Last Thursday I did my normal morning routine of checking email, phone messages, and with a few remaining moments before the first of what appeared to be an endless series of scheduled teleconferences, checked my LinkedIN account.

I been a member of LinkedIN for several years, and have accumulated a couple hundred "connections," and joined a handful of industry-related groups.  I am not completely open to receving LinkedIN invitations, but do give each invitation a quick background check if I immediately recall why or how I know a person requesting to be a connection.  Pretty much the same as everybody.

Well, on Thursday I sat back and thought, "how can I possibly know all these people in the connections list?"  So I started to go through the directory of connections, and it was like going through a personal history book.  Shortly after beginning my review, I caught myself wondering out loud, "wow, haven't heard from that guy since I lived in London 10 years ago - wonder what he is doing..."

As I continued to scroll through the directory I was overcome with a bit of nostalgia, and even remorse that I had not kept in better connection with all those people from the "old days."  So I sent out about 25 "how goes it" messages, thinking I might get one or two responses.

Everybody I sent a message to responded, and I have been renewing old friendships and relationships with those folks for the past three days.  Might even be able to hook up in person before too long and catch up with all the events and bridges we've all crossed over the past years.  Those years that come and go way too fast, tearing up friendships, relationships, and separating us from those we care about and have nearly forgotten.

LinkedIN brought those people back into my life, and I am excited to have that circle of intellectual and personal connection back in my life.  The world is really not that big.

If you have never used a social networking or Web 2.0 site like LinkedIN (www.linkedin.com) or Facebook (www.facebook.com), I strongly suggest you put aside any preconceptions you may have regarding social networking, and indulge in being reconnected with your past.

It has been a really fun week