The Glory Days

I was re-reading Jeffrey's list this weekend and it included going a whole day without Facebook. I've peeked at Facebook only once before and really couldn't see the appeal. After reading his list, I decided to give it another chance. But this time, I signed myself up for an account. I figured I'd get an account so I can spy all my old friends and casual acquaintances from way back in the day. I wouldn't have to tell anybody I got an account until I had decided whether or not to buy into the whole Facebook thing.

Apparently, that's not exactly how Facebook works. By the time I had an account for 24 hours, 17 people had already found me. I now have 17 people listed under "Friends" on my Facebook account. OK, now I see the appeal of Facebook. It's just another place on the World Wide Web to boost my self esteem. I haven't felt this popular since high school.

Not that my list is anything to brag about...mainly, it consists of family members...brothers, cousins, and even a cousin's spouse (thanks for requesting my friendship Nate). But several other random and obscure friends and casual acquaintances from my glory days...

• River (I don't know her last name, but with a name like River, you don't need a last name.) She was one of the two girls who played on our high school football team.
• Kylla Benes. A freshman friend. I know some of you will remember her. She now seems to be some kind of nature lover... perhaps an oceanographer. Awesome, but I never would have pegged her as that type.
  
• Several girls from my home ward and stake.
  
• Kids from the cross country team and choir.
  
• A girl I used to babysit.
• Siblings of my friends.
• Spencer Brown...who grew up around the corner from me, ran on the cross country team with me, and went to nearly every school dance in the same group as me, but never as my date. And thanks to Facebook, I now know he lives just few miles away from me here in Texas.
  

Funny huh? Talk about blast from the past. How did they find me so fast? I could have this Facebook account for years and never think to look up some of these people...others I would have most certainly come across.

My problem with Facebook is that all I want to do is look people up, peek at their lives, and then be through with them. Unfortunately, you can't peek at their lives unless you send them a request to be their friend. And I don't want to have to admit I'm spying. All you get is a one inch square picture of what they look like these days. Not enough to satisfy my curiosity. But I'm too chicken to send the request to be their friend...what if they don't remember me? Or don't like me and refuse my request? Or worse...see me for the computer sitting, web surfing, Facebook peeker that I am. Plus, there's something about it that makes me feel vain. Like I think I was significant enough in this person's life that they'll remember me and want me on their list of Facebook friends.

The truth is, I should get over it. The whole purpose of Facebook is to reconnect with old friends...which I love. I wouldn't think that of the people who requested to be my friends...so why would I assume they'd think that about me? Although it did take me a minute to figure out who a couple of them were, with last names changing and all.

The verdict is in...I will most definitely enjoy aspects of Facebook. (I even got brave enough to write on a few "walls" today.) But it will NEVER replace blogging for me. I much prefer blogs. It's a much bigger peek into the lives of my friends (and perfect strangers). I love to write and little comments about life is not enough to satisfy my creativity. And I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I have to set a goal to go a whole day without Facebook. But you all have permission to make me eat my words if I do.