19 nods to Facebook

1. I can quit feeling guilty about not sending Christmas and birthday cards.
2. I’m partial to posts that are interesting, insightful, or just plain weird. Where else would I find a zillion uses for white vinegar, coconut oil, and WD40 and know about Randy Rainbow.
3. I can leave a comment or an opinion. I can agree or disagree. I can like, or not. And when I think someone is clueless, no one can see my head shaking, though those that know me can hear my eyes rolling.
4. It allows me to practice self-restraint. When I read a brainless post about politics, guns, or gays, I can’t come through the computer to knock anyone upside the head. 
5. As far as addictions go, this one is easy on my pocketbook, health, and body, though some days it’s a total time suck. 
6. I’m able to salute weddings, births, graduations, retirements, new jobs, new books, new houses, victory laps, and home runs. 
7. I can say hello to relatives and peek in on how folks are doing. (I have a big family and won’t be checking in on the majority of them any other way.)
8. It gives me the chance to banter with my sons, who are both quite funny.
9. Some posts are profound. Some are wise. Others are informative. My favorites are snarky and make me snort tea out my nose.
10. I can tag along on your vacation and don’t have to amble over a month later to sit through three hours of slides, or worse, have you try and drag my butt camping because you think it’d be fun.
11. I get to connect with old friends and make new friends.
12. I see who’s playing music where and reading poetry when. I find out about classes, movies, music, books, recipes, blogs, and events that I otherwise might miss. I also get to share what calls to me.
13. I love the pictures: old, new, family, friends, owls, and yes, even some of the dog and cat ones. Just because I’m not an animal person does not make me bad. Seriously, it doesn’t. Some of the animal posts are cute, and some of the videos make me laugh; but the ones billed as: HILARIOUS! You HAVE to see THIS CAT/DOG/GOAT. Really? The caps are the perfect tip that they are NOT EVEN CLOSE to being hilarious, and shoot me if, like a sucker, I ever open another one that litters my page. And don’t get me started on the gullible marks who repost offers for free airline tickets or fake Costco rewards. Sorry, I got a little sideways here. Where was I?
14. I can hang out with friends and don’t have to get dressed, wash my hair, put on make-up, or have them over.
15. I get to share my sweet and rapidly growing grandchildren.
16. It triggers remembrances of the past buried in the corners of my mind.
17. Facebook is a way to be seen and to be heard.
18. It’s a vehicle to my expose my writing with shameless self-promotion.
19. And finally, it offers a way to find out what’s shaking during earthquakes, hurricanes, windstorms, floods, fires, and power outages. It let’s me know how kith and kin are faring in emergencies, and makes me not feel isolated if I’m stuck in the middle of one. For this alone, I give a grateful nod to Facebook.

Catherine Sevenau is a local writer, humorist, and storyteller. Her third book, Through Any Given Door, a Family Memoir is available as a free web series at Sevenau.com. Catherine, also a longtime Realtor and Owner/Broker at CENTURY 21 Wine Country, can be reached at Csevenau@earthlink.net.