As most of you know, whenever you mention "blogging" to the non-bloggers, you get that negative response of "beware of predators" and all the other awful things regarding our "hobby" (predilection, if I may). In fact, I hesitate to even mention that I do it.

When showing my Florida pictures to my own kin, it pains me to have to go into details behind my visits to Harriet (Tealstar) and Dottie (Dragonflyby), as innocent as they were. (Harriet had a good comment about this recently.) I'm a grown adult now and know what I'm doing. I don't need to be chastised.

Anyway, I wanted to say a few words about my real life visits with these two ladies. (As an aside, I've now met four fellow greasers, and all of them have been women--nothing intentional!) I haven't asked for permission to write about them, so forgive me H and D for being presumptive.

AS for Harriet, you can read a book by its cover. She's exactly as she writes. What you see is what you get: opinionated, direct, intelligent, talented, nice, conversive, and attractive. She and Edward live in a beautiful, gorgeously furnished house right on the water on Pine Island. (Many houses for sale all around them.) She has to be a saint to be able to live with Ed, I might add. Don't get me wrong, I liked him, but he can be a little "strong". ANyway, I really enjoyed my three hours with the two of them. And her coffe IS wonderful!

Now Dottie, well, let's say I was pleasantly surprised with her personality. I pictured her as being more serious and low-keyed from her posts. Of course, she's been through a lot with the death of her son and bouts of depression. That's quite understandable. But it was a couple of minutes after our doorbell encounter that I knew I really liked her. She wrote about her confused state when she had her days mixed up and thought I was coming the next day. She thought I was a solicitor, had that blank look in her expression, and appeared completely befuddled. I soon realized that that is who the real Dottie is! But in a self-deprecating way. That is, she laughed it off, making fun of herself for her zaniness. And that she really is--just a little "off the wall". She has her serious side and has her opinions, but she's very easy to be with. Her house is wonderfully decorated, painting and picture adorning the walls, antique furniture filling the rooms. And, like Harriet, she's a very neat person, housekeeping-wise (since I popped in on her "a day early"). And, of course, for someone to offer an overnight's stay to a "stranger", that says something about that person--very trusting. I hope she liked me as much as liked her.

It was a joy and privilege to be invited and meet these two wonderful ladies. Thank you both. I hope we'll meet again someday.