I was trying to enjoy the musical Buddy Holly at my local theater last week. No, this isn’t the Buddy Holly Story with a channeled Gary Busey. It was local professional theater.<\/p>\n
During intermission, I checked in on Facebook and there was a post from my friend Cassie about my post about using my mother’s ashes and how I shouldn’t have used them as litter for the cat.<\/p>\n
First, I have to say that my mother is very much a live. So, you need not worry about this transgression being true – at least not right now.<\/p>\n
However, looking back at the string of posts I suddenly realized that Facebook has become my virtual water cooler.<\/p>\n
In the old days in corporate, this type of banter was the norm, not the exception. My cubicle mates and I would swap funnies all day long. It helped keep the days moving right along, helped build relationships and the gallows humor relieved a lot of the stress we always seemed to be under.<\/p>\n
Working at home can be pretty lonely for some. I don’t particularly mind it, most of the time. I have the Internet boombox streaming Pandora, I have the blinds open so I can see the ocean, the “cafeteria” is five feet from me, and I’m sitting here in my shorts. Not a bad life.<\/p>\n
But there are times when you want a little conversation. If I get on the phone with a friend, before I know it an hour has flown right by, an hour that isn’t billable. So it’s rare that I engage in phone chit-chat. Too costly.<\/p>\n
I’ve never been a fan of Skype. If I wanted to have a conversation with someone I’d pick up the phone instead of key back and forth. It’s just not a great tool for me. It’s alien, typing what I would ordinarily say. If everyone had Apple’s FaceTime, I would love video conferencing. My son and I do it regularly and with my iPad I can roam around the house talking to him. Very cool!<\/p>\n
But that too takes time out of writing. Over time, I have become increasingly fascinated with Facebook as my virtual office tool. I can see what others are saying, catch up on a little pop culture with YouTube links, think about issues and most important, I can post little blurbs. They may be a random thought I had during the day or something deeper. I never know.<\/p>\n
And then the beauty of Facebook begins. My witty and very intelligent friends can’t resist chiming in. Before you know it, I have this beautiful blend of friends, acquaintances and family shooting things back and forth. Some people I’ve known since high school or college, others have only come into my life in the last few years, or even months.<\/p>\n
Yet there they are, chatting it up next to the virtual water cooler. A few days ago, I got the supreme compliment. One of my friends noted that I seemed to know the most amazing people these days. And it’s true. I am so blessed to know so many people who are really cool.<\/p>\n
I don’t profess to having any secret to why my friends are so much fun, witty, insightful and full of life. But I am extremely grateful for that, since just two years ago my life seemed to be consumed by people filled with drama, naysayers, bitchers, whiners and moaners. Everyone seemed to have a damned issue that had to be taken care of it. I can’t even begin to tell you what that’s like. The negativity was overwhelming.<\/p>\n
But these dark clouds have passed and I can largely thank the people in my life for that, including those on Facebook. I have found a couple Green River Community College friends here that I had been searching for for more than 30 years now. I have come to be friends with those I barely new in high school, yet amazed at how much we have in common and what similar lives we’ve shared, and yet others who I am now just beginning to know, who are just as treasured.<\/p>\n
What a cacophony of brilliant minds, many who would have never known of one another if it weren’t for my little posts of oddities and things I think about. I feel like an orchestra conductor bringing the band together so they can create their own lush harmonies without me having to do much work.<\/p>\n
I will continue to do my part and entertain you with odd witticisms, random thoughts and challenging questions. Post away! I love delightful repartee. And I’ll keep stopping by, trying, often in vein, to one up you. God, I love a challenge.<\/p>\n
Thanks friends. You all enrich my life greatly. See you around the old water cooler.<\/p>\n
Out on the Treasure Coast, enjoying the water for a change,<\/p>\n
– Robb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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