When good friends never leave forever

[shootingstar]

Am currently having a freaky moment now.

I just found references to a long ago teenagehood (up to early 30's) friend after googling.

Friendship included semi book-reading contest amongst ourselves. I think we each clocked in several hundred books (each over 100 pgs. long) in a few months when we were each 14 yrs. old. We also shared a love of art and poetry in our teens, however she wrote funnier, satiric stuff. We belonged in a school art club. She liked to do cartoons on the side and later did get pocket money for it for certain mini jobs. Over years, I would get hand-drawn cartoon Christmas cards.... like the 2 Marys were pregnant and hugging one another and other joyous stuff.

Fast forward abit further, after getting her PhD in English Lit, after much thought..she had 3 children. She and her hubby helped the famed Jean Vanier, a priest, who recently won the Order of Canada one of the group homes internationally under Vanier, for the mentally challenged for a few years.

And now, 30 years after teenage years, in a national newspaper, she recommends a name of a Canadian artist as one of the top Canadians of distinction. The artist is...the same one that I bought a painting, have gone to her exhibits and bought 3 of her books. My friend has no knowledge of my interest in this artist. Nor does she even know where I am living right now.

I have lost touch with this friend for the past 15 years!!!!

It feels like a good friend ..at least in spirit has not left.

The Internet does unearth things lost for awhile.

[Mr. Bloom]

A good friend is like an old pair of shoes...when you pull them off the shelf after a long time, they fit like slippers.

[Tuckervill]

Just join Facebook, and you'll find EVERYONE.

Karen

[Biciclista]

Just join Facebook, and you'll find EVERYONE.

Karen

yes. I found more than 30 of my old classmates haven't seen any of them in almost 40 years

[shootingstar]

Honest, I'm not sure I want to meet all who I know again. Haven't used Facebook yet. And already enough time is being sucked on the Internet, like here.

Mimi, I'm sure your Obama painting was like a touchstone for these long-ago contacts. YOu must have had some evidence of your talent even back then.

[emily_in_nc]

Honest, I'm not sure I want to meet all who I know again. Haven't used Facebook yet. And already enough time is being sucked on the Internet, like here.

I'm with you, ss. I have resisted signing up for Facebook even though nearly everyone I know is on it. I spend too much time on the computer as it is, and I fear I'll become too obsessed with my past rather than focusing on the present and future, should I re-connect with long-lost friends and acquaintances. Though I do think it would be fun to browse; unfortunately they make you sign up for an account to see other people's profiles and photos. I'm also afraid I'll find it intrusive if a bunch of people start contacting me -- and I don't have the time for more correspondents, really.

[Mr. Bloom]

Honest, I'm not sure I want to meet all who I know again. Haven't used Facebook yet. And already enough time is being sucked on the Internet, like here.

I'm 60 days into Facebook, but limit my time to 15 minutes... But it's very neat and I've been able to connect with over 100 old friends.

It is superficial interaction, but neat.

[sundial]

Just join Facebook, and you'll find EVERYONE.

Karen

Cyber stalking comes to mind.

[Cataboo]

I finally gave in and joined facebook just before christmas... I've found a few old high school friends and one friend that I haven't seen since the last day of 8th grade. Some friends I just peak around their pages to see what they look like, what they're up to.. others I've emailed back and forth with. I've been surprised how many of them I still have stuff in common with, etc.

I initially spent a bit too much time on there, but now I might check in for 10 minutes if that a day.

[shootingstar]

I must admit the stalking thing makes me wonder plus the potential time sucker aspect.

I will content myself just initiate to chat and discovery with this long-lost friend.

[Cataboo]

Well, you control what's on your page & you control who can see it.

[sundial]

I dunno. If someone in the UK can steal my identity then Facebook is open season in my book.

[Cataboo]

Hopefully your facebook doesn't list your social security number.

My facebook page says I was born in 1895 and I'm male with 8 children living in Zimbabwe. I don't list any of the Universities or schools I've attended. I do have a reasonably uncommon name, so anyone searching on the name might find me, but you can't just search on a school I attended between certain years 7 find me. My page & all contents on it are set to private, and most of the actual info on it is misinformation.

Once I'm on someone else's friend list... their friends are able to see "okay, this person has 80 friends & catriona is one of them" but they can't see my page, they can ask me to add them as a friend.

Now... if anyone can use the info that I'm a 114 year old male with 8 children in Zimbabwe to stalk me or steal my identity, that would crack me up.



I can't see worrying about cyberstalkers when you originally found this friend & a lot of information about her by googling her - which is basically what you're trying to avoid by avoiding facebook.

I do use my real first name around the web - but I am usually very careful to make sure that very little can be found about me on a google and if anything can be found, it's usually inaccurate.

[Cataboo]

I also have different levels set on facebook - so depending on which group I add a friend to, they can see varying amounts of what's on my profile - anyone that I don't care if they see pictures or wall posts - they get to see those, people that I don't think they should see it... they see a pretty restricted view.

[Zen]

I haven't found anyone through facebook nor have they found me.

I did find my old Army buddy on a site devoted to the 3rd Armored Division.
She found me, really. I posted that i was looking for her and voila!