Social Media Makes Strange Friendfellows

Written By: Kim - May• 01•13

About four months ago, I received a call from a woman that I did not know while I was making dinner. She was looking for someone with the same name who lived in my area. I kept sifting my memory as she was telling me her story, catching up. I wondered if early senility was setting in. I could not remember who this woman was. Donna. School, past jobs, where did I know her from? When she said something about working for a four star general at the Pentagon, that’s when I knew I did not know her. I’ve never worked for either.

© Mihaylova 2013 courtesy of stock.xchng

© Mihaylova 2013 courtesy of stock.xchng

When I politely stopped her with, “I think you have the wrong person,” she was completely flustered. She apologized profusely. I told her that I wish I were the woman she was looking for because she was trying to make amends and repair a broken relationship. I was touched by her honestly and her story. I wished her luck and we hung up. A few minutes later, Donna called me again. She asked if we could become friends on Facebook. I said yes.

I have a few friends whom I only know through social media or whom I became friends with on social media first. I know that it seems odd, cultivating a friendship with someone you have never met. But, we did as children. Remember pen pals?

Growing up a military brat forced me to make new friends every school year. This didn’t necessarily mean that I was the new one in school. But it meant that I had to be more open to strangers. I had to find a way to fit in when I was the new kid. Or, I felt compelled to help the new kid fit in. Being the new kid in school often sucks. It just does and there’s no way to get around it but to go thru it.

That said, I don’t accept friend requests from just anyone. But, I have found great joy in all my friends, no matter the source.

Year End Reviews Bore Me, But…

Written By: Kim - Jan• 02•13

Year end reviews bore me. The news coverage this last week (other than the US fiscal cliff) was stuffed full of stories about stars who died, biggest headlines, winners and losers of 2012 and biggest news stories. My eyes usually glaze over and I turn a deaf ear, until the story jogs my memory. Hey, I forgot about that….

I am not saying that this has converted me to year end reviews, but it’s nice to pause for a few minutes and consider what kind of year 2012 was for all of us. Overall, 2012 was a good year for me and my family.

  1. I am still employed. Bonus: I like the people I work with. How many of us say that?
  2. My family is healthy. And, we are still together.
  3. We got a puppy, Sydney, who is healthy. She’s changed our life and we love her.
  4. We took Sydney on vacation. We met the in-laws on vacation and had a fun, relaxing time.

    Sydney enjoys the summer lake ride. ©Mike Howard, 2012

    Sydney enjoys the summer lake ride. ©Mike Howard, 2012

  5. A school year ended and another one began, but in different schools for both of my children.
  6. I joined the ranks of swim team Moms this summer. My high school freshman is now swimming for his school.
  7. I like my neighbors.
  8. My commute is long, but my train buddies and iPad make it bearable.
  9. I traveled to some new places and made new friends. I also reconnected with old friends.
  10. I am still writing this blog, two years after I started it.

Not a bad year in review. Happy New Year everyone!