Do You Like Me?

Are you on Facebook? No, why aren’t you on Facebook? You really need to be on Facebook, we are all on it - I can’t believe you aren’t on Facebook!  

For years I endured these types of questions from friends who felt I was being stubborn and perhaps a bit cantankerous.

Several kind and caring friends would often visit me and hold Facebook interventions.  We would sit with my laptop visiting the pages of people with whom I occasionally kept up with and others whom I hadn’t communicated with in years.  My friends took me around different peoples’ sites and really tried to lure me into liking Facebook.

What I found interesting was that I had already heard most of the big news the old fashioned way and the rest…well, the fact that you cleaned your house for the first time in months, was both alarming and TMI.

Honestly, the major justification I have for not joining is that I feel my life is not that interesting and unless you are staying with me, the state of my house isn’t that compelling (although my house is clean).  Boring is a word that comes to mind.(Which is what I am thinking at this very moment – perhaps you are bored reading this).

Not having a large family also took away some of the reasoning for being on Facebook [Should my dog Emma join the Facebook family?  She would be an instant hit and widely popular as she already has a devoted following.  (Writing this I realize she might like an account)].

Apart from the boring content, there are two specific incidents that really pushed me away from Facebook and the thought of being “liked.”

My junior year I transferred to a new college.  I didn’t know a soul and was assigned a roommate who was a transfer student as well (we are still friends).  Before school started on a beautiful fall day in a small college town we walked to Dairy Queen. This was in a time before Starbucks, long ago and far away.

Sitting on the curb with my ice cream, chatting with a stranger with whom I now shared a room, we would suddenly stop speaking as a group of happy students passed us by and then resume our conversation after they had gone.  After another silent break we both turned to each other at the same time saying something to the effect of “do you think we will ever meet anyone or make friends?”  What we were asking …do you think anyone will like us?

They did and I stayed to graduate.

My aversion to Facebook and the word  “like” resurfaced two strong past life memories that haunted me every time I encountered the word.

When Sally Fields accepted her academy award for Norma Rae, she said to the audience “ this means you like me, you really like me”.  At first it sounded heartbreakingly sad, but I get what she was saying.  After being Gidget and a flying Nun you see me as a real and serious actor.

Where am I going with this…?  I succumbed.  After stubbornly saying no, I said yes to Facebook, because of what I do.

Upon launching WILFRIDAS CLOSET, an online business, I realized that gaining that validation, having people like me, is the key to success.  Facebook assists people in finding me and discovering what I love to do.

I am passionate about words; words written with pens, words that are on your PC, words that go on paper (perhaps using my cards), words that need stamps, envelopes, words that use journals and note pads.  Creating art cards, another passion of mine, makes for a fitting marriage to both words and art.  To peruse these passions I now reside in a virtual world, which I find amusing as it involves “being liked.” And I get the irony that I am utilizing the communication of a virtual tool box which ask you to use paper.

As I make requests to like me, not me personally, but my cards, my art, my words, I can’t deny --it is personal. I find myself sitting on the same curb, asking the same question, “will anyone like me?”, as I hear Sally Field’s stunned voice in my head.

It still feels weird asking, but here it goes.  Please like me, ask your friends to like me and spread the word about Wilfrida’s Closet.  I am so grateful for those of you that have liked me, supported me, and shared my art with your friends. Your encouragement has been amazing and has been a real push to get off the curb and quiet that voice.

…Or do you?