I see you across the hotel lobby. I know it’s you: I’ve seen your picture thousands of times. I start running to meet you and you catch me in a hug.
I walk into a crowded bar. I see your face and make the connection. I walk up to say hi and suddenly your name is on my tongue.
I turn around, and there you are. And we smile and we pick up a conversation that we’ve been carrying on (virtually) for years.
Through a crowd, I spot your profile, and I know it is you. Here.
I would know you anywhere.
I see you from a distance and I know it’s you. Here. In person.
I know your face; I know your voice; I know your heart.
Recognition.
Our connection begins online. We are drawn together by the interests we share. 
We get to know one another offline, on Skype or on the phone.
And when we meet face to face, I recognize you.
I know you.
We are old friends. And we are finally together.
Tell me something! What experiences have you had meeting social media friends face to face? Share a story!
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.
Love these pictures! Perfect post, as usual. It was great fun to see you with these super people that you had connected with through this amazing medium. The smiling faces tell the tale that you just so eloquently expressed. Thanks for introducing me to your friends.
It’s WONDERFUL, isn’t it? … like old friends, picking up where we left off rather than starting a new relationship. I LOVE meetups.
Beautiful post, Becky. Just like you. There are few things as wonderful and powerful as authentic connection with others, and social media has exponetially expanded our ability to do so. Meeting you in person, you embodied the essence of all that I already imagined. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Becky!
Sharon
Fabulous post! The power of connection was never so clear to me as it was at the ASTD conference.
And I LOVED you running across the lobby for our first 3D hug!
Have a great birthday, mentor ‘o mine.
Cheers!
C.
Lovely, Becky! I couldn’t wait to meet you in person. There’s nothing as good as a real hug. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
As I’ve often said, Twitter made us followers, and life make us friends. I cannot believe how blessed I am to have had the chance to take followership to the next level — friendship. Beautiful things happen when like-minded people get together in the same physical space, and it’s heartfelt hugs from virtual to physical that make the difference.
Can’t wait to see you again in person… this summer, I will definitely look into flights. I wonder how far it would be to drive from Waverly… I’ll keep you posted on my plans.
Luvya,
angie
I’ve connected to a number of writing friends through Twitter and Facebook. It’s always delightful to finally meet face to face with them at writing conferences– to flesh out the person behind the avatar.
And if I can tell the story of social media and relationships in the opposite direction:
I attended a small writers retreat with 111 women who, at that time, were unknown to me. By the end of the weekend, we were friends. But, since we live all over the country, we’ve stayed connected and deepened our friendships through Twitter and Facebook and a joint venture blog we all started (MBT Ponderers).
And while I haven’t met you (yet), Becky–I consider you a friend. (Thank you, Twitter!)