Didn’t I tell you there was more???…..

I’ve got an internet posse too.  Some of these chicks I’ve met in person, many I haven’t.  With a few of them I had that immediate soul connection that I described above.  Some of them know me pretty well, some only know me as a name in the comments section of their blog– but they are all part of that web that surrounds me with friendship, grace and inspiration. 

There’s my TFY Gals, and a few others collected during my iParenting Days.* I’ve traveled to Seattle, Chicago, Ottawa and Montreal to hang with these chicks, and some of them have come here to chill with me in Arizona.   We’ve celebrated the births of many babies (congrats Tara my girl – yet another TFY-baby yesterday!), witnessed many life transitions, given advice on the most mundane and the most profound of situations.  We watch each other grow into our lives as women and mothers from afar, share pictures of our children as they grow and change, keep updated through our blogs and emails – on the fringes of each others lives, but always there.

And then there are the other internet friends that have come my way through random mouse clicks, message board interactions or emailed links.  There’s the eternally wise Linda, my everyday hero Sage Femme, and the grounded and lovely Kristina, just to name a few of the many bloggers who I consider to be friends despite the fact that we’ve never seen each other in real life. Universe willing, I will one day get to meet some of these ladies in person, till then I’ll just soak up their writing and the gifts of friendship from afar. 

Seriously people, the internet is full of the coolest babes.  Jen Lemen, for instance, wouldn’t know me if she tripped over me on her doorstep (and honestly, I think she’s amazing enough that I’ve considered that sort of stalking) but her profound wisdom and creativity make her one of the bright spots of my day.  She, and many others like her, are part of my magic too, even though they don’t know it.

But wait – that’s not even all…

I have got the kick-ass coolest birth community here in Phoenix.  Midwives, Doulas, Childbirth Educators, Nurses and even one super cool OB-Gyn….professionals who are dedicated to serving women and babies in pregnancy and birth and whose passion is an inspiration to me every single day.  These women are not afraid to get down in the trenches; they are doing the dirty work and fighting the hard fight every time they go to work.   Through the fatigue and poor pay, through political bullshit, through a medical system that is fundamentally flawed – they just keep pushing forward.  What’s more, they love what they do more than any group of people I’ve ever encountered – because it is love that drives this work.  The women in my local birth community are the ones that remind me to keep living my original passion, that this work is worthwhile, necessary and rewarding beyond all expectation.  Can you tell how much I dig these chicks?

And I’m not even done yet.  Can you believe it?

Just recently I hit the jackpot once again.  A friendship that was once peripheral grew into something far more by a rather magical bit of happenstance – right place, right time, right life circumstances, and all that.  This friend, a kick-ass girl named Jen, has become very important to me in a very short time.  We see each other a somewhat ridiculous amount (right down to our weekly grocery shopping date), we laugh till our sides hurt, and we spend far too much time perusing myspace profiles and videos on youtube (yes, we are that geeky, and proud of it).  Her boys are some of the coolest kids I have ever encountered, and our kids mesh together so well that when they are together it’s almost like we don’t have any kids at all!  She has been a huge support during a fairly crazy time of transition in my life, and I hope she can sense just how much I value that.

Jen has introduced me into a community of women that I’ve known for less than two months, but who already feel like life-long friends.  We chill together on Tuesday nights at the coolest coffee shop in Phoenix.  Tuesday night is open mic night, and I get to watch my talented new friends Erin Michelle and Lindsay Owen rock their guitars (and learn a bit on my new guitar myself). 

I hang with the regulars, Jen, Rosie, and Gina and Jacquie (and now the lovely Tara too!) and a bunch of other cool people who come and go week to week.  We chit-chat, drink tea, read books and work on our computers.  It’s one of the most relaxing times of my week, and I find myself looking forward to it days ahead of time.  These women welcomed me in with open arms and within minutes I felt like I’d always been there – and that is a rare, rare thing. 

As if that wasn’t enough, a few of them invited me to attend this amazing women’s circle that has been meeting every Thursday night for 14 years.  14 years, people!  I’ve gone twice, what a profound and intense experience to sit in circle with such powerful women.  In the process I made even more connections with women who have so much to teach and to offer me along my journey.  All I have to do right now is remain open to receiving – seems pretty easy, all things considered.

This post got way longer than I intended (people will call me many things in my life, but succinct will never be one of them), but let me just end by saying that I mean this as a thank you to you the universe for providing me with such abundance. 

I am blessed beyond all measure, and I know it.

* I kept an online diary (this predates the days of blogs…does this make me old?) at the parenting site iParenting.com for several years.  I’m gonna try and share links to these girls, but I know I’m forgetting some.  If I left you out, give me a shout and I’ll add your name, but give me credit for trying!

Amy, Tara, Rebekah, Jenn, Allisun, Sherry, Jessica, Melissa, Jen, Laura, Heather, Anna