A blast from my virtual past

When I was in highschool, I went on a youth conference that the Rotary Club puts together every year. The conference brings a few hundred students to Ottawa for 4 days, where they visit Parliament Hill, museums and attend workshops and explore the different cultures Canada has to offer. I was lucky that Mom organizes the event, so I naturally had an in. 

I connected with a lot of great people, but one person in particular I attached myself to. I knew the minute I met Everett that he was someone I needed to know. Have you ever felt that you had a deep connection with someone that you've never met? I have this gut reaction all the time. And I've never been wrong. Everett was and still is one of the most interesting people I know. 

We exchanged e-mails before heading home from the conference and we became "virtual" pen pals. Sometimes it was months between letters, but we always tried to keep up with the current events in our lives. We had this on-going banter about should either of us be in the others neighbourhood or even province, that we would ensure a visit. I've never been out West, nor does he ever venture East, and so it just turned into something we would say. 

I convinced Everett to get with the times and join Facebook. Then I got to see darling pictures of his family and baby, and we chatted far more often. Thank you Facebook! The next thing I know I've got a message saying that Everett would be in Montreal! Well it may not be in the same province, but it was practically at my back door! So we got to squeeze in a visit! 

I met Everett, his wife Tasha and his daughter Samara at the Experimental Farm. We let the kids explore the farm animals as we got caught up. Although the Farm wasn't exactly exciting, seeing Everett in 3D was. 

We heard some very interesting tales of flying and simulators as both of them are pilots. It was also interesting to see their baby, a 14 month old, who speaks in sign language and knows how to use the potty! We were all sad to see them go the next day. 

I'm still in awe that he came to visit me, and that plans actually worked out. Although I'm not sure when the next time I will see them again, I know that we will continue to connect online. Maybe even a trip out West is in our future.