Day 6 - 321 -- Family of Friends

After 4.5 hours of sleep, I headed to the airport for a ridiculously early check in time of 4:30 AM. I got there at 4:45 for the 6:30 AM flight and the place was abuzz with many people doing similar early morning departures. The trip home meant that, once again, I'd be far away from many friends who truly are family. We met online about 25 years ago in a music fan group. The much larger group went through stages of community building. We came together based on common musical interests (forming phase). We entered a time of unrest and jockeying for position within the larger group (storming phase). We established a code of conduct -- mostly to be inclusive, kind and value differences that would be encountered. At this point, smaller enclaves of like-minded folks formed stronger bonds (norming phase). Our smaller group found online platforms to support our daily communications -- an amazingly wonderful aspect of newer technologies that bring people together (performing phase).

This line of thought brought to mind a quote from Edward R. Murrow (1958). Granted Murrow was speaking about television, but I posit this same premise fits use of any electronic flickering screen device.

"This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, it even can inspire. but it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it's nothing other than wires and lights in a box."

Somewhere in the midst of these four phases of development, our little band became a family. I now know spouses and kids of the original members. I love each and every one of them. I find explaining this can often be met with quizzical, disparaging, and pitying looks. This weekend it became very apparent to outside others that we were so much more than a group of crazy music fans. It may have started there, but it has grown and matured like a wonderful red wine -- with all the complex tasting notes blending together to become a singular entity -- hence, we've called it family. A group who chose to be family. While great geographic distances separate us from meeting for coffee regularly, they are all close to me in my head and my heart. Thankfully, we live in a time when technology allows continued daily contact through spoken and written word; so the closeness and longing to see each other can be somewhat assuaged. Sadly virtual smiles, laughter, tears and hugs, which are a delight to receive, just don't fully measure up to the real thing <smile>.

Lyrics of the song I chose for today speak to strong friendships. The video in the version shared here shows several people enjoying a collaborative effort as friends might. The title was heard many times this weekend as people thanked one or all of us for our parts in the celebration of life for one of family members. Enjoy!

That's What Friends are For -- Dionne Warwick ft. Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder