F*cebook ... do ya or don't ya?

Are you on F*cebook? If so, how do you use it? What has it done for you?

I was a little reluctant to sign up, feeling that the blogs were plenty for me. From what I was told about FB, it wasn't "up my alley," mostly, I think, because it was short blurbs. I'm too "wordy" for short blurbs!! After some thought, I decided to give it a try.

At first, I was mostly unimpressed. It was OK, and I liked quick communications with people, but .... meh. Still preferred my blogs. And don't worry, I'm not building up to an "I'm quitting blogging" statement. No, the blogs still provide a venue that FB doesn't. But with time, I found a use for FB that I totally love. When I began finding more ways to utilize the features, I began to really fall in love with it. I think my favorite use with it is finding old friends. OLD friends! I have found a ton of people I've lost touch with over the years, people for whom I never thought I had a chance of reuniting with. I'd say there are about 50 or so on my list of friends that fit in that category. I've enjoyed bumping into these people, more than I can say. (Most notable, that's where Jim and I linked! ;D A definite "aye" vote!)

One of those is a former high school classmate with whom I've been corresponding for a just two or three weeks. We didn't know each other well, although we were in band and orchestra together all four years. He was in Math Club, I was in French Club. He was in the Chess Club, I was in drama. He was on the tennis team, I liked football and the boys who played. We all knew he was smart, I didn't think I was. Yeah, there was a great difference. But a thing that connected me to him was that his father was a heart surgeon who took care of my sweet Gramma. Anyone related to that man had to be special.

Actually, I did think he was a special young man. He was very sweet in nature, shy. Not the kind I would have chased, but one I admired as being a good person. When I saw his name come up on FB, I sent him an invitation, and we've had the most delightful "conversation." We've updated each other on our families, our careers, etc., but we've also talked about our high school experiences and how we saw each other and ourselves back then. It has been so interesting, to say the least.

Not only have I heard his views of me, but I've considered again what I thought of myself back then. I've already encountered some of this in conversations with other friends and in the writing of my mémoires, but with each new person, some new insight comes up. It has produced some thought again about who I am as a result of some of those experiences. It's funny how I can see the teenage me better now. I had no confidence despite all the many really nice things about me that now seem obvious! At any rate, it is good to talk to old friends and to hear about them and their views of me.

Anyway, that is just one example of my favorite part of FB. So tell us about why you like .... or don't .... FB.