Alone vs. Lonely

Definitions:

Alone:  isolated from others; "could be alone in a crowded room"; "was alone with her thoughts"; "I want to be alone"

Lonely:  marked by dejection from being alone; "felt sad and lonely"; "the loneliest night of the week"; "lonesome when her husband is away"; "spent a lonesome hour in the bar"

Remarkable how similar these two words are, and so vastly different.  I am rarely alone.  Well, that's not entirely true.  When I am in my "cave" I guess I am alone, sorta.  Hubby is downstairs watching TV, I am upstairs playing whatever game or doing what I am doing right now.  I sometimes think I would like to be permanently alone, that is, not dependent on anyone for anything.  I like the idea.  I can do what I want, go where I want, see who I want.  Nice.  I have been alone twice recently.  One was my road trip.  The other was the Chi LAN.  Oh, I was with people.  At the LAN, a LOT of people.  But I was gloriously alone.  It rocked.

Then there is lonely.  Yes, I am lonely a lot.  Or lonesome.  Unfortunately, I have no idea what or who I am lonely for.  It is just a mild sadness that I am missing something or someone, and I don't know who or what. 

Moody again.....

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuR9_kWJZgU[/youtube]