Riddles

So who is that person and where do I know him or her from?

I have become somewhat addicted to Facebook, you know, that all-encompassing half a billion person web site with someone in there for everyone... and I'm beginning to wonder who some of these people are who have become 'friends' over the past year or so. Part of me doesn't much care. "What the hell, it's free" I tell myself. That's rationalization enough, I reckon, and so on I go, collecting more 'friends' and sometimes wondering if I really know the people who shoot their friend requests in my direction.

For instance, there's a young woman on my 'friends' list who made a request after commenting on a photo of me published by another 'friend' and former co-worker. I have this very dim idea that I met this person some time ago in passing, but I'm never really sure that I did. Her posts have been interesting. She is a young mother, attends comic book conventions and is generally quite cheerful about life in general and her life in particular. I'll keep her around. She's like some of the young women I work with. Proud, determined and perhaps a bit stubborn.

Then, there's this person who has this familiar-sounding name who seemingly does little else but collect new 'friends' all of the time, occasionally thanking God for the many blessings he has in his life - reminding us to do likewise. I'm already there but I still only have an inkling of an idea as to who he is. Perhaps it's time to drag out the High School Yearbook again.

Not all of the people who appear on my friends list are unfamiliar to me. All three of my second cousins are on the list as are four of my five siblings, a brother-in-law, my children, the lovely Miss Carol, my mother and several people I've remembered from High School. Many of the people I work with are on that list as are a few of the folks from Church.

My 'friends' come from all over, most of them are concentrated here in Texas and up in Ohio. There are at least two living in Florida, same for California. Pennsylvania and Missouri are represented as well. Georgia, North Carolina, Washington (both the State and D.C.) and West by God Virginia are in there too. There are the successful and the not quite as successful represented. Those who believe in God and those who don't. There are those who are happy with the political climate, those who hate it and those who don't much care.

There are at least two published authors and a movie director, along with several musicians and at least one promoter. A wide range of people.

I have, from time to time, thought of suggesting one friend to another on my list. For instance, I have two contacts who say almost the same things regarding the events of the day. I'm sure that they would get along famously. There are a couple of incessant game players, one of which loves Farmville, the other, Mafia Wars. Perhaps the Farmville person can grow marijuana for the Mafia Wars person, or set up a 'still' or something. That'd be neat.

Then there are the people who I am missing that maybe, just maybe, I'd like to have on my list by way of a mutual friend. One person who I think is on there is someone I've never met, but with whom I share a birthday and a profession. People I've heard about, folks who I have admired for one reason or another, women who I have had a crush on since, well, since I've been aware of such things... the list could go on for a while.

In the end, though, I have come to the conclusion that the people I have as friends on Facebook are pretty much the people I need to remain connected with for some reason or another. Most of them keep me on an even keel; most of them are interesting in their own special way.

Even those who I can't for the life of me figure out who they are!

Guess I'll have to re-read some of the profiles again.

Be Seeing You!