Aimless Sunday morning thoughts...

Yes, it is Sunday morning, a sunny, yet, brisk 55 degree day...before it warms to the mid 70's and I sip my too-bitter coffee (can't get it right everyday) comtemplating how to write again. I got into a good habit a year ago, writing about all kinds of stuff. Politics, family, experiences I just wanted to vent and/or share with whoever wanted to tune in. It was a good ride. It's no secret that after I lost my job almost 6 months ago, I simply dropped off the face of the earth. I had to. I needed to sulk, to grieve, to get pissed at myself and ultimately, to find peace with all that transpired and realize that new opportunities, even better ones, now lay before me. Pretty normal process, really.

I finally set up the new computer in the boys old room upstairs (they are now in the 2 downstairs bedrooms). It is next to our master bedroom, near the front window. A bit primitive - desk, chair and computer, but, it's a new space, my own version of a "man-cave", just without the excess testosterone. Remnants of the boys years remain here via a leftover red bunkbed with a couple of Spongebob stickers still adhered and...more than likely...a few old boogies stuck to the wall-side of the bunks. (Sorry to be crass, but if you raise boys you learn real quick that wall snot just becomes an everyday event, like thrown-together dinners or missing socks. The little darlings.) It is a space that my wife has certainly noticed I spend a lot more time in lately. I get a few more raised eyebrows nowadays, but, they are deserved. Can't help it...I'm a little obsessed. Free to check my email whenever I want, check out Facebook and look up any flippin' recipe I want without having to kick a kid off of "World of Warcraft" or "Games.com" all the time. A little slice of heaven to myself.

So I sit at the computer over-looking my street and, lately especially, look at all these long-forgotten faces of people from my past on Facebook. Quite the phenomonon, this social networking tool seems to be growing exponentially in its membership as more and more people from Milltown, St. Joseph's High School and Trenton State College are popping up in front of my face. In many ways it's wonderful. People I never thought I'd get the chance to see again or connect with after I moved so far away are now an IM away. It's an experience I'm still on a honeymoon with. Or perhaps it's just an affair. Not sure. After all, it's exciting. Like stealing moments, right? But how long will it last? Will something new replace it in 6 months time? Will it still need me, when I'm 64? (That was just on the radio - gotta love the Beatles)Or will the novelty wear off soon and I'll feel guilty for having re-entered these peoples lives, only to fade away, yet again, as if it were meant to be and the universe was now just balancing out again.

What about those people who anticipated seeing old high school chums at the 25th year reunion and still had 2 years to get back in shape? What recourse are they given? I suppose it's only invasive if you allow it, huh? Personally, I think Facebook will be as awesome or evil as you allow it to be. After all, it's been 20+ years since I've seen some of these people and most of us have matured enough to say, you know what...all that crap we went through way back when...water under the bridge, man. Water under the bridge. But... that's because I'm an eternal optimist. I always have been but, I admit, I did lose it a few months ago. That window got blurry for a while but I'm happy to announce that I'm back. And I'm looking forward to chatting with some old friends who look as old as me.