In publicly blogging (and posting to flickr), I’ve received a few emails from people I’d never met. It is an interesting experience, and reinforced the realization that I’m happy helping or entertaining people, even if I never meet them.
I’ve given specifically requested feedback on my choice of server host, Rimuhosting. I’ve tried to help someone who was having problems with the TD online banking website. I’ve also received one or two other emails I can’t remember right now. To me, that’s pretty surprising for a blog as new and infrequently visited as mine.
I got the best “interaction with a stranger” today, though. I received a message via Flickr asking why I didn’t have comments enabled for my public pictures (particularly those of my cats). That was an oversight on my part, a legacy of being concerned about comment spam and still working out how my online presence should be. I enabled comments and thanked the sender. I got one last reply that immediately made me smile:
I love Adele’s bunny-like paws! I have to go to sleep now, and have a very busy day tomorrow, but can’t wait to come back and visit your cats! Thank you!
I love cats, and my cats in particular. My reaction to this kind of input is probably akin to parents’ reactions when told how wonderfully smart or cute their young child is. 
I’m not entirely sure which picture was being referred to (I take similar shots in succession, but don’t always cull down to one), but it may be this one:
