I’ve been a Facebook believer for well over a year now. Although some have logged off permanently, I couldn’t be prouder of my obsession. This social networking site has given me the chance to communicate with people that I haven’t seen in a long time. One would argue that there’s a reason why we lose touch with people, or that our three hundred Facebook friends are fake friendships. But frankly, I need all the friends I can get, if they are real friends or merely Facebook friends.

Facebook has created a new phenomenon in my life, something that I never thought was possible — an elementary school reunion. Most of us have experienced the uncomfortable high school reunion, but due to the miracle of Facebook, we have now entered the reality known as the grade school (first grade to eighth grade) reunion. I haven’t seen most of my grade school companions in twenty years. Due to the persistence of some of my elementary school Facebook friends, however, I will soon be reliving my wonder years at a dive bar near my childhood home.

This may be hard for some to believe, but I wasn’t the coolest person in grade school. Coolness may be relative when you are twelve, but I wasn’t exactly turning down sleepover requests due to an overbooked schedule. Looking back, my parents are partly to blame. They were very strict and rarely indulged me in the latest fads. I also had unusual interests for a twelve year old, such as playing the oboe. I thought being in the school orchestra was fun (fortunately I didn’t make it to band camp). My mother made me keep my hair short, and to this day, maintains the assertion that the haircut was “cute”. It was not. Since my hair was an inch long, I couldn’t tease my bangs into the requisite 80s hairstyle that we’ve all come to love. My mother would also do things like sew a winter coat for me instead of buying me a Starter jacket like all the other parents.

Despite the hair and the ugly coat, however, my parents did many great things for me throughout elementary school. The school, however, may have been lacking in some critical areas. Once, a teacher asked me to buy him cigarettes during our lunch break. On some level, I knew this crossed a line, but what was I to do? Today, he would probably be arrested, but back then it was all very normal.

My elementary school experience, however, didn’t scar me for life. Although I don’t look back on it with particular fondness, I realize that it could have been much worse. I went on to bigger and better things, like getting a few degrees that collect dust in a closet. I spend much of my time watching television and keeping up with TMZ. And I’ve gone really far in life, seeing as I live a whole five blocks from my parents’ house. However, I haven’t become a drug dealer or a gambling addict so I may be doing better than some other graduates of my elementary school — I don’t know. In fact, presently I have a great husband and a child who is still a good thirty years away from therapy. I’ve made real strides in life, and it all humbly started in elementary school.

Apparently, some of my other Facebook best friends must have had equally pleasurable grade school experiences because they have been dreaming of a reunion. And the dream is finally coming true.

Considering I’ve already stated that I wasn’t the coolest person to ever walk my elementary school halls, it seems odd that I would be interested. Yet, I feel oddly drawn to this reunion, if nothing else than to come away with a funny story for my blog. I’ve decided that one of two things will happen. The first possibility is that I will be completely ignored. I’ll spend ten minutes saying hello and goodbye and twenty minutes fixing my hair in the ladies room. The other possibility is that I will have a great time laughing and reminiscing about the good old days when teachers made you buy them cigarettes.

The truth is, whether I have a great time or a horrible time, it never would have happened without the help of a social networking site. And even though I live so close to my childhood home, at times I feel like I live a world away from those with whom I spent my formative years. The beauty of Facebook, though, brought us all together. Who knew that Facebook could indeed help us all go home again?

Tweet  Print This Post

Tags: ends & odd, technology // 1 Comment »