So after 4 years of waiting, today I met Niko.
He was much taller than I expected [no, I don’t have any understanding of why I thought he’d be smaller either] but once I got over that, we basically behaved like old buddies catching up after a time away.
Now you could say that is exactly what we were – because whilst we’ve only met once, we’ve spoken on the phone a few times and have had an email correspondance that could be classified as ‘bromance worthy’ – however for me, meeting someone face-to-face is different from conducting a relationship online … regardless how much you communicate or what subjects you cover … and so now I’ve seen first hand how Niko talks, conducts himself and acts in general … I can say I genuinely feel I understand him better [even though I don’t agree with all of them – as he well knows, ha] and as a result of that, feel closer to him as well.
Put it this way, I don’t believe you can adore something until you’ve shared something physical with it.
So the difference between loving football and living football is having kicked a ball … or the difference between loving music and living for music is having shared a gig with a room full of fellow fans.
I’m not explaining myself properly – and the examples above are not quite right either – I guess I’m just saying that [at least for me or people of my age – hahaha!] some sort of physical engagement … something that affects the senses and/or the surroundings … makes me ‘feel’ more connected to the other person than if I was to simply share commentary, however personal, via computers or letters for years on end.
Saying that, it still blows me away that 2 guys can meet for the first time in a city that neither live in and can conduct the sort of conversation you tend to only be able to have with those who have been closely engaged in your life for a number of years.
And whilst it could be argued that is exactly what we’ve been doing … I don’t believe that’s true because putting the physical interaction issue aside, our online lives are interjected with a fair dose of things we choose to do not online – whether that’s because of other needs we have, or responsibilities or even values – however I feel better for the experience and I hope I get to do it again very soon because whilst in many ways Niko and I are polar opposites, the fact he’s a wonderful, generous, funny and clever man means I want him in my life and feel all the better for having him there.
[Niko trying to not be seen in public with me]
Niko, thank you for the time and the generosity [especially the burger!] and I hope it is not too long before we can do it all again because now we’ve pressed flesh, we’re true mates.
Right, so when do I meet the other sods that come on here?
Well, if you listen carefully, in the distance you might just be able to make out the words …
“Never, if we have anything to do with it”
… emanating from the mouths of Lauren, NP, Marcus, Rob M & Peggy – and if they were to ask John, Age, Charles and now Niko about what it’s like to spend a few hours in my company – they’d be reassured they are absolutely right to have the view.
PS: @Lauren: Niko trod on my foot just as you asked him too. Bitch. Ha.