Open Salon (Editor's Pick) Long Term Parking for Lisa Stander Horel: Facebook, The Sibling Reunion Edition (2009)

Monday, October 25, 2010

Facebook, The Sibling Reunion Edition (2009)

Editor's Pick

APRIL 27, 2009 5:31PM

Rate: 1

Facebook, the sibling reunion with bonus dog in hand

Once upon a time two adorable sisters, two years apart and inseparable as young girls, grew up and were tumbled apart by both content and continent. Their interests were about as far apart as though they were strangers rather than sisters. Unless family events dictated, they never voluntarily made time to be with one another. No animosity there, just disinterest. News of one would be relayed to the other through the parental units. They never even knew one another's phone numbers. And though later on email did connect them once again, it wasn't the platform for any meaningful communication. In fact, ignoring one another's emails was easier than responding.
In their adult life, they probably have spent less than five days with one another in a period that covers a dozen years. And those five days were taken up by a wedding, a holiday, and my big 5-0 birthday party.
Until Facebook. The parental units are always the last to know. The last time I spoke with one of them, ready to dole out the news of the other, I was stopped midsentence.
"Oh that. I already know" she says blithely.
"Huh?". Intelligent reply from me.
"Facebook" she replies. "We write on each other's walls all the time."
"What's a wall?"
And that was how I joined Facebook. Or I should say how Phoebe joined Facebook. Phoebe has an abundance of friends. Some are other dogs, but most of them are humans, including my children. I apparently had no idea from regular conversation what they really did in their lives, but guess what? I do now. Facebook is a great way to explore someone else's universe.
And what a reunion it is. Nephews, nieces, siblings, step parent, cousins, old friends, new friends, world-wide friends I didn't know I knew - all are my friends (ok, Phoebe's friends).
We get to see photos, know updates about health, travel, events, and just every day mundane stuff. It is like we are all at some giant reunion camp and run into one another every day. The only thing missing is the giant cafeteria where we all have dinner together. But since this is a virtual world, that will probably happen, too, at some point. Oh wait. That's called Twitter. Right?
It is a fascinating thing, the power of Facebook. Something that I could not facilitate in the real world happened effortlessly in the world of Facebook.
I never thought I would say this, but thank goodness they didn't listen to me when I told them to never write on the walls.