The wonder of Facebook

I know my kids think it's weird that their dad has a Facebook page, but for me, it has been a great way to reconnect with old friends and share pictures with relatives.

I still don't quite understand all the stuff that pops up on my Facebook page, or how I can click on someone's name and end up seeing other's people's pictures and "posts." That doesn't feel quite right, actually.

I do, however, find it amazing that childhood friends and old classmates can find each other after 30+ years. Last month, a neighbor who grew up next door to us posted about 30 pictures of various old neighbor kids, adults and birthday parties.

What was interesting about those pictures was that the faces were frozen in time. It was exactly how I remembered my friends - smiling, no worries or cares in the world.

As I paged through the photo album, the nostalgia was powerful. I could smell the warm, muggy Michigan summer nights, which were filled with sleep-outs, kick the can and hide and go seek. I could feel the bitter cold of the winter and remember the thrill of zooming down Fisher's hill, where every night the neighborhood kids gathered to go sledding.

I don't remember the Fishers, but they must have been very special people to let 20 kids play in their yard every day during the winter.

The pictures that were most intriguing were the adults. The moms looked like every picture you see of moms from the 70s, and all the dads were dressed in suits and ties. They would have been about the age I am right now, I was guessing. I think it would be cool to go back and relive those years - I would not change one thing.

A day to forget

I generally feel I am pretty well equipped to handle most of the cards I am dealt in life.
Today, however, the house won.
My day started out having to lay off an employee. This was not just any employee; he was my mentor when I first started my career as a safety professional, and he was also a friend.
When I decided I wanted to take on the challenge of entering middle management, I never quite imagined this day or scenario. Simply put - it sucked.
I have not slept well for the past two weeks anticipating this morning, and I am pretty sure the family has been wondering why I've been even more moody and grumpy than usual.
Tonight, I found out that a friend who is stricten with cancer has 60 days to live. If this were a boxing match, that news was the knock out punch. It landed squarely on my chin. Lights out. No chance to do the rope-a-dope.
So, when I called home tonight to talk to mom and check in on dad's health status I was braced for a couple more punches. I guess the big guy upstairs figured I had dealt with enough crap for one day, because the news from home was actually not bad. Aside from the fact that dad is terrorizing the hallways in his motorized wheel chair, everything is status quo at Avamere Assisted Living Facility.
The night did end on a positive note as Linday baked some of her infamous brownies. Nothing like chocolate to wipe away the blahs.