Bless Twitter

Twitter.  What a wonderful little instrument, huh?  Need an escape from the real world?  Just tap the screen of your smartphone and BOOM, you’re surrounded by people who are just as silly, quirky, and twisted as you are.  Take no offense to that last statement; I wholeheartedly include myself as being a twisted member of the Twitterverse.  And I am just as much addicted to it as you are.  How did it happen though?  How did we all become members of this secret club of millions that no one who isn’t a part of will ever understand?

I joined Twitter in July of 2013 and I will admit I did not get it AT ALL in the beginning.  I joined simply to promote my book which I had recently published and had no intentions of using it to socialize.  Just start talking to random strangers?  Star them, what the fuck does that mean?  Talk about myself personally with these freaks, whaaaa?

It didn’t take long for me to make a few friends, for I grabbed the bull by the horns so to speak and pimped myself like a two dollar whore.

Hey, how are you, my name is Lauren, I wrote a book, wanna read it?!?!

Luckily for me there were several ladies who did not tell me to go to hell and took a chance on my book.  Of course most of them were other writers and I reciprocated, not only making some kickass friends in the process, but getting my hands on some pretty amazing reading material as well.  Score!

What I never expected was to make such an incredible, eclectic, and simply wonderful group of friends on there.   Friends that I never imagined would become such a big part of my life nor think they’d be the kind I couldn’t imagine my life without now.   Friends that I would spend hours talking on the phone with, texting, tweeting (of course) and even meeting up with in the real world.

Meet up with people you met on Twitter?  Whaaaaa?

Hell yes I did and I had the time of my life!

We were all brought together by the talented author, Mary Palmerin (http://marypalmerinauthor.blogspot.com).  Have you read her stuff?  Do it.

The lovely Mary and me!

Mary organized a book signing in New York City and I was fortunate enough to fly to my hometown for the weekend and meet her, Cynthia E. Hansen (http://www.c-e-hansen.me/), equally talented author of “It’s  A Crime” and “It’s  A Shame”, and Michele, our favorite blogger (http://colormegreysessed.wordpress.com/) .  To say I had a blast with these ladies is a total understatement.  And to actually meet them, hug them, laugh with them… can’t even describe it.

Cindy, the Porgy to my Bess!

I can say without a doubt that I absolutely fell in love with these women on Twitter and then it only solidified when I saw them face-to-face.  How incredible, right?  Six months after becoming a tweep I have three new friends whom I feel I’ve known my whole life and would kill for.

The gorgeous egg roll, Michele!

Speaking of people I’m crazy about, I have to take a minute here to bestow some credit where it is rightly due.  I consider myself somewhat computer savvy but when it comes to starting a blog, I was clueless.  Enter Mojo.  Mojo is not only my favorite rock star (check out his music on http://mojosarmy.com) but a technology genius and one of the most generous people I know.  This gorgeous blog you’re staring at right now?  All due to him.  Allow me a minute to show him my gratitude….

Yes, Mojo is also one of my favorite people in the world now and where did I meet him?

Twitter!

My point in all this?  I’m astounded at how many people I’ve connected with and have become attached to all due to our favorite form of social media.  Then I got to wondering, what is it exactly that I get out of it?

Am I just a sad, unsatisfied individual looking for validation from strangers?

Yes, but it’s more than finding people I have something in common with.

*winks forever*

Twitter friends just make me happy.  We tease, we flirt, we laugh, we joke, we instigate, and we behave in ways that would make our mothers cry in shame but it puts a smile on my face every time I enter that world.  I get more support from my Twitter family than anywhere else and my biggest cheerleaders come from there, too.

It’s like a playground, only the jokes are dirtier and there’s alcohol involved.

What is Twitter to you?