The Positive Power of Social Media❣

Hello there! Yes, I’m still alive. I’ve had a few rough months health wise, but I’m still standing! Maddie is definitely showing her age now (her 16th birthday is 11/23/23 🤞🏼), so I’m treating every day as a gift… 💝

I’ll do an update post soon, but I’ve just had something truly special happen & I want to share it with everyone!

During our yearlong roadtrip, Maddie & I visited some extraordinary places all across America & we shared many, many once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Some of my most special memories include the wonderful, unforgettable people we met along the way.

This week, I was able to play a fun game of connect the dots with friends, from 1400+ miles away!

A Brief History

Lorrie & I met briefly at the Leech Lake Recreation Area Campground, in Federal Dam, Minnesota & we’ve stayed in touch ever since.

Maddie & I camped there for almost a week in late September 2021. The foliage was gorgeous! The campground was nice & I especially loved the FREE hot showers in the amazingly clean restrooms & the use of the FREE washer & dryer!

Lorrie walked by our campsite & we chatted about the beautiful weather & colors that Mother Nature was showing off for us. She was there camping & fishing with her husband, Dennis. I still haven’t met Dennis, but hopefully we’ll meet someday…

Maddie & I met Jane, Tim & their sweet pup, Sophie at Cochiti Lake Campground in New Mexico. It was in late October 2021, just before we moved on to Utah & I got us lost & stranded in the desert for 4 days. 🙄

We had a chance meeting because I overheard a conversation & politely invited myself (aka barged) into it. 🤷‍♀️ The discussion was about the horrendous Goat’s Head burrs.

We’d only been at this campground for a short time & Maddie had already encountered them. 😳 I thought she’d suffered a stroke because she threw herself to the ground in pain, after stepping on one. 🥺 As it turned out, Jane had bought protective booties for Sophie, but they were too big for her. They fit Maddie perfectly, so I bought them from her. As they say, the rest is history! Jane & Tim invited me to their fabulous home on wheels for several meals & it felt like we’d been friends forever❣When we parted ways a few days later, I was sad to think we’d probably never cross paths again.

NEVER SAY NEVER!!! 😁

In February 2022, Jane, Tim & Sophie traveled to Yuma, AZ, about 85 miles south of where Maddie & I were camping in Quartzsite, AZ. I was THRILLED when they asked about coming to visit us! They drove up & we had a delicious picnic in the town park. Sadly, the time flew by & they headed back to Yuma. 🥺

FAST FORWARD

I’ve been following Lorrie & Dennis & Jane & Tim on FB & I’ve been living vicariously through their extensive travels.

On Sunday, Lorrie posted that she & Dennis were headed out to camp & fish with friends at Whiteface Reservoir in Minnesota.

I’m grateful for having a decent memory, usually, because I remembered that Jane & Tim are Camp Hosts there until Labor Day! Lorrie’s post said that her cellphone reception was poor there, but I took a chance & messaged all three of them. Soon after I posted, Tim responded! It’s definitely a SMALL WORLD because Jane had just registered them in & they were camping close by!

I asked Jane to get a photo of all of them for me & voilà!

Obviously, Tim & Sophie took the pictures 🤔, but here are Dennis, Lorrie & Jane❣

I don’t always remember exactly where I’ve met someone, but in this case, I have photos of both locations! The top is Cochiti Lake in New Mexico & the bottom is Leech Lake in Minnesota.

These friends all live in Minnesota, but I’m sitting here in Massachusetts & connected the dots for them to meet! The next coincidence is that they’ll all be spending some time this winter in the same area of Alabama, so I’m hoping their paths will cross again, too!

Thanks to Disney, I’ve been humming “It’s a Small World” for 3 days now!

“There is just one moon
And one golden sun.
And a smile means
Friendship to ev’ryone.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It’s a small world after all!”

💝