Connected By Distance

How Lauren got her groove back

by Lauren Vargas

It all began 26 March, 2008. I was preparing to go on a three-day weekend retreat with my girlfriends and also coming up on a hard deadline for a freelance project. My mind was blank. I could not concentrate to write the needed copy. So, I turned to my Twitter pals and asked for music suggestions to get me focused and into a writing groove. Little did I know, this solicitation would rock my world! 

A gentleman I did not follow at the time, responded with several music recommendations. The lush voice of Kelly Sweet and other smooth jazz/blues tunes brought back my writing groove. I thanked the responder. A few days later, the same gentleman sent me additional music suggestions. This time, I checked out his Twitter profile. He was from Brazil, definitely not part of my “regular” social network and his Twitter bio read: Half screenwriter, half technical guy, half shy, half extroverted… (yeah, this sums up more than 100%). Interesting hodgepodge like me! I followed him back and continued to enjoy his musical selections. He had become my personal DJ…from halfway across the world. 

The tweets led to blog posts of translated Brazilian sambas that led to IM chats, then Skype conversations. For three months, I poured out my heart and soul to this digital stranger…connected by distance with an Internet connection; brought together by a random tweet. Yes, everything logical in me screamed, STRANGER! Yet the mystery of this man and brilliant mind behind the words and music intrigued me beyond comprehension. 

On the heels of a bitter divorce and juggling several jobs as a young single mom, I could not and would not get swept up in the fantasy of a long distance romance. Especially with someone I had never met face-to-face! In June, my Brazilian beau arranged to meet me in Canada after I completed a business trip. We would meet in Montreal, a neutral location. Although, I must admit, I was a bit scared of not being in the US for our first meeting. What if I were sent home in pieces? Luckily, my friends kept in touch…one friend even called on the hour ever hour to check my pulse! Also, I had arranged to attend a Social Media Club event in Montreal with another Twitter pal during my stay…so other “real” people knew where I would be staying. 

At the beginning of 2008, I made the heart wrenching decision to divorce my husband and father of five-year old daughter. I was stepping out into the world completely raw. It was a miserable start to the New Year. This year, I will be ringing in 2009, with Leo, my Brazilian beau! After meeting in Montreal, we hit it off and arranged to meet a month and a half later in Seattle, then a month and a half later in his home city in Brazil. In two weeks, he will be here in the US for my birthday and at the end of the month, he will whisk me away to Paris for the New year celebration. 

Nervous with anticipation and jittery with excitement, it is hard to believe my travels this year have been real! Never would I have imagined my online social network would have such personal results! Leo is the love I only imagined, but I have also been blessed this year meeting people I only knew by their avatar and online voice. Friendships have been established. Love attained. Yes, Lauren got her groove back.

–

Lauren Vargas, Community Relations Manger at AAFES and principal of 12Comm Public Relations, is based in Dallas, Texas. She is a well known public relations blogger and speaker who has developed an expertise in integrating social media tools into marketing and business strategy.