Yesterday, I became aware that a friend, Clay, was admitted to the hospital suddenly to have major heart surgery. I had been communicating with Clay for many years, but mostly now through Facebook. He had stopped using email. Apparently he sends and receives texts instead … but that leaves me out because I block texting on my mobile device because I find texting both expensive and intrusive. (What I like about email is that I can read and reply to it on my schedule.)
I have always felt that Facebook is a way to observe what your family and friends are doing, but is not a way to discuss news, share information about feelings and frustrations, and so forth, the way friends talk when they’re together.
But since Clay only seems to use Facebook and texting as his primary means of communication these days, I comment from time to time on his Facebook posts to let him know that I care and am thinking about him. It’s not the same, but at least that form of contact lets him know that I appreciate and care about him.
Then he goes into surgery… and his predicament caused me to think about other friends who I haven’t communicated with as much as I once did, and even a few who have dropped out of my life.
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This winter has been the winter that won’t quit. I was able to get my Harley out and ride a few days last week, but otherwise, it has been cold. Damn cold. My gardens and trees usually show some life by this time of year, but not this year. Everything except the Hellebore is dormant.
A vendor that sells Xelement boots found a 
A whopping seven inches (18cm) of snow was enough to shut down the entire DC Metro area yesterday, including all school districts as well as the Federal Government. This was the tenth “snow day” for our local school district.