My Imaginery Friend

How many of you had a pen pal when you were little?  I did, and her name was Kris Weaver from St Paul, MN.  Do you know how many Kris Weaver's there are on facebook??  Believe me, I've tried to find her again, but to no avail.  I also had a pen pal from France, Cyril Salvagnac.  Last time I heard from him (early 1990's), he was putting together a band and thought he might visit sometime.  Hmmm....

All of that was before the internet.  Now with the internet, it's lots easier to stay in touch with people.  People you know and then people you don't know too.  I mostly keep in touch with people I know, it's safer that way! 

Meet the exception:

This is my modern day pen pal, Anneliese.  She is a contributor to the popular blog called Mennonite Girls Can Cook.  A couple years ago, I started reading the MGCC blog.  I noticed that the cooks also had their own personal blogs.  I started reading Anneliese's blog and immediately sensed a connection with this woman who lived in a different country.  She struck me as a person with whom I would be friends, if we lived closer.  I began leaving comments on her blog, and at that time, I didn't have a blog, so she emailed me with her replies/comments at times.  Time passed, and our friendship grew.  I still crack up that, at first, she wondered who this man was leaving comments on her blog!  My username is "Menno Jeweler" (more on that here), and she thought my real name was Menno.  Funny!

So, anyway...this is a long story because it needs an explanation!  Anneliese and I began to joke about visiting each other someday, actually meeting in person.  I could only hope!  Then one thing led to another, she and her fellow MGCC bloggers wrote a cookbook, which was published by Herald Press who just happened to move to an office near..... my hometown! 

So guess who's coming to visit me tomorrow??  I can hardly believe that I will finally get to meet, in person, my "imaginery friend" Anneliese!  It's surreal, and I realize, a bit strange and difficult to grasp.  As if that's not enough, another one of the MGCC authors is coming with her, Lovella!  I will meet them both!  AND they are coming to my house for dinner on Friday night!!   

Lovella is on the left, Anneliese is on the right
(both pics borrowed from Anneliese's blog)

Needless to say, I am eager and excited and a little nervous.  But mostly I'm just thrilled to finally meet my friend Anneliese, who will no longer be imaginery!

If you live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, you too can meet Lovella and Anneliese!  Go to this blog for information on a schedule of book signings they will be doing.  The cookbook will be sold at these locations, or you may bring your previously purchased book to be signed.  They will also be traveling to Lancaster, PA for a book signing before heading back up to Canada.