One of my friends posted a status today (one of those copy and paste things) about how everyone on her friends list is there on purpose, that she CHOSE to put them there, because she wants them in her life. Well, it got me thinking about my friendships on FB, and it's somewhat complex.
There are people on my FB friends list who I added so that I would be able to contact them more quickly. There are people I added out of a sense of obligation or b/c they were the friend of a friend. (Oh, Cousin Sally's best friend? Well, I guess I have to...she's practically family. *sigh*) TONS and TONS I added to build my house in Sorority Life (yes, because I am THAT addicted.) Some people came from random meetings in other internet ventures (craigslist springs immediately to mind.) And, I'll be brutally honest, some people were folks from my past that I added for sheer, morbid curiosity.
However, out of every single one of these groups, I have found at least one person whom I communicate with regularly and consider a good friend, a real influence upon me, and a valuable asset in my life. I may not tell these people that I feel that way so much, for fear of making THEM uncomfortable and ME feeling like a doofus in the meantime....but I feel reasonably certain that I can mention Kate, Alicia, and Andrea. There are a whole lot of you out there...but to be honest, I'm kind of shy. Of these people, I've only met two of them a collect total of 3 times ...but I enjoy talking to them, and I feel like I can go to them with issues and discuss them with the mix of seriousness and humor I need.
There are other people I truly consider a 'friend'. One friend doles out wisdom on a regular basis. I've known her for years and never knew she was so smart! There are a couple of people that I never talked to in HS (we were in totally different social circles) that I talk to pretty regularly now. There's a member of my ex-husband's family on here (which is just awesome...I love that it's gotten to that healthy a point now.) There are people that I used to go to church with years and years ago that I've missed and I'm getting to revisit those friendships - all because of Facebook! Family that live all over the country that never get to see my kids, and I never get to see them/their kids...but we get to see pictures and video instantly!
And tons of other examples....like the lady who seeded this blog, Mrs. E. I 'met' her through her son, Don, who I 'met' online years ago, and we've enjoyed the same warped sense of humor ever since. I've watched the two of them struggle with personal/family issues and make a commitment to get healthy. The greatest thing of all is, I never would have had the opportunity to 'meet' or talk to Mrs. E, or many of the friends I have now, were it not for this cool little tool called Facebook.
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