Well, it finally happened and I didn't see it coming. Just when you think you've moved on and have forgotten those who have hurt you repeatedly, there they are. DAMN YOU FACEBOOK!
Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating just a little. There was a time in my life about 17 years ago that I made a stupid mistake--AGAIN--and I had hoped I wouldn't be reminded of it ever again. But, with modern technology, I should have known that you can never get away from your past. How many politicians and actors have woken up one morning and been informed of a picture from their past is all over the internet, making them rue the day they let that lover of theirs take the nude picture of them with whipped cream all over their bum? So, how could I expect to escape the past? If I had just kept off Facebook, I wouldn't be in this predicament.
But everyone I know is on Facebook. My family, my boyfriend, my co-workers--so what chance did I have? I couldn't possibly stay off it! So, I took the plunge and there I was, minding my own business. I had signed up some friends and family and didn't really think about it at all.
On March 29 of this year, a birthday greeting was posted on my page. I was astonished, terrified, sad and happy all at the same time. It was a simple happy birthday, but it was from someone I hadn't spoken to in a long time and had hoped I would never talk to again. Can you undo a greeting? Is there a way to hide once they've found you? It's like trying to put toothpaste back into the tube.
The story doesn't stop there. Yesterday, my long lost brother whom I have not spoken to in 13 years, pops up on Facebook and asks to be my friend. Friend? Are you kidding me? After what you did to your wife and kids? Gee, the surprises just keep on coming.
But sometimes, good thinks from your past catch up with you. The birthday greeting guy has a fabulous family that I lost when I kicked him to the curb. Now, because of him finding me, they have found me, too. I'm thrilled to be reunited with them. We're going to meet in July and I hope that we can start up being friends again.
As for my brother, time will tell. I have no reason to believe that he has changed over the years, so why would I want to be reunited with him? I have done a good job of limiting my family drama to just my daughter and grandkids. The last drama I had with my brother was enough to last a lifetime. And my poor boyfriend was dragged into it, too. I can't--no, won't--put him through that turmoil again, either.
So, the future holds many mysteries. Some of them are just the past catching up with you.
