Finishing School

Often, I read or hear people utter passionately, Dogs Teach Us So Much! For some reason, I have an unusual physical reaction to that statement. I feel my face scrunch a little and my shoulders shrug.

Really? Dogs teach us? Can they teach us how to drive a fancy sports car? or how to cook boeuf Bourguignon? I wish mine could provide fashion tips.

Too cynical? too literal? Maybe. I guess the same way I feel about how insensitive it is to dress a dog in human clothing, is the way I feel about this. The attribution of a human characteristic to an animal.

As the creator of The Pet Set, I thought long and hard about what I have learned to be the essence of dog.

They enlighten us: to see them as elegant, poised, smart and even spiritual. They open our mind to the possibility that every day, every moment is new and exciting. Can you imagine how different your life would be if you embraced that concept? You probably do already. I still must be taught.

Internet Friendship, Really.

You know and I know, we wonder if there is such a thing as real friend relationships conceived on-line. I certainly have. Although, until recently, I did not. On-line friendships? How tacky, vacuous and potentially unseemly (many undignified adjectives, really.)

But then, like millions, I began a Twitter account. Also like millions, I had happy little expectations that this could become a powerful marketing tool -- one which would help to leverage my stationery business, The Pet Set. I'd become a millionaire, like Donald Trump, go on Donny Deutch's annoying show about advertising and ultimately on Oprah! My future would now be forever locked tighter than a drum because of Twitter!

After several months of colossal hilarity, time-burglary, affected and semi-adroit tweeting...I realized something. This is more than a marketing implement. Twitter is a giant block party!

There are people on Twitter! Many, many people. People from across the globe and from around the corner! I thought, YAY! Certainly the potential to expand my universe beyond the sometimes smothering existence of suburban life!

I really have met a few lovely folks...folks with whom I could see myself situated at the corner of the bar on a Friday night. (No smoking in this 'nanny country') Truly, some of the best. (do we even say 'met' on an on-line social network anymore)?

Predictably, as in real life, one unique individual came upon the scene. One with whom not only did I imagine sharing an adult beverage or swapping bbq sauce recipes, but one who would join me for Thanksgiving dinner. Chat on the phone every evening. Make fun of celebrities. Take care of each other's Chocolate Labradors. Share pickles...because we both think they are the best food in the world. We had such a great time Tweeting and just being friends.

Then one day, this person quit Twitter. Up and left. No more contact. No way to stay in touch. No Bat Signal no Bat Time. Nothing.

The odd thing was, this person did what is expected on Twitter, amassed a respectable amount of followers (code for interested, interesting, weird and lonely people). This is why I was hurt and confused. I was one of them. A Follower.

A shock to my naive soul and I am saddened. I wonder if it is real hurt or if I have such a heightened sense of self obsession that I actually thought, me? This person could desert me? Imagine this. Feelings? About an on-line friend? How could I have let this happen? I have a wall around me as high as the Tower Bridge. As they say in the movies, "It just happened". Internet friends, really.

Oh yes. Twitter is a world-wide phenomenon. But really?, it is a lot like. High School!

Anyway, I wish this person only inner peace, prosperity and the love we are all searching for. Really. (oh and dog poo) You will be missed.