Internet Friends

Yesterday I had a mini freak out when I realized it had been days since I saw one of my internet friends online. I e-mailed around, went to her usual haunts and called her house over and over again.
Asking around for her made me think again about how fragile our links to each other can be. We know each other most of the time by our nicks and have no idea how to reach one another if not online. I still think about his_luv_pet and would like to know what happened to her.
Some of us have moved past the online only sort of relationship and have phone numbers and real names to go with our nicks - but not many of us.
I found my friend and she told me to chill in her reply to my freaking out e-mail. Chill?! If she only knew how close I was to calling the cops... Not because I'm neurotic and worry too much (which I am and do), but because I care. My friends are my family and I tend to be over protective.
This is just to say I hope you guys are all doing okay - I tend to ramble.
It's a good thing to care, but man! it takes a lot of energy out of a girl!
Be safe.
- C