Yep, it’s cool in some circles to disdain the social media queen bee. Some of my best friends won’t go near the place. Why would they want to waste their time? True, if you’re not careful it can chew up your minutes like Pac Man.
Yesterday I was going through some old family photos and wavering between tears and laughter as memory after memory zinged me. I found one of my son and I , taken some years ago at the beach. We were both caught in a moment of sheer delight as he sat on my lap in the sand at Santa Monica. I felt the joy of that moment and wanted to share it with my friends. So I immediately scanned the photo, did what I could with the lighting in Photoshop – which wasn’t much – and posted it on my Facebook page.
Late today I logged on to catch up on what was happening in cyber land and wow, a couple dozen friends had acknowledged and ‘liked’ the photo and a few even commented.
These were friends and family who represented many phases and stages of my life and I was momentarily overtaken by the sheer idea of it all. Friends from elementary school in Canada for heaven’s sake – friends from nursing school – a cousin from Scotland that I have never met (one of these days Aly ) Other family that I haven’t seen in decades or get to see less than once in a blue moon. And friends of today who share my present life – whether they be quilters, artists, lost coin members, fellow music lovers, photographers – you name it – whether we’ve met ‘for real’ or just online. Add to that, former work colleagues and clients who it is a pleasure to stay connected to.
Now, while I enjoyed the idea of sharing this photo, it was hardly something that I would attach to an email and send to 99% of the people on that list. It just wasn’t that big a deal. Picture this imaginary conversation via email: “Oh hey, Janice – look at this cool pic of me and my kid when he was three.” Janice – “huh? Why send me that? Huh? “ Me – “I dunno”.
However, posting it on Facebook – entirely different – much more casual. It’s probably amongst the more rationale things that people post there in fact.
So I did and once again I’ll state that Facebook is truly the town square that some say it is meant to be. And I’m happy to be able to hang out there. Hope to see you there soon, passing through!
Guila's Art & Other Assorted Joys 