For the noble reason of "every body's doing it" I joined Facebook last week. It is a somewhat addicting social network on the Internet. You create a profile, and invite friend to join, then you can see what they are doing, new pictures they post, and whatever other random things they want you to know. I can see how Facebook is helpful. But it feels like a contest to see who can can get the most friends. And sometimes, someone from long past will request to be my friend. I get excited to reconnect and then their profile basically tells me nothing. And they don't respond to my little messages. Just another friend in their count. Rrrr. So how do you use Facebook (or MySpace for that matter)? Or, why do you like it?

And we still don't have a cell phone. Which we don't mind. People seem to have forgotten that they used to drive all over the country without phones. And they didn't panic about it. Again I can see how cell phones are useful, but they make me sad. I get sad at the airport when I sit down in the terminal. It is generally instantly clear that no conversations will happen because those who like conversations are on their phones and those who don't are reading , sleeping, or listening to their ipod. In the line waiting to pick up kids from school, multiple people are on the phone, again not talking or forging connections with other parents. Why does it feel like people don't want to meet others? I think everyone has their own cell phone horror story of an inappropriate time a person used a cell phone.

Maybe I am old fashioned. Or maybe as a stay at home mom, I am conversation deprived. But I wish for front porches with rockers. We don't have a front porch but we regularly sit in the front yard while the girls ride bikes. Guess what happens? The neighbors come out and talk to us! It's wonderful. I wish Sundays were still days for church, visiting friends, big dinners with guests. I know that as the kids get older I will probably be getting cell phones, adding computers or tv/computers, and joining who knows what social networks on the Internet to keep track of my kids. For now, I will try to save money for the front porch and relish these days were the girls mostly talk to each other and to us. Anyone want to come visiting on Sunday? I'll invite you in and serve you some yummy gluten-free cinnamon bread and a cup of tea! Or we can sit in the front yard and watch the kids play while having a long conversation maybe even meeting a few neighbors. Lovely.