Reaching out via Twitter

One of my most entertaining discoveries this year has been Twitter.  I never thought I’d have any use for Twitter, let alone become a daily user, but it’s my favourite place on the Internet to communicate with large numbers of people on a huge number of topics.  Best of all, the short bursts of information tend to reveal the author’s personality better than a 10,000 word formal essay would, so I’ve gotten to see the “authentic” side of many people who are otherwise wrapped in a veneer of fame and celebrity.  Perhaps the best thing about Twitter is that so many people use it, so it’s a way to tell Lady Gaga you loved her meat dress, but also a way to tell a local restaurant owner that you love the meat loaf.  I’ve always been a person who wants to express my gratitude for a job well done, whether it be a well-acted movie, a well-run race, or a well-written book, so Twitter gives me a way to thank the talented folks who keep me awed, entertained, and inspired.

Thanks to Twitter, I was able to thank author Susan Orlean for writing “The Orchid Thief”, the book which opened my eyes to the literary genre of nonfiction travel/adventure and which gave me inspiration to work on my own green thumb—it would definitely make my list of my all-time favourite books.  The book was already special to me, but via Twitter I’ve learned that Orlean is a huge animal lover who does rescue work, so that adds an extra layer to my enjoyment.  Via Twitter I’ve been awed by the work ethic and drive of Olympian Lolo Jones, another animal lover, and touched by her offer to cook us Thanksgiving dinner next year.  Twitter gave me means to thank Rosanne Cash for her recent book and for her music, which I’ve been listening to for at least 25 years, but I was also able to offer her advice on a cat behavioural problem.  A couple of months ago I made dancer/choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba laugh by tweeting about how I worked her name into the lyrics of “Good Morning, Starshine”, and when we were dealing with Chelsea the cat’s recent diagnosis of kidney disease (and the resulting veterinary bill), Inaba voluntarily asked her Twitter followers to donate to Wee Paws, and made a donation of her own.  Inaba is another person who’s actively involved in the rescue community, and she loves and spoils her cats, even getting dialysis for one, which I think is awesome.  Another animal lover on Twitter is swimmer and 11-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin.  She’s given me tips on gardening, sent me messages about bird watching, and posts photos of her frequent travels all over the planet (often posting pics of local food delicacies… yum).  Getting a glimpse into the everyday, normal lives of people who otherwise seem “larger than life” is an excellent way to remember that with a little hard work and dedication, we’re all capable of great things.  Sometimes the roles are reversed in a rewarding way, too, like when actresses Alyson Hannigan (cat lover) and Kristin Bell (dog lover) express admiration for me, for Wee Paws, well… that’s the kind of thing guaranteed to put a smile on a girl’s face.

Thanks to these “celebrities who Tweet” for sending encouragement, entertainment, and laughs to me and Wee Paws via Twitter… it’s nice that the Internet still holds happy surprises after so many decades (I dialed into my first BBS 22 years ago!):  Natalie Coughlin, Lolo Jones, Pricilla Lopes-Schliep, open water swimmer Melissa Helmers, Alyson Hannigan, Kristin Bell, Cat Deeley, Susan Orlean, Rosanne Cash, Ol Parker (director/producer of a few of my favourite movies), author Ben H. Winters, model Joanna Krupa (animal rescuer extraordinaire), and original catwoman Lee Meriwether.  I’ve really only been using Twitter regularly for a few months, so I look forward to meeting many more.  I’m also starting to connect to the expat Canadian and veterinary communities on Twitter, so there are lots of new people to meet! 

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 12/30 at 04:02 AM

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