Susan Mangigian (affectionately known as Mangiggly) is an ActiveRain member I would LOVE to get to meet in person. I've known her for nearly 5 years. In fact in two weeks it will be exactly five years. But she's the kind of gentle soul person that you just cannot know without loving her. I felt an immediate connection to her when I landed on the first post of hers I commented on back in October of 2008. We had both gotten married on the same day. Not the same day two different years, but the same exact day 10/27/1984
And of all the blessed things it was a political (of sorts) post. It was about her sign vs. her husband's sign for the presidential campaign. At that moment, even though I was on her husband's political side I just loved her comment back to me.
We've chatted, we've emailed, we've become so much more than ActiveRain peeps. Susan is MY friend. And for you na sayers who don't think you can get to know someone on the Internet, ba hum bug. I KNOW Susan and I love and adore her. And although we're still clearly politically divided, we each respect the other's opnion and don't trash talk the other's views, but sometimes actually listen with an open mind.
We've shared secrets, worried over our children, said prayers for each other's families in times of crisis. She has inspired me on so many occasions. Some of my very favorite of her posts are her Thankful Thursday and What's the word Wednesday. She's wise and insightful. Susan seems to look for the good in the worst of people time and time again. Of course there's a line people cross sometimes that make all of us just *sigh* and give up looking for good when someone continues to bash and be mean spirited.
I've met a LOT of folks from ActiveRain, but Susan is honestly on my short list of those clearly in the HAVE TO MEET category. Not only do I want to meet her, one of these days I'm just going to take a road trip and go and visit. I want to help her make sauce in her kitchen and I want to eat at Lemoncello with her. I want to sit and have wine and laugh the evening away. And I want to hug her neck.
I've helped her find a great agent in Georgia for people she knew moving close by, but in an area I didn't actually work. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to do business with her or refer anyone to her moving there. I trust Susan 100%! People in her area who don't hire her and listen to her advice are just nuts.
When I saw this contest about "who would you like to meet" I really wasn't sure I was going to participate, but then I got to thinking about Susan and I wanted to tell you that if you don't follow her posts, if you don't know her... you should meet her. So go on over to Susan's blog and subscribe. You won't regret it, I promise.
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