What started out as a conversation about Doozers and Fraggles a couple of months ago on Facebook turned into a friendship, which turned into Anthony being the big brother I never had.

Just as the Doozers create magnificent structures that the Fraggles devour, Anthony encourages a creative side of me that I haven’t been able to pull out on my own.

In the few short months that I have known Anthony, he has proven to be a great friend and comrade. I salute him today, on his birthday.

Anthony and I have shared sandwiches and nachos in Claire’s living room, we’ve conversed over sweet potato fries and caprese salads, he’s driven around and gotten lost and threatened to leave my body on the side of the road, just as any big brother would do.

He was a tried and true emotional ally while my mom was sick, he’s a good sport with a decent singing voice, and together we shared in the amazement of a revolving Christmas tree at a yuppie chamber of commerce party.

Anthony is an old soul with a penchant for learning the ins and outs of one’s being without a single grain of judgment. He’s got wacky tastes and an eye for the simple things of beauty in everyday life.

I know he’s got friends who have known him for years, and I know they are just as thankful as I am to have someone so genuine in their lives.

Happy Birthday, Anthony.

Christmas is here at last. Often preparing for Christmas is a list of lonesome chores, even, or especially, if you have a many friends and family with whom to share your love and sentiments. The secret gifts, the time management, and the endless driving around can be a little isolating.

This is a call to bear hug all the shared moments of the holiday season and to think about more collaborative resolutions for the new year.

Hold those embraces a moment longer. Run up your phone bill and make plans to visit your distant relatives. Promise to get involved in charities, sign up for a book club, start a lunch club, and get a workout buddy to lose your extra holiday pounds.

We all wish for good health in the new year and to be together for many holidays to come. I look back at this past year and I am grateful for the community that has been built in Pittsburgh by social media. We are all one big family and we’d do anything for each other.

One family found a trusted nanny for their newborn son from a friendship that developed through Pittsburgh social media relations.

Anyone who is having a bad day for whatever reason can be instantly reassured by at least ten of their Yinzer friends on Twitter.

And I found an awesome dude to hang out with through Pittsburgh social media.

We wish you the happiest of holidays and true friendship, love, health and prosperity in the coming year.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter know that my mom had a heart attack on Monday evening.

When I was with her in the ER, I started to think about those who might need or want to be notified, beyond immediate family. 

I decided to send out a tweet.

Within minutes, I had text messages and voice mail messages of support from several people. 

To say I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support is an understatement.

Some friends who I’ve only known for a very short time offered to come and keep me company or at the very least, to lend a supportive ear. 

We all have loved ones who have gone through scary health issues and I truly appreciate each person’s sentiment to my current situation.

Please know that each of your texts, DM’s and calls encouraged me to remain strong and to offer the greatest level of support to my mother as possible. 

Right now, my mom is still in the hospital but is doing much better. I won’t go into the nitty gritty details but I know she is heading in the right direction.

Words simply cannot express the gratitude that I have for the Yinzers, far and wide. 

Beyond the random social media banter we share each day, you are all amazing people and I am blessed to be able to call each of you my friend, IRL.