Meeting IRL. LOL. OMG!
Meeting anyone IRL is always better than anything the Web has so far been able to provide. Email sucks for really expressing yourself, IM is even worse. Too many opportunities for miscommunication and saying one thing but meaning another.
I remember in particular meeting Leslie Harpold via Alexis Massie nee Allen when I was living in Boston. I don't believe I was looking forward to it, but it ended up being one of the best meetings of my life and it ended up with a lasting friendship that I hope will last my lifetime.
I think you can certainly get an impression of someone online via their writing and creative endeavors, but there's always a filter in place and the face-to-face meetings are always, always more satisfying.
Comments
I really enjoyed meeting you IRL. I'd sit next to you at a heterosexual wedding any old time.
That day was legendary. And a gift.