To Jess, Jack, Sophia, Roudy, Emily, Danielle, Jared, Jenny, Nagely, Daisy, Elijah, Julian, Albert, Ash & Ricky & Matt, Adrian, Pupper, Chuma, Kaytlynn, Cory, Cody, Yoyo, MTG, Jonathan, Andrea, Jessica, Zach, Blake, Shelby, Kevin, Brittany, Joel, Kyra, Jordan, Tyler, Karen, Stephanie, Kyle S, Katt, Kyle N, Tommy, Ane, Tanner, Justin, Brent, even Phil & everyone else
When I was back home this past weekend, I went to a preseason AHL hockey game with my girlfriend and a group of really good friends. Here are a few photos:
ignore the random Kings fan
If someone saw us walking around they would think that we have been best friends for years and have known each other almost our whole lives. No way this sprang from social media, right? Funny thing is: we all met through Twitter, and this mass friendship has existed for only maybe 2 years at the most...
Never in my life did I ever think that I would meet some of my closest and best friends in the way that I have. We were all told when we were growing up to "be careful" on the internet and that everyone is a stranger and is out to get you. Not true at all.
When I first created my Twitter account back in January of 2012, I really felt like nothing was happening. I felt like at times I was the only one tweeting about the Ducks and hockey and was almost in my own little world. Then slowly and slowly I began to find other people that were Ducks fans and hockey fans and began following them and interacting with them every so often. Twitter handles became the way you knew or identified someone as. It was almost like they were just a small little friend in a big, big world.
What happened next is something that I never imagined would happen. I began interacting with a specific group of about six other Ducks fans in the beginning of 2014. One day we all decided to exchange numbers... and the rest is history. Those six people are some of best friends now and I could not be more thankful for them. So Jack, Sophia, Roudy, Danielle, Emily & Jared, thank you.
Now, in 2015, "Ducks Fam" has grown into something that I could never have imagined it being. We all soon discovered small little groups of friends on twitter who all shared the same passion for the Ducks. We all started interacting heavily and it just grew and grew and grew until it became a full-blown party. I am really proud to say that these people are my closest friends. What may look like just a pointless little online friendship that will never develop into a real-life thing really is a real-life thing. Exchanges of favorites and retweets have turned into exchanges of hugs and hi-fives. We see each other quite a bit. What has gone from just a couple people I know by their twitter handle has become one big family of everyone who knows each other by name and has become extremely close in the process. People may think it's "silly" or a "waste of time" to have friendships with people from social media, but I would not change one thing about what has happened over these last two years. It has been one of the best decisions of my life to pursue friendships with all of you. It has been such a fun and memorable process.
I cannot express enough gratitude to everyone I have became so close with over these last two years. You all are some of the greatest and funniest people I know and you are all a very big part of my life. Thank you so much guys.
I wouldn't be doing this right if I didn't acknowledge my girlfriend. The fact that I met the most incredible, loving, and caring human being that I have ever known from all of this is pretty incredible if you ask me. Jess, I don't know where I would be if I hadn't met you. You have played a gigantic role in my life from the start, and I would not want it any other way. It's pretty cool to say that the Ducks pretty much brought us together and made us aware of each other. If it wasn't for the Ducks and Twitter, I wouldn't have the biggest blessing I've ever received. I love you.
Needless to say, it's pretty amazing what social media can do in today's world. The amount of opportunities to meet new people is endless with social media. To all who are skeptics of having online friends and think that they never grow into true friendships, I think you are missing out. Try it...branch out. Who knows, you may meet some pretty incredible people along the way.
Let's have fun this season. Go Ducks!
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