What makes a great weekend night?

Good music? Good friends? Perhaps a drink or two?

I had all of that tonight. All while sitting alone on my couch.

When I was in college, I met some of my best friends. A good chunk of them started out as an obscure screen name on a message board. That obscure name started to have a story and a real name. That real name soon became a close friend through journal posts and emails. Those posts eventually morphed into a name and number in my phone. Some of those eventually results in meeting face-to-face, providing me with cherished memories.

I don’t post in my private journal as much. I often don’t even load instant messenger these days, unless its to chat with my Mom in the evening. I’ve gotten pretty wrapped up in my life right here, right now. But tonight I was reminded: I have dear friends who aren’t right here, right now. And those friends are people I need and want in my life.

So as I pack up to go to bed, I can’t help but think to myself…

We spend money on an internet connection and a laptop, and its most often used for work these days. But at one time, I had these items for pleasure. We would actually have “girls night” online! Late night voice chats — five or six girls all fighting to talk at the same time. Or perhaps just as many chat boxes open, juggling multiple conversations at once. Or perhaps we’d just hijack a thread on a message board to share our crazy fun.

These people all enriched my life, and somewhere over time and miles, they get a little lost. Sometimes, you have to just have a date night with those friends. Stay home and reconnect with old friends. It’s not only saving you money, but it’s also maybe bringing you back to yourself in a way.