Meeting Seafarer Mama in Boston

Up until a couple of months ago, Seafarer Mama and I had some HubPages friends in common, but weren't acquainted quite yet. She saw me on our mutual friend Suzie HQ's hub on "Frankincense", and noticed that I live in Boston. She sent me fanmail, mentioning that she lived in the area for 20 years before she moved away. Curious, I checked out her profile, and it didn't take long for me to follow her back. I was thrilled by her selection of food hubs, reviews on places not far from where I live, and that she likes Van Gogh and pumpkin desserts. Since that day a couple of months ago, I have revisited her page many times to check out her interesting articles.

When Karen, also known as Seafarer Mama, commented on one of my hubs on Carson Beach back in April, she mentioned that she was going to be in Boston in June, and that maybe we could meet. I was delighted by the idea. I wrote it down in my planner, so I wouldn't forget. I remember thinking at the time that it seemed like quite a ways away.

I really enjoy reading, especially subjects that interest me. I also like learning new things, and expanding my knowledge and understanding. Karen's hubs are fascinating to me.

She writes about many different subjects. My favorite type is probably what she calls "From the Diary of a Kitchen Goddess" recipe series. I checked out the first one that caught my eye, thinking it would just be a regular (but also delicious) recipe. I was pleasantly surprised by the absolutely charming way she writes sort of a diary entry for the day, and spins such a nostalgic view of the goings on in her family, that I can't help but smile. Her writing just draws you in, and makes you feel that you can become a part of her celebration of life when you make whatever it is she provides the recipe for. The food is only the destination, and the journey she brings you on is the best part of it all.

In addition to writing here on HubPages, she has a gardening blog, and she is a published author of a book called "The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Fruits and Berries". To see the article she wrote about the process of writing a book, check out the link below.

Time went by so fast, and before I knew it, the week Karen was going to be in the area during the daytime was almost here. We sent a few messages back and forth on different hubs, but we didn't pin down an exact date. Once the week arrived, I decided that either Thursday or Friday would work, since I had those days off from work. In the end, we met on a Friday.

The first day of Summer was sunny, in the late 70s, and breezy. Nearly a perfect day, in my opinion. I called the phone number Karen gave me, and let her know I was on my way. Then I hopped onto a bus. The transportation system in Boston is stellar. You can get along very well without a car, and it's relaxing to sit back and let someone else do the driving. No worries about the traffic, or finding a parking spot at your destination!

I got to Park Street a few minutes early, and had time to walk around and enjoy the beautiful weather. I observed all of the little booths not far from the subway station. You can buy all sorts of Boston shirts and hats, different types of food, ice cream, and a myriad of other things. It has the feel of a festival. There were people all over the place, but it is a big area, so it doesn't feel crowded.

I met Karen right at 12:30, when her lunch break started. We greeted each other, and walked toward the Boston Common. We wandered around for a few minutes, chatting about Boston and HubPages. We meandered on a walkway, and passed the Parkman Bandstand, a place that sometimes holds plays that are free to the public. Since she has lived in the area before, she shared some of her memories with me.

When we found a bench partially in the shade, we sat down. We spent most of the next 50 minutes just talking.

The difference between interacting online and seeing someone in real life is that you can say a lot more in a period of time using the spoken word than you can the written word. Also, you get to see them in real time. Since you are in the same environment, you see and experience many of the same things, but with your own individual viewpoint. This chance to meet a fellow writer was priceless. I got to see what she looks like, see her smile and her expressions, hear her laugh, and note what her voice sounds like. Even though I only saw her for about an hour, it was long enough for me to have an idea of what she is like. When I "see" her online now, I have a bigger picture of what she is like. The pieces of the puzzle are more complete.

Now that I have met her, and talked to her, who is Seafarer Mama? She is a wonderful woman who seems like a fantastic mother and a devoted wife. She is sweet, and nurturing. She is thoughtful, and a delight to talk to. We spent time talking about our lives, of HubPages, and our other writing experiences. We talked about our communities, and education. She homeschools her daughter, and I was homeschooled when I was younger, so that was an interesting topic. We talked about public transportation. She works in Boston for about one week per year, and while she works there, she has a commute that makes my 2 1/2 hour roundtrip travel on workdays seem quick! Karen is the kind of woman that I would love to have as a neighbor.

Before we knew it, the hour was nearly over, and we had to start walking back to her office. We had such a wonderful time getting to know each other, and it was a little sad for it to end. If given the time, I am sure we could have talked for much longer! But even though the visit was through, we can still communicate online, and who knows, maybe we will be able to meet again!

The week before we planned on meeting, she wrote a video hub on sunflowers. She shows us how to plant them, and what the many benefits are. I think sunflowers are very cheerful.

Since she knew that I like sunflowers, she was sweet enough to pack up an envelope of fresh seeds for to plant. She gave it to me right at the end of our visit, and I appreciated it very much!

Would you like to meet anyone from HubPages? Many people say that it would be nice, but then don't do much about it. If you really want to meet people, make it happen! How could you go about doing that?

• In a forum, ask if anyone wants to meet
• Look for existing gatherings
• If you are going on a business meeting or trip of some kind, and know someone on HubPages that you would like to meet in that area, suggest it to them