ok guys check this out. i have a bit of a situation here.
i have a really good female friend that i met online at the long-since-defunct arcadium.com around 6-7 years ago. she currently attends uc berkeley. i was talking to her online tonight, just making smalltalk, asking if she knows people i know at berkeley, etc. at 2100 pm i told her i'm gonna go watch third watch on nbc (yes, i really watch that). at around 2130 my phone rings, and i'm ready to ignore it because it's so late. i decide whatever, though, so i answer it. it's sydney (my longtime friend) and she proceeds to tell me that she has a friend that's willing to drive down to orange county this saturday so she can see me. i'm like holy schnikes... do i let her friend drive her down here to see me or what? i'm really nervous, and she keeps asking if she should come and i keep saying i don't know. FINALLY, after 20 minutes, i just tell her to call me back tomorrow so i can have some time to dwell on it. i don't know, still. this will probably be the only time i'll be able to see her because she said her dad just got on disability, so she's going to have to start working a lot to put herself through school, so even if i decide to drive the 400+ miles to visit her (and my other friends) at uc berkeley, chances are she'd either be too tired, or at work. i'm also worried that i'll feel bad if i'm nervous, and i don't want to be nervous. if i feel bad, we won't have as much fun, and that won't be too good a second first impression... wow. any thoughts?
Rally Co-Driver In Training
...Opens 80, narrows 4 left minus tightens, into 5 right, opens 30, 5 right keep in into hairpin left, 4 plus 30, sharp 5 left into crest 20, opens 5 half long over crest...

she would be nervous as well no doubt

yeah this will be the first time we've ever fleshmet
i figured out what was so wrong. i was just shocked by the whole thing! i woke up this morning, and the answer was a resounding "why the hell not". i should know myself better, i always do stuff for the hell of it.
spok i'm probably gonna have her meet me at the block, what do you need?
Rally Co-Driver In Training
...Opens 80, narrows 4 left minus tightens, into 5 right, opens 30, 5 right keep in into hairpin left, 4 plus 30, sharp 5 left into crest 20, opens 5 half long over crest...

I've met a couple of internet pals in the past.. the very first time, I was doing the travelling... to Kalamazoo (sp?) to meet a newly engaged couple who I had known for a good two years I think. I brought a friend of mine, Lisa, who also knew the pair from chatting on p*... having Lisa there was a GREAT help to get over any nervous tension, but you know what, the nervousness would have passed probably just as quickly had she not come. By the time a half hour flew by, we were all touchy feely jokey pokey with each other, just like in chat.
The next time, a friend came up here to see me for christmas. That was a very fun visit, but -- and do NOT let this freak you from going through with your meeting -- didn't end with as much enjoyment. It was because I was having an "internet relationship" with this person, and they were very confused at the time... but, we are still great friends and talk pretty much daily.
After those two experiences I considered myself a pro and wasn't nervous anymore, so when two friends came over from montreal.. I think I scared them, heh.
Anyway.. *every* time I have met someone from online, it has turned out to be a fun experience... so I say go for it. I wont get into the whole internet relationships thingy though, because there are both pros and cons with it (I lean on the con side these days, but friendship is all pros)... you've known her forever, so this is a logical thing.. I'm glad you are excited about it and hope you have a rockin time.
Ren
PS - advice: do NOT get drunk, or otherwise, on the first night...

um interesting story cut short. i met my gf online before i met her in person.