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Meet Traute Klein, biogardener.

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Blessings of the Internet

by Traute Klein, AKA biogardener

The Internet forges friendships between people who would never have a chance to meet in real life. Here we can support each other with advice, prayer, and understanding.
Note: This is article #100 for this topic. Even though I did not plan it that way, I am pleased to present this positive view of the Internet for this milestone.

"I just need to talk to someone!"

On Tuesday morning, my HumanClick function informed me that someone was requesting a chat with me. I accepted the chat, said "hi" and waited. It took a while before the visitor posted a response. It took even longer before she let me know why she had requested the chat. "I just need to talk to someone!" she told me. "I can't take it any more." I continued to encourage her to spill out her troubles. "My mother has Alzheimer's and she is getting violent. My father is 79 years old. So is my mother. He can't handle her any more." There is a time when we have to prepare to let someone else look after our loved one. "And she does not want to go to a nursing home."

Coincidence?

I took for granted that the woman chose to talk to me, because she had read my articles on how to cope as an Alzheimer caregiver. But no, she had not read any of my articles. She just saw the HumanClick function on my site which invited her to a chat with me. She just needed to talk to someone. She had no idea that I would be able to send her the URLs of my articles which tell the story of how I learned to cope with my mother's 30 year descent into the despair of Alzheimer's disease. She had no idea that I would be able to find her a support group in her area. No, she just needed to talk to someone.

"Where do I find a drumming circle?"

In response to my article, "The Peace Drum" (linked below) I received an email asking me how one could find a drumming circle. A few emails followed before I realized that the lady lives only a couple of miles away from my home, and that I would be able to introduce her to the drumming circle in which I participate. Out of all the locations in the world where my readers live, this lady had to live in Winnipeg.

"Don't ever talk to me again!"

An angry email told me that a forum visitor never wanted to talk to me again. That was about four years ago, and I do not remember what I had said that had upset her. I do remember, however, what my reaction was. If a person could take such violent offence where none was intended, there had to be something else going on in her life which had thrown her off balance, and my words were simply the straw which broke the camel's back. She had instructed me not to answer her email, but I ignored her instructions. I assured her that I was sorry that I had upset her, and I truly was. I also hinted that her life must be at a point where she simply could not cope, and that any time she needed a shoulder to cry on or a lightning deflector on which to unload her anger, I would be happy to be of service. Well, we have been the best of friends ever since. We know details about each other's lives which no one else is entitled to share. I have seen her survive health, work, and marriage problems which appeared to be insurmountable. We support each other with understanding, prayer, and advice, even when we do not agree with each other. I doubt that we would ever have become friends in real life. We live much too far from each other. The world wide web, however, knows no distance. That is the blessing of the Internet.
Note: I am sorry that
the HumanClick function is no longer available gratis.
Feel free to contact me by email.

Related Articles

Suicide -- I don't want to die!
An online chat and an email were Chris' last cry for help before he took a lethal overdose of antidepressants, but this story does not end in death.
Alzheimer Caregiver Survival Kit
How I survived looking after my Alzheimer mother without losing my sanity. My best trick was to change the subject.
Alzheimer Comedy Hour
Laughing at the absurdities of Alzheimer behavior does not hurt anyone, but it lightens the load of the caregiver. Just don't do it in front of the loved one.
A Hug for Alzheimer's
A hug can chase away the clouds of confusion faster than reasoning.
The Peace Drum
The story of the origin and practice of drumming for peace, including my personal experiences.