Wednesday morning arrived like any other. Coffee in hand, I eased into the day, settling down in the living room like I always do. Out came my phone for the usual routine—checking customer emails and scrolling through Facebook. Now, as you might imagine, my farm account is always buzzing with notifications, but my personal one? Not so much. But today was different. Today was my birthday! Yup, I was turning 51, and those Facebook birthday wishes were already starting to roll in.
Now, I’ve heard from the younger crowd that maybe Facebook isn’t the coolest app to connect on these days, but I’ve got to say, it works just fine for this guy. Right off the bat, I got a message from Barry, a customer and friend from 20 years ago. His family’s from the neighborhood, but it’s always a treat to hear from him. Throughout the day, more well wishes kept pouring in—from high school friends, even a few from public school, coworkers from my teenage years, and people I’ve connected with just in the past few weeks.
Say what you will about the downsides of social media and how it can affect mental health, but all those messages got me thinking. At its core, Facebook really is great. How else would I keep in touch with so many people from different stages of my life? Without it, I wouldn’t even know how to contact most of them. Let’s be honest—before Facebook, I wasn’t exactly in the habit of writing letters to childhood friends. And that’s not even mentioning the family connections!
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I truly appreciate it. I love Facebook, and I think a lot of people do, even if they’re not always quick to admit it.
To top off the day, Anne made me one of my favorites—lemon meringue pie—and Mom stopped by the barn for a visit and a hug. Both kids came by the house to wish their old man a happy birthday. It was the perfect day. I capped it off with the ever-necessary "thank you" to everyone for their birthday wishes on Facebook.
All in all, turning 51 wasn’t so bad. Here’s to another year of farm life, family, and staying connected in this crazy digital world!
Farmer Rod
A Birthday, Lemon Pie, and the Power of Social Media
