Long Hollow

I skipped my work-out. Shorted the dogs on their walk. I had to start work early yesterday to make up for a planned midday break – a lunch date with a junior high friendship memory, brought back to life, thanks to Facebook.

Some people would question the use of the word "friend" in this case. There's a lot of discussion tossed around these days about the definition of friendship, what with Facebook making it so easy to "friend" anyone and everyone.

But even though my face-to-face memories of Mitch could form a peace sign, and I was so smitten with him, so shy, and so insecure that I couldn't speak more than one or two words in his presence, I had no problem yakking with him for hours and hours on the phone, and when he left for another school, letters went back and forth between us for months.

Then nothing. For years. Nothing except memories of a junior high crush and curiosity – whatever happened to Mitch?

Thanks to a reconnection with his sister last year, a message and "friending" on Facebook, and an hour or so of shyness-free yakking in person over hamburgers yesterday, now I know.

No longer just a memory or a friendship from the past. Me and Mitch, friends. Period. Thanks, Facebook.

Has Facebook helped you reconnect with any long-lost memories?