Can Internet Friends be Real?

Absolutely.

I have an Internet friend who is truly a friend. I've known him almost forever and he’ll always hold a special place in my heart, even though we’ve never met in person.

My friend is an upbeat, honest, witty kind of guy, a thoughtful and devoted family man, and a gifted writer and poet. What’s his name?  Russell D. Daily, but I’ve always called him, ‘Rusty-friend’.

We first ‘met’ many years ago at an online writing community. We were both posting our poetry and commenting on and critiquing each other's work for adults, or children.

It’s fun, when someone gets who you really are, without ever meeting you, just by reading between the lines and verses of poems you've written. Then by adding some heart and soul and a little imagination, they clearly see you like they've read your autobiography. That’s how it was with us.

He and I first came to realize our tastes were similar when writing our poetry for children. Our poems ran a parallel gamut, going from silly, or insightful, to the outright goofy, and always written from a child’s point of view.

Then, somewhere along the way, we started doing some co-writing. One of us would write a couple of lines as a starter, then email it to the other. Back and forth the poem went between us, until it simply felt right.

Here are a few of our co-written poems:

Wedgies
by Rusty Daily and CJ Heck

You know what makes me laugh
and puts me into stitches?
It's when I grab a hold and pull
the waist of someone’s britches.

It’s fun! It's called a WEDGIE
and what a perfect name,
just pull and yell out WEDGIE!
It‘s really the coolest game.

Hmmm, I wonder who I'll get,
lil sissy or my brother?
Or maybe, I should get my dad,
but definitely NOT my mother!

I NEVER do grandmas or grandpas.
To do that, I‘d have to be nuts,
'cause everyone knows that old people
don't even have any butts.

****

Teaching Grampa to Selfie
by Rusty Daily and CJ Heck

I taught my old grampa to selfie
(but I've got to teach him again).
He never aimed my new camera
so none of the pictures were him!

The first time he clicked it, he broke it.
It made such an awful loud sound,
whizzes and whirrs and then buzzing.
(I was sad to see grampa frown).

I waited and watched as they fixed it.
The man in the shop shook his head.
"What IDIOT broke this poor camera?"
Was all that the grouchy man said.

I tried for way over an hour
for grampa to just click and smile.
(Teaching my grampa to selfie
is sure going to take me awhile).

When we finally got a good picture
his nose hairs were all sticking out.
I guess grampas shouldn’t take selfies ...
so I'm done here -- Over and Out!

****

Monster
by Rusty Daily and CJ Heck

After all my books are read,
Mommy says it's time for bed.

Teeth are brushed, all pearly white,
now I have to go night-night.

Daddy walks me up the stairs,
and helps me say my bedtime prayers.

He fluffs the pillow for my head,
then lifts me up into my bed.

Mommy tucks me in real tight
‘cause monster visits me at night.

Tippy-toe, the monster hovers,
trying to slip beneath my covers.

Round my bed the monster dances
waiting for his little chances

he sees a gap, then in he'll go
to grab a finger or a toe.

I feel him crawling up my bed!
He’ll start licking at my head.

If I don't run, I know that he'll
have me for his monster meal.

And in the dark, what's that I see?
Two glowing eyes stare back at me.

Should I yell with all my might
for Dad to come turn on the light?

He might get mad if I did that ...
Come here, Monster, you silly cat!

****

All By Myself
by Rusty Daily and CJ Heck

I’ve gotta play by myself today.
Mommy is cleaning and mopping.
Then she’ll be calling a sitter
for when she goes grocery shopping.

The sitter is really boring.
She’s always on the dumb phone,
or painting her nails or combing her hair
so I guess I’ll be playing alone …

I think I’ll get out my play dough
and make a spaghetti pie.
Or maybe, I'll feed all my dollies
so they won't be fussy and cry.

At two, I’ll watch my TV shows.
Till then I'll build with my blocks.
When I'm done, I'll pick them all up
(if I can get 'em all back in the box).

Maybe later, my best friend and I
will draw a picture or two
with all my favorite crayons,
specially red, green and blue.

I really like my toys and games
and my other good stuff … but gee,
I think ALL playing’s is funner
when Mommy is here beside me.

****

“CJ, I was imagining you sitting at your computer —I hope you enjoy the poem.” —Your friend, Rusty”

My Mentor
by Rusty Daily

The scene:
A small wisp of
hot morning coffee.
box of Puffs,
their proximity close,
prepared to negate
the effects of sorrow
or unmitigated laughter.

The magnetic keyboard
pulls magic from
a heart and soul.
A small knowing smile
a far away look,
into hearts

The moods,
a roller coaster of:
The playful child.
The adult-adult.
The Lost Love.
The Consoler.
The Healer.

The Effect:
A virtual crossroads
of those looking for …”

****

Anytime someone says Internet friends can’t be real friends, I shake my head in disbelief. Everyone should be so lucky to have a Rusty-friend in their life. It's uncanny, how well he knows the real me, the person I am just under my skin.

I hope to meet him someday …

Published Poet/Writer/Author of 5 books.
Quora Top Writer 2018
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