Why I Joined Facebook (For Now)

Ahhh...so today I joined the masses on facebook. Why? I don't know if you're asking that question, but I certainly am.

The reasons are several. Allow me to bore you. (I suddenly sound like Ben Miller...I don't really know why).

First of all, let me say that since I have joined (some 4 hours ago) I have not enjoyed my experience and may delete the account at any moment. Maybe I should give it 24 hours? Ok...I'll do that at least.

Secondly, I, for the first time in the long history of "Sarah needs to get facebook" assaults, felt that I'm missing something. There have been lots of events planned in recent months that have been involving me, and yet I can't see who's coming (not that I care that much), I don't know who's bringing what (glad no one else was planning to bring chips and salsa), I don't know the details of, etc., etc. Ok, so maybe that's a lame reason.

I also sense (and maybe I'm just a little slow on the uptake) that this is the way of things in my generation. People facebook. It's a noun, a verb, whatever part of speech it needs to be. And while I have resisted the trend for a long while (despite the "Get Sarah to join facebook page" on facebook [how counterproductive is that?]), this is what's going on in my world right now. And just because this is what's going on does not mean that I have to "conform to the pattern of this world." I can take this "thing" and use it as a gift and a tool. It doesn't have to demand of me things that I'm not willing to give (time would be a good example).

Other details: my friends are real friends. Like, I know them. Like, I would walk across the parking lot to say "Hi" to them. I would give them a hug if I hadn't seen them in a month. I would visit them in the hospital. I don't do fake friends. I'm sorry...maybe I'm just not cut out for the facebook world. We're finding out together.

Also, not that you need to know, and please don't take it as an insult, but I don't care that you had grilled cheese for lunch. I'm glad it was the best grilled cheese sandwich you've ever had, but I'm not going to comment on your post about it. And I won't be updating you on what I had for lunch. If you want to know, please come join me some afternoon...I'll make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and we can sit and talk for a while. Doesn't that sound lovely?

May facebook never replace the real conversations, really hearing your voice; real meals together; real laughing rather than emoticons; real doing life together; really seeing you, face to face. And thus my first facebook status:

"I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face" (III John 13-14).

So, I'm not sure how long I'll be on facebook. I would guess until my 20th birthday and then I'll be done. I'm not sure. I guess we'll all find out together. Thanks for listening. I constructed this post in my head this afternoon while I was fixing my hair. Thought you might like to know.