Being a writer is foundational to who I am. It’s integral. And it’s given me gifts over the years, and certainly played a key part in helping me to work through my grief when Ken died in 2011.

I was in Los Angeles recently for a week–mostly for work, but managed to fit some fun in as well. I spent huge amounts of time outside, hiking and walking. But I made it a point to reach out to my friend Ray to see if we could have coffee. And meet for the first time.

Ray is a blogger, like me. And I was turned onto his blog, easilycrestfallen, by a mutual friend several years ago when I was still working through the aftermath of Ken’s death—and writing prolifically about it. There’s something about Ray’s writing style and stories that struck a chord in me. I like that it’s a different from mine as it is similar.

It’s an odd feeling to meet someone for the first time—yet know so much about them. We both write about what we’re experiencing in our lives. And I think we agreed it’s the difficult times where the compulsion to write and share strikes the hardest. We both recently lost our dads which has been the topic of many of our blogs of late.

I can’t help but think of what set me off on the journey to blog in the first place—which led me to be sitting there, sipping Starbucks on colorful Santa Monica Boulevard. I’d been chomping at the bit for years to start a blog but couldn’t settle on a theme—until Ken’s cancer diagnosis in 2009. (Careful what you wish for, and be sure to be VERY specific.)

Ever the buoyant optimist, I’m grateful for the gifts I’ve received since enduring something so painful. My fear level dropped considerably. My curiosity grows every day. The people I’ve met and the places I’ve gone. None of this would have happened had my life continued on the path I’d hoped it would when I fell in love. But life goes on, and keeps revealing new gifts on the daily…if you’re paying attention.

Ray and I have a lot in common, and it felt really comfortable, talking and catching up. Like two old friends…who just never met before. Though the first official meeting was short, it was very sweet. And I look forward to catching up with him again the next time I’m in town.

Write on!