Well, my niece Caitlin finally convinced me to get one of them Facebook pages. I held out for the longest time, but eventually I buckled under to her persistent pestering. It’s up and running and you know what? Weird as it is, I kind of like it. (I’m drawing the line at twitter, though. I told her, “The only one I want twittering me is Charlie.”)

It took me awhile to get the hang of Facebook. At first, the page looked like a real mess. There was just too much going on. But after my eyes adjusted, and I figured out how to scan it, I got to where I could kind weed out the stuff I don’t care about.

I was also confused about that “like” button. Not the one at the top of the page that means you want to be friends with a person or organization or something. I didn’t quite understand the “like” beside the “comment,” under a “post” in my “newsfeed.” (Pretty impressive, huh?)

I says to Caitlin, “What does this ‘like’ mean? Why wouldn’t I just write a comment?”

“Well, Aunt Ida,” she replies, “’like’ is kind of a different level of intimacy. It says you read the post and agreed with it, or you watched the person’s video or it could just mean ‘Good for you!’”

“So it’s kind of like cheerleading, then?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“Well, I haven’t been a cheerleader since Moose Megantic High, but I think I can handle it that.”

“I’m sure you can!”

So, what do I like about Facebook? Well, all that “liking” for one: “liking” people I “like,” and having them “like” me back and be my “friend.” And I’m getting into “liking” things people post and cheering them on with their doings. I’ve even reconnected with folks I went to high school with who’ve moved away. It’s nice to get a birds-eye view of their life. And, I swear, I have never watched so many videos in my life! People are always posting funny stuff, like that one with the baby laughing hysterically at ripping paper. Did you see that? I got Charlie going with that one. Guaranteed to get anyone in a good mood!

You know, the girls often call me “the ambassador of Mahoosuc Mills,” and I guess I’d have to agree. On my Facebook page, I can fill all you folks in on life here in Mahoosuc Mills. This blog’s been great for that, but now I can share stuff with you on daily basis, and you can actually write me back! Plus, I can let you know when my blog’s posted. That’s handy.

Enough with the raves. Here’s what I don’t like about Facebook: the time warp factor, for one. I say to myself, Heck, I’ll just check my Facebook page real quick before starting supper. Well, that’s a laugh. All of sudden, I’m sucked into this alternate universe, where each minute I spend on Facebook is really ten minutes in real time. I’ll be laughing at some new video, or enjoying my cousin’s photos from her vacation in Hawaii, or checking out tomorrow’s specials down to the Busy Bee. Then, I hear Charlie’s truck in the driveway, and realize that almost an entire hour has passed, which means we’re going to be eating canned beans and brown bread for supper. Won’t he be thrilled!

Here’s another thing I don’t like. People who suffer from Facebook diarrhea. I swear, these folks are posting every other minute! About nothing whatsoever! That’s bad enough, but what I don’t understand is why people encourage this Facebook doo-doo by actually “liking” it. I’m tempted to use a specific example, but I’ll refrain. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But shouldn’t they be using twitter for that jibber jabber?

My biggest pet peeve with Facebook? The ads. They only seem to run ones for anti-wrinkle cream and plastic surgery. Or is it just me?

Let me know what you like or don’t like about Facebook by visiting my Facebook page ( or as I call it, that little Mahoosuc Mills in the sky) and leaving a comment. You could even “like” me while you’re there ‘cause I like you!

That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!

(Listen to Ida's podcast by clicking here)

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