The joys of Facebook

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I resisted Facebook for a long time. I mean, let’s face it… I’m forty-something years old. Why do I need a profile on Facebook? I do pretty well keeping in touch with friends and family thanks to email.

But a few months ago, I noticed while reading one of my friend’s blogs that he was not only on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter but a whole host of other social networking sites. Of course I teased him about it. And then proceeded immediately to check out what all the fuss was about. (Do not pass go, do not collect $200)

Before I knew it I had a profile on Facebook and found that a handful of my friends did too. Next thing I realize is that most of my co-workers are on there too.

Little by little my list of friends on Facebook has grown but the absolute coolest thing about this has been the people I’ve found from my childhood who’ve scattered far and wide. What a wonderful way to see what they are up to and how their lives have turned out. A few weeks ago, I stumbled on a friend from middle school. He now lives 3000 miles away but what a thrill it was to trade a few emails. I haven’t seen him in easily 30 years and yet I saw his photo and still saw the kid I knew.

There’s always this fear when I click on someone’s profile and try to add them that they will see mine and go “who???” So far it’s only happened once and let me tell you that reading “how do we know each other?” truly makes you feel like the girl not asked to the dance. All I could think was “how could he not remember me?” (he eventually recalled who I was and immediately apologized but still…)

But aside from that one painful exchange, Facebook makes me smile several times a week. Most recently…today. I got an email from a childhood friend whose brother had found me on Facebook about a month ago. It was so wonderful to hear from her and share where the paths of our lives had taken us.

Another time and place and I would never know how the lives of these long lost friends had turned out. We may have all lost touch as we travelled our own long and winding roads but Facebook has given us a map back to each other.

Not on Facebook yet? Go now. I think you’ll be surprised at who you find there.

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Tags: Facebook, social networks