Seriously?

You care?

You really care?

Wow.

For whatever reason, I just noticed the change in Facebook’s’ page. I have no idea how long these changes have been in effect.

But today I noticed that Facebook seemed to be interested in my well-being … my feelings.

And my mind started to wonder/wander … do they really care? What if I really told them how I am really feeling? What should I post …

I mean, how honest are they really looking for …

“Thanks for asking, I’m feeling fine?”

“Pretty wiped out, did a lot of driving yesterday … got home late … then got awakened out of a sound sleep with a phone call at 6AM”

“Well, since you asked, my stomach is pretty acidy … and I feel just a bit down in the dumps”

“Feeling kind of antisocial, thanks. Was wondering how to get out of that New Years Eve invite without hurting anyones feelings”

And just now I am remembering a man I worked with many years ago … who decided to make a personal statement to all who mindlessly asked him “Hi Tom, how are you?”

At which point he would stop … dead in his tracks … take a deep breath and … quite loudly … proclaim “I’m doing SO FANTASTICALLY well. THANK YOU for asking!!!”

After about four of these identical iterations on a caffeine-deprived morning everyone avoided Tom.

So I went out there looking for “Facebook New Screenshots” on Google. What was it that they used to ask me, exactly?

Well, here we have “What are you doing right now?”

Oh, that’s good.

How should I respond to that?

“Squinting at the screen, trying to read the fine print?”

And what if I am doing something … right now … that the world would be better off not knowing?

What then?

I don’t remember ever having that prompt in the little block at the top either. Maybe this suggestion is for people who actually have a life and do interesting things.

And mine is for people who have a shrink.

Hey, I do things, too … she said … not sounding the least bit defensive.

What was it that was out there … before?

Maybe it was this …

“What’s on your mind?”

I seem to recall seeing that from time to time.

And if there was indeed something on my mind, I could share it with one and all.

Not that there was … not too often.

Ah!

There it is!

My old friend … the prompt that faced me every day for months.

“Write something.”

Succinct. To the point. Requires me to feel no feelings … or rise to any great creative heights … or be positive … or negative … or anything.

Just … write something.

Exactly what I have needed this past year of heartbreak and recovery.

So I sat here … right before I started this tirade blog entry … and I thought “What IS Holly feeling?”

It is snowing at the rate of one to three inches an hour outside … on top of the ice from last night … to be followed tomorrow morning with more ice … and strong winds.

And I looked at the picture my beloved brother just posted …

OK.

How am I feeling?

Well, I’ll tell you in two pictures. First is where my brother is – Big Sur. Second is where I am – Big … Not-Sur.

What do you think I am feeling?