It seems like yesterday that we had the opportunity to add voice mail to our home telephone accounts. Now THAT was technology enhancing our lives for the better. No more having to stay home and wait for a call. It was incredibly liberating to be able to run to the store and not miss out on what could be a life changing (or more likely an evening changing) event. There were still cords on our phones (albeit you could purchase one that almost went around the block) and cell phones (if you could even find or afford one) were the size of an industrial toaster. But life was good because we had voice mail!
It takes me to the whole idea of Facebook today. It seems incredible to me that we are able to connect with friends that are halfway around the world and with whom we may not have seen or spoken to in several decades. A few weeks ago, someone befriended me on Facebook. She and I had been close buddies during middle school and our freshman year when her mother up and moved them to Faro, Yukon. There was no way of communicating except through snail mail and well, you know teenagers, there's always something better to do than write a letter. Before long, our friendship had dissipated and there was no way of knowing where she was and what paths her life had taken.
It was almost like seeing a ghost when her name came up and asked me to be her friend (again!). What a joy to connect with someone who remembers me when I wore those really cute super big bell bottom ocean blue cords. (I know I looked hot in those cords!) We reminisced a little, but more than that we have reconnected with who we are today. She has 3 boys that are similar ages to my kids. In fact, her son and my daughter share the same birthday! It's almost like we are catching up on 30+ years of lost time.
When I first signed up for Facebook, I was astounded at the amount of time I was spending on it. After all, checking out photos and sharing my status was time consuming. Was this just another way of postponing the inevitable house cleaning and dinner making? It wasn't long that I was realized that I was connecting with friends and family that I haven't seen in years. Having moved away from Canada a dozen years ago, it was an effort just to keep up with immediate family matters, never mind the people who shared my life so many years ago. But with this new technology, I am able to reconnect and stay in touch with many of them who have a place in my heart. I am actually getting to know some of them better than I did back then. But all of them are precious and represent a part of my childhood, high school and college years that I don't want to forget. I can't think of a better way of spending a few minutes then to peruse their family photos and see where life has taken them.
So now, I make my cup of coffee and get myself comfy in front of my mac and plan to spend a few minutes or a few hours with an old friend(s). It makes me smile every morning as I check to see what latest and greatest things are going on in their lives. Where are they performing? When is their latest cd/book/thesis releasing? When are they getting the new house, new baby, new grand baby? Who are they cheering for? Where was their last vacation and with whom? It warms my heart to see my brothers and nieces and nephews and cousins and their children and their children's children. How else would I know what the weather is in Timmins? Or keep up with what is going on with everyone's life.
So, when someone mentions that they don't have time for Facebook, I am just thankful that I do have the time for these amazing re connections. My life is richer now that they have stepped into again. It's like having another child. You think you don't have room to love another one like you did the first child, and yet, when they arrive the loves is endless. And I know that they know things that I may not want posted? I had better keep an eye on that :)
So, all in all, I feel that Facebook has been a blessing. What if they had called to tell me about their lives and I didn't have voice mail?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
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