The Magic of Facebook Is…You Just Might Find Your Frankie

Funny how life keeps rolling along even while I’m writing a book. I still need to eat and sleep, see Claire and my kids, groom the dogs, shop for groceries and cold medicine (a little gift from Claire), and…

…play on Facebook.

Hi, my name is Lynn and I’m a Facebookholic.

My addiction is so strong that I’ve added Facebook as a function key on my Crack, I mean Blackberry. Doesn’t matter where I am, when I see that little blue F at the top of the screen with a number beside it, I click on it faster than Sarah Palin can shoot a moose (or 40). Who wrote on my wall? Who sent me a message? Who added me as a friend? Who wants me to join the “I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar” group? (That, of course, would be my sister Emily.) Did someone comment on a photo? Did I get poked or superpoked? Did someone send me a lil green patch or a puppy?

Oy. Facebook is the only place since high school where adults get to brag, “Hey, look at me! I have friends! People like me!”

I have 37 “friends” on Facebook, although I have no idea who a few of them are. I guess we have friends in common and so in my newbie Facebook days, I added them as friends when they asked. I’m more picky these days. I only add people I’ve at least had one email contact with before. Email contact equals BFF, right?

The real reason I’m devoted to Facebook is because my friend Frankie found me there. I haven’t been so happy to be found since I was lost in the men’s department at Sears when I was 2 years old (even then I loved men in suits). If no one else finds me, I’m indebted to Facebook forever and ever for bringing Frankie back into my life.

Frankie and I go back to 1991 when I saw her speak at a rally in front of the courthouse in Clarion. She was tall and beautiful and spoke with such conviction and grace that I cried. We met a few days or maybe a week later because she was taking a grad class at the university from my now ex-husband (the one I followed to Clarion and who I haven’t spoken to in 8 years and to whom I still owe a buttload of gratitude for hooking me up with Frankie). We became friends in a way I’d never been friends with someone before. We were both fragile and complicated people in the early ‘90s and we trusted each other, loved each other and, at times, hated each other. It was the best friendship ever.

Frankie loves my children and Baskin Robbins ice cream. She can crawl down a ladder upside down. When Frankie doesn’t want to do something, she says, “I’d rather take out my intestines and play with them.” She makes me laugh. Frankie caught me dancing in the living room to “Life is a Highway” and wrote a poem about it. Frankie married Mike and they have three beautiful kids. She’s a writing professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. I think we'll learn to drive a Zamboni together.

Best of all, Frankie has a blog, and in between emails, I can hear her voice in her words like I used to years ago when we wrote each other long letters that we actually put stamps on and dropped in the mail. Reading her blog, I feel that same comfort, that same joy I knew our friendship to be, even in our most disconnected times. Her blog is called The Outside Edge and I’m adding it to my blog roll over on the right if you ever want to go on over and read what she has to say about life.

I wish a Frankie in everyone’s life. Maybe you had one and wonder where she is? Maybe, just maybe, you’ll find her again on Facebook…

Comments

[Cheri]

I have a facebook account and I have to admit that I've not gotten addicted to it, actually I never visit it. I'll have to out and visit it again and figure out how it works....

[Carren]

I'm going now to add you as my friend on Facebook....accept me, K??

[Tara]

Hi, my name is Tara and I, too, am a Facebook addict.

That's great that you found your friend on there!

I was inspired by your weight loss story and found your blog. I'm glad I did! I just started a weight loss journey blog (I'm doing Body for Life).

Your new blog fan,
Tara

[Joy]

I found Facebook when my high school friends started to contact me. Now it is out of hand! I too check to see if I have a message, or if I am poked! I love it because it is a virtual reunion. It is so fun to see everyone's pictures.

[Paula]

You are a celebrity of soughts I remember seeing you on O and crying you are truly an inspiration.
Hi my name is Paula and I am a FACEBOOKAHOLIC too lol I had to have my mother change my password and hide it because if I am not on my laptop then I am on my cellphone facebooking...I am hooked but I have been in detox cold turkey 3days now I plan to return on my birthday November 20th lol we shall see. I have to lose 80lbs now and I am so inspired by you. I hope to be intouch with you and get tips along the way.

not only am i on a food diet I am on a facebook diet.