Sometimes Facebook Is Awesome.

I spend way too much time on my computer. That's very obvious to me. And to my girlfriend, who had to get used to how much time I spend in front of this thing. When my computer broke last month, I jumped at the chance to borrow a loaner from the guy who was fixing it, so I didn't have to change my routine at all. So, yes, I spend way to much time on Facebook, checking my email, updating my etsy, browsing etsy, reading blogs, etc.

But one week ago, a few minutes of my time on Facebook really paid off. Earlier in the evening, an old friend of mine popped into my head. We had been extremely close when I was in college, worked together, had a ton of classes together... but had eventually lost touch, sadly. I missed her greatly in the years that followed, but life goes on...

Believing I may have just been presented with a synchronistic opportunity, I did a search for her on Facebook as soon as I was able, when I got home that night. I found it hard to believe I had never done that before... She popped right up, my girl Genna. I could see from her hyphenated last name that she was now married. I sent her a "friend request" ASAP, and was able to browse her pictures and a few things because she didn't have them privacy-protected.

I was searching for the hubby, wanted to see who she had found, since I remembered that Genna had always had such bad luck with boyfriends. Searching... searching... Boy, that blonde woman sure is in her pictures a lot. Must be a new friend or maybe related to her hubby. Then, in a miscellaneous picture album, I find Genna's wedding pictures. The blonde woman is who she married!!! I'm shocked, truly (and happily!) shocked. Genna and I talked about everything back in the day, and she knew my preference for women, and surely she would have mentioned something if she had leaned that way at all!

I was shocked, elated, and hopeful. I might get my friend back, and now we had more in common than ever. I believe I ran downstairs, chattering to my girlfriend about all this, obviously conveying how excited I was!

Well, she answered my friend request pretty quickly, within the hour, and what followed for the next hour or so was a flurry of Wall posts, messages, and picture comments between Genna, her wife, and me. Total excitement coming from all sides. She had been updating on her page about her next participation in the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk, coming up the next Thursday. I asked her right away how I could donate, and we also made plans for gf and I to come to the ending ceremony in St. Paul, to reunite with her and to meet each other's partners.

And so, the day of the end of the 3-Day was today. Gf and I were running a little late, per usual, but we raced down to the capital grounds, me texting with Genna's wife to try and pinpoint their location within the massive sea of pink. I had a vague idea of where to look, and that was enough. Genna and I are both tall girls, so I found her right away. Hugs, crying all around, more hugs, and happy introductions, followed by dinner and a lot of catching up. So many stories to tell, most importantly, how we came to be in our current happy situations!! As in most times when getting to know a fellow GLBT, we had to tell the "when did you know" and "how was coming out for you" stories. And of course, just catching up on where our lives have taken us. Funny that after years of not being in contact, we have more in common than ever before. We are both thankful to have the other in our lives again.

Yes, all this social technology is a time-suck for sure. But it can also be a blessing when it helps you find a truly wonderful friend.