When it comes to Facebook, the world seems to be divided
into two camps: those who love it and those who think it’s an intrusive
time-waster. I’m of the former group. I love
Facebook fun, think it’s diverting and a great way to connect with people and find
out what they’re thinking about any issue.
It’s also a wonderful source of recipes if you’re friends with me, but
more on that later.
A few years ago I went to my high school reunion. For the most part we women (I went to an all
girls school), hadn’t seen each other in over forty years. The reunion was a great success. We all spoke to old friends, made new ones
and tearfully (in a good way) shared memories and remembered those no longer
with us.
When the reunion was over many of us “friended” each other
on Facebook. By doing so, we continue to
be in touch. Now, when I have a new book
coming out, have a book that’s being promoted, or write a blog, these old and
new friends from high school are the first ones to like and share my page and
urge others to read the blog or the book.
More significantly, they’re also the ones who reach out when someone is
sick or in need. A grandchild needs a
specialist? My classmates and I are on
the problem and making it our own to solve.
Someone is sick and needs prayers and good thoughts? We’re there for that too. Because of that
reunion I’ve acquired new friends and Facebook has kept those friendships
alive.
Facebook also helps me with keep up with our large and widespread
family. As I’ve posted before, I am part
of a very large family. My children have 30 first cousins. To make it even more interesting those
cousins and the second cousins and sometimes even the third and fourth cousins
keep in touch. But how can that be managed?
Last Saturday night I was at a wedding party and was talking to one of my
husband’s cousins. We were able to
quickly move from greeting one another to real conversation, avoiding politics
when we realized we didn’t agree. But we
didn’t need small talk to get reacquainted or dwell on what was new. I already knew one of her sons just got
married, the other recently started business school, and her daughter graduated
from college this summer summa cum laude. I know that all from Facebook. Even though I hadn’t seen this cousin in
several years, it didn’t feel like that.
We’re regularly in touch because of social media.
Facebook is also an interesting forum for topical
discussions. I’m not going to touch
politics. In this climate and with the
election on the near horizon, that’s too sensitive. But what about all the issues that we discuss
with our family and friends and chew on trying to figure out what is right and
where we stand. I read a post on Facebook criticizing all day kindergarten and
the fact that kindergarten programs have become so academic. When I shared the post I got a deluge of
responses on both sides of the argument.
Those responses and observations kept me thinking for days.
Finally, there are those recipes. If you are my friend on Facebook, you know I
share recipes. I started sharing them because I couldn’t figure out a better
way to have access to them later. Then I
found that people liked them as much as I did, like me, they were looking for healthy
and delicious food. I also like the
videos. I’m an amateur cook who has
taken a few cooking classes. These cooking videos are, in my opinion, just as
helpful in learning techniques.
So yes, Facebook can be a time sponge and time waster, but I
think the benefits of Facebook far outweigh its disadvantages. To be able to connect with friends and loved
ones no matter where they live, being the most positive of them.
Deborah Nolan is the author of SUDDENLY LILY and CONFLICT OF INTEREST, published by Montlake. She is also the author of SECOND ACT FOR CARRIE ARMSTRONG, published by Desert Breeze Publishing. Her latest romance, HELLO AGAIN, will be coming out in January, 2017 through Desert Breeze Publishing. In addition to writing and cooking, Deborah paints, visits her children and travels to the weddings of her many nieces and nephews
