Friends around the world

For those of us who travel and are at all sociable, you collect friends around the world. If you don’t travel, but have professional interests–likely the same. For all the fiber fanatics, there is Ravelry, so again, communications with other people who share your interest around the world.

Thinking back, I first started “collecting” people who I knew only over the internet in about 1995 with the original Knitlist. Hosted on a university server somewhere, it wasn’t one of the alt.knit.whatever discussion groups. Rather, it was a traditional group list just slightly advanced from the original bulletin boards of Fidonet. It was how I got to know Pat in Michigan, Cat in Australia, Isobel in New Hampshire, and Mary who lived in upstate New York at the time. Not all that long after, the deployments to the Balkans started which added Kris from Washington State and Val from the reserves. Shamash, the Reconstructionist list added in Ira in Boston, Steven in Los Angeles, and Steve in Rochester.

My first serious, organized attempt at staying connected started in 1998 with my deployment to the Balkans. That email list has continued to the present day with additions and deletions as time and interest dictated. Some included are people who I have known since college, others are those who I have gotten to know in the last couple of years. Two are adults, but I first met when I delivered them back in the days when I was doing OB. I have added those with whom I have served, from both the German and UK military.

I mention this now as I think of one German reserve officer who I first met in 1999 while attached to the German Military. A very junior sergeant then, Christian was looking to attempt the US Army’s Expert Field Medical Badge. We are now 20 years down the line, he is a fire department Capt, works search and rescue and is an officer in the Reserves. Or one of the most brilliant medical corps officers I have ever met – Beverly is now retired from the UK and, after earning a PhD, continues serving by researching veteran’s health in Scotland.

There are those I know from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Israel – military, former military, families, friends, average people working to improve the lives of others.  I would like at times to believe that I make a contribution, but perhaps the most important part is to simply stay connected and remember.

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About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!
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14 Responses to Friends around the world

  1. Christine says:

    and I am glad that I am one of those in your email list !! Thanks for letting me be “part” of these people in your live !!

    Sending hugs your way …

  2. April says:

    My friends are not around the world so much as the United States. Mine are called my “best friends I have never met” and they are all very special people

  3. Bob says:

    Staying connected and remembering—and being remembered—IS MAKING A CONTRIBUTION.

  4. Pat says:

    You are one of my favorite people ever. I love this post, in case you can’t tell. <3

    • Holly says:

      Now, why would you say that?

      • Pat says:

        Well, you ARE, but specifically why now? I like that post about friends around the world.

        Anyway, you aren’t all over social media, you don’t do Facebook, or Twitter, and to have someone who ISN’T all over social media telling a story about the value of online social connections adds value to the counter-narrative I’ve been trying to communicate. You just made my day job and my personal life that little tiny bit easier.

        Thank you

  5. Ruth says:

    Pleased and honored to be “on the list”.

  6. Isobel says:

    E-mail is wonderful. Glad we connected and are still connected.

  7. Bill R says:

    Thanks for sharing! Count me in.

    • Holly says:

      Oh, I most assuredly due. It was that Trans-Atlantic and the warm welcome from you and JoAnn that made me decide that travel by ship was worth the time and effort. adding status on Royal changed some of my patterns. If I ever get back to cruising again – I am going to be back on deck in the morning searching out interesting people!

  8. Kris says:

    Thanks for including me! You get all the credit for staying connected, as you are the one who writes the emails. I admire your discipline on that.

  9. Beverly says:

    I was just thinking, what a lovely e-mail about staying connected (completely agree – I see far too many people in Social Security Tribunals who have become completely socially isolated) when, further down, I read your amazing words about – er, me! I’m sure I don’t deserve such honors – just (as they say) doing my job to the best of my ability and nowadays trying to use my ‘retirement’ to best advantage. Although to be truthful, I am passionate about the veterans’ study. But thank you for your very generous words – it made my day and is much appreciated.

  10. Cat says:

    Thanks Holly. In the Downunder vernacular you are a “great mate”! I just wish you lived closer.

  11. L says:

    Hello!
    Another knitting veteran popping by to say hi. I’m not great at staying in touch, but I do find electronic options helpful. I appreciate your blog and am constantly amazed at your accomplishments. And I have great memories of getting to work with you!
    Laura

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