd story for another time.] Between the two of them, there was righteousness and smugness to spare.

Of course, they are right. I should do something more with my day than tweet … and I do.  Lots more. In fact, I’m doing one of those things right now!!!  [Ahh ... the rebuttal, feels so good. Don't you agree?]

I am more than aware that Little Man knows I work on computers all day. He knows that it’s part of my job and he knows that many of my hobbies are computer-based. He’s talked to me about Facebook. He’s been a guest blogger here. I had no idea he knew about Twitter! Color me surprised.

As it stands, I’m going to pack away two important pieces of information from this little discussion of ours.

1. Little Man hears and processes everything Husband and I say. And … he often gets it right.
2. Being able to laugh at yourself – and see yourself through the eyes of your kids – is a good thing.

I’ve got one more thought on this before I get back to Twitter. [LOL, just kidding.] My son will soon be of an age where technology will play a bigger role in his daily activities. I expect the tables will turn at least a little before too much longer. I can hear myself saying something like…

• Little Man, I’ve got a dirty job for you … your room! Turn off Mike Rowe and clean up.
• Little Man, put down the Wiimote and let’s go outside.
• Little Man, time to log off … let’s eat.
• Little Man, don’t tell your Facebook friends that I’m crazy! I’m in your friends list, remember?

Wanna bet that sometime, someday I actually turn the tables and say…

Little Man, you should do something more with your day than Tweeting.

Hmmm … the child’s words used by the parent. I think I like it! Makes for a good tweet … don’t you think?

The article, Semantic Aware Apps Rising, introduced me to the term “semantic awareness” and started me thinking about what this “smart” technology might mean as developers start implementing it … when it becomes ubiquitous.

One of the reasons that I find this interesting is that I’ve had a fair amount of experience with personality tests and their uses. My interest goes all the way back to college, when I first took the Myers-Briggs. After seeing my results, my prof asked me how I lived with myself. Odd, yes! But the comment made me think and got me hooked.

So, I must tell you that I got a little sucked in when Ms. Davis introduced me to The Typalizer … an app that will tell you the personality type of your blog or any blog, for that matter! 

So, I took a deep breath and entered  my URL. In short order the return was back. ESTP (The Doers).

Here’s the cool thing about that . [OK ... I think it's cool.] I’m an ENTP/ENFP according to Myers-Briggs. So, it looks like my writing here pretty well matches my type. Looks like I’m going all “WYSIWYG” on you all! [If you want to read more about the MBTI ... head here!]

About 30 minutes  later I learned that the blogs I read most often have the same “bloginality” … ESFP (The Performers).  I found that very interesting because I don’t necessarily perceive their styles to be the same!

I’ve experienced the push-back when it comes to using personality profiling in hires and staffing. We can already Google folks to find information on those we work with/for. What if these analyzers begin to work on our Twitter and Facebook accounts?

The implications of all of this are far beyond the fun I’m having with it. Semantic awareness has the potential to change quite a few things.

What’s the “bloginality” of your blog?
Is it similar to your personality style or completely different?
How do you feel about the possibilities of all of this semantic awareness?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I added some really good friends from way back and invited others. I began following some really interesting folks. I was on a roll and feeling connected.

I found the blog of a woman who has experienced a loss I can’t even begin to imagine – even though I’ve felt that kind of loss. Reading her words made me want to squeeze the breath right out of my kids. I’m not sure that I’ve ever missed my baby that fiercely.

I met a new Twitter friend – a real connection rather than just a follow/follower. I learned from her. It was a simple exchange that showed me how important it is to be human online … about the importance of reaching out with a simple thank you. I was stunned about the acceptance I felt with her simple, human action.

I found three friends from ages ago and was so glad to get the chance to possibly get to reconnect with these folks who were once so much a part of my everyday.

It was a rush of successful connecting in the still, quiet of a winter night. Smugness set in. It was a good night!

As I typed name-after-name and clicked profile-after-profile looking for connections, it never dawned on me that I would run into a snag. I was on a roll after all!

Well, turns out, I did find all of the friends I was looking for tonight. Most of my discoveries were happy and full of “Oh my gosh, it’s been so long!” But … not all of them ended on this note.

I’ve told you about the connections I made that made me smile … that made pray for a family I don’t know as I desperately missed hugging my children … that taught me something.

Now, I need to tell you about a connection that made me stop everything, gasp, and think. This is the connection that ultimately triggered this post.

Ages ago, when I was a senior in high school, I had a funny, smart, outgoing, beautiful, confident friend. She was younger than I but we got along so well that the age difference matter. We had some great times, inside jokes, and good laughs. I still have some of the letters we wrote.

We were two silly girls going to high school in a rural town.

She went on to do some impressive things. She had 2 Master’s degrees and was almost done with her PhD. She could name-drop (legitimately) … Yale, University Schools, Committee on This, Board of That, Political Advocate. She was published and she was brilliant. She was doing important work.

And she took her own life. She was 32.

I re-connected with her tonight – almost 5 years after her death – through her obituary.

The obituary said she was

A brilliant and charismatic presence in and out of the classroom, [she] gave of herself to her family, her friends, her students, her teachers, and her colleagues–all of whom deeply mourn her loss.

I remember the girl described in that statement – she was my friend. I would  have loved to see her teach. I would have loved to talk to her about her work. I would have loved to have re-connected with her – in any other way than this.

There are so many questions that will never have answers. I’m sure her family agonizes over these every day – I can’t imagine and I’ll pray for them.

What could life have been like to turn that smile off? To make the laughter quiet and the dancing stop? What could make going on so overwhelming that trying was no longer worth the effort?

I don’t understand and I’m angry … and I’m desperately sad that this beautiful woman is no longer here for us all to connect with.

For most of my life, fellowship has had a very church-specific meaning. First, it was a plac – Fellowship Hall – that was synonymous with cookies and punch and lots of kids running everywhere. Then, it became part of the religion itself. It was something important to do … to gather in Christian fellowship (meaning gather with those who believe to learn and share).

I knew the word. I knew what it meant in my sphere of experience. I thought I had it down. Maybe I did, and maybe I didn’t. I never really had cause to think to much about it until recently.

I have a colleague who has an amazing way of putting things into perspective at just the right time and with just the right words. And, while we typically discuss and try to solve work-related issues, I’ve found that the majority of the time the conversations are applicable in other parts of my life as well. These kinds of unintended consequences are most welcome!

Recently, the topic of fellowship came up and, after the conversation, what I’d ” known” seemed to fall short of the mark. [This is, frankly, the coolest part about learning - and perhaps about fellowship itself.]

In a nutshell, my concept of fellowship was about getting together in a sort of friendship – sort of a social event with purpose. Folks coming together to enjoy each other’s company … a generally warm and fuzzy existence with like-minded people.

That type of fellowship is fine and, I suppose, even important. But, I’m wondering how purposeful it is in the world in which we currently find ourselves.

I’ve been reading a lot lately about the state of the world. And, as I’ve written before, it seems to be a mess. [Scary. Ack.]

I’ve also been digging into how folks are using social-networking sites and the so-called Web 2.0 technologies to create the idea of community on the web. There are a lot of really cool things going on – and the cool typically will bring out the scary for a time!

I’m seeing, in my old definition and experience of fellowship, that there’s not a whole lot of room for growth. Warm and fuzzy doesn’t necessarily breed opportunities for learning and innovation. This growth usually comes out of comparatively harsh environments – places where almost everything is questioned. [It strikes me as I write this that mold grows in warm, undisturbed places ... I don't want to get moldy! I don't think that's conducive with the point of fellowship!!]

So, I’ve begun to look fellowship a bit differently. The rethink started with a single conversation and continued as I continue with my almost constant and insatiable need to discover of the possibilities of community in the world online (which started around 1995 and has only increased).

My new understanding about what fellowship is (and can be) included a look at literature. [Frankly, I think most things could begin with a look at literature and I'm not sure why I'm always so surprised when a good book teaches me something long after I've read it.]

In The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkien places 9 folks on a mission – a majorly intense quest filled with urgency and danger. Quests of this nature are certainly not uncommon in literature.

But …

In the journey of  this chosen 9, Tolkien gave readers an unforgettable definition and description of the power of fellowship. He gave this particular set of 9 characters a mutually valued, common goal. [OK. still not necessarily mind-bending with regard to fellowship.]

But …

The 9 were remarkably different. They had vastly different lives, experiences, belief structures, and loads of differing opinions. In fact, some in the group were sworn enemies. Far from being warm and fuzzy, this group was fairly hostile toward each other. Not an easy road to travel but together, for the good of the goal, they did some great things.

In the midst the synthetic process, [er, uh, synthesizing all of this information into something that I can wrap my head around and use in more global situations] I decided that fellowship, Lord of the Rings-style, is probably a key to the success of a great many things.

The beauty of this kind of fellowship is that we can do great things together in spite of the fact that some of the group don’t like each other all that much. It means that we need to act civilly, but can be honest about what we believe. We can celebrate strengths and lift up weaknesses. It means that fellowship, while a vitally important part of religion, also transcends it.

It means that positive can come from conflict. We’ve got a lot of conflict and disagreement these days. There is a lot to gain from overcoming it – regardless of how difficult the journey may be.

I’m finding hope in that.

Hmmm … fellowship of the hopeful? No, fellowship of the positive. Hmmm … no, not quite right.

Yeh, I think there’s a story waiting to be written there!