Blogland: It Really Is a Small World After All!

In the fall of 2007, I “met” a woman named Debbie in the comments section of the blog, My Romantic Home.  Debbie and I  started emailing back and forth and quickly realized we had an incredible number of things in common.  We are even the same age…born just 3 weeks apart!

Debbie lives in New Jersey.   I’m in Florida.  Each time we corresponded, we talked about how we wished we lived closer so we could actually meet each other in person.  Finally, a little over a year later, I extended an invitation to Debbie to come visit me in Florida and she accepted! 

In April 2009, Debbie arrived to stay 8 days with me.  Now, never having actually met before, spending 8 days together could have ended up being a nightmare for either one, or both, of us.  But from the moment Debbie got off the plane,  it was like we had known each other our entire lives!  I do believe we are “soul sisters” in every sense of the term.  We had so much fun talking…and sightseeing…and talking…and shopping…and talking…and shopping…and talking!

Doesn’t it amaze you how the Internet and blogging have connected all of us?  It certainly boggles my mind that I could meet someone who has become such a dear friend via the comment section of a blog!

During Debbie’s stay, we visited the Sponge Docks & Greek Village in Tarpon Springs, FL., which is known for exhibitions of sponge diving/harvesting,  many Greek restaurants offering authentic Greek cuisine, and  quaint little shops.

 at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

Of course we had to visit Shamu at the Orlando SeaWorld.   (Oh lordy, we I sure look tired here! This photo was taken at the end of the day after we had tromped around SeaWorld from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seeing one show after another.)

SeaWorld, Orlando, FL

One afternoon my husband took us out in our boat.  We motored around Tampa Bay, enjoying the beautiful weather and admiring some of the waterfront homes. 

We also went, via boat,  to the St. Petersburg Pier, docked the boat and went inside. 

“The Pier,” as it is known to local residents, is a 5 story building that is shaped liked an inverted pyramid.  It extends 3,000 feet out into Tampa Bay.  Inside are gift shops, galleries,  boutiques,  sit-down waterfront restaurants,  a food court, and an aquarium.

 The St. Petersburg Pier

Here we are on the top (5th)  floor of The Pier with the downtown St. Petersburg, Florida  skyline in the background.

 atop The St. Petersburg Pier

The St. Petersburg Pier is the winter home of the  H.M.S. Bounty, the ship that was used in the 1962 movie, Mutiny on the Bounty, with Marlon Brando, and the 1989 movie, Treasure Island, with Charlton Heston.

  H.M.S. Bounty

Naturally, Debbie and I also did quite a bit of shopping while she was here but we were much too busy looking for great deals to take photos!  Anyway, at that point, neither of us  had a blog then (although we both had given it some serious consideration) so we weren’t conditioned yet to journaling our shopping excursions with pictures for a blog! 

However…. I am just tickled pink to tell you Debbie has finally decided to join all of us in  Blogland with a blog of her own.  You can find her at Pink Roses & Teacups so I do hope you will go by and say hello.   She is an incredibly sweet person and I know you’re going to enjoy getting to know her. 

When you stop in and introduce yourself, tell her you think SHE REALLY SHOULD  MOVE TO FLORIDA so she and I  can visit over coffee and shop on a regular basis!  ;)