Most of you
already know family means everything to me.
I realize as I write it that it sounds a bit smug. I mean, after all, family means everything to
you, too, right? I don’t have a corner on the market when it comes to loving family,
and family time. Just want to get that
out of the way – I feel you.
We share
this. I know. I don’t write about my love of family to
place my experiences above your own, but, rather to strike common ground. Above all else, our love of family unites us,
at least I think so, and that’s why I write, and that’s why you read. Love you, I do!
Of course,
every family’s experiences are unique, as unique as each one of us. I have much in common with many family
members and friends. But, I also
appreciate the unique characteristic of each of those groups and
individuals. I have friends raising
their kids and celebrating on the beach, or in the desert, mountains and hills,
frozen tundra, forests and woods, and deep, tropical oasis. Okay, that last one is a stretch. I don’t think I know anyone in a deep
tropical oasis, or under the sea for that matter, but it could happen. You get my point…we are all doing it different,
and all doing it the same.
Probably like
most of you this is the same reasoning behind liking and using Facebook. I mean, it is an easy way to keep in touch,
to experience life that is just a bit different than your own. Maybe even imagine yourself in a new setting
or town, what you would do. A friend of
mine who was visiting the east coast last week posted a picture of a buttered
lobster roll. Now this has made me want
a buttered lobster roll ever since. Hubs
and I started talking about an east coast getaway in the spring or fall of
2018, I will salivate for a lobster roll until then, I suppose, but I wouldn’t
have had that motivation or start making a plan without that picture. No matter what you think of Facebook it does
have its way, doesn’t it, of bringing you something new to think about, and
bringing your friends and family just a bit closer.
So, I have been
one of those who has blocked people, hid advertisements, failed to reply to a
message from someone, even declined a friend request or two and, I’ll admit it,
I’ll continue to do so. It’s how you
refine what Facebook delivers. On the other hand, I love seeing pictures,
families together, I do get some news from Facebook and it is how I find out
about sales or places to visit and what the specials are at my favorite little
bar and grill. I post my blog updates on
Facebook and I know I have gained some readers this way.
I get lost in
Facebook, too, and that’s a habit I try to keep at bay. I also get mad and irritated at the things I
see posted there. I move on. I don’t take bait, usually, but oh, boy,
there are times I want to throw myself in the middle of something. Try not to, people of mine, try not to. It won’t get you where you think you want to
be…at least, I haven’t seen it work that way yet. But, oh the good, the great,
of Facebook.
Last week, my
sister-in-law traveled to the Pacific Northwest with the surviving 8 of her 10
siblings. I didn’t know them as kids
but, wow, what a house that must have been.
I have seen them all together
only once or twice over the last 40 (OMG! Seriously? 40?) years. There are a few pictures posted on Facebook
of their “reunion”. To see them together
brought me such a joyful moment, one of those times when my heart truly felt a
warmth, a glow. Without this digital social
media thing I don’t know when I would have the opportunity to see them all
together again, even in pictures. Thanks for sharing that, guys. Another post
this week of a friend celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary,
the joy on her face in her family picture…when she, finally, had them all in
one spot, all ready to smile and to gather around her table and to stop for a
moment to get that great shot. These are
the joys in life, the joy of family and yes, the joy of Facebook.
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