Sunday, February 07, 2021

Two very different women

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. It is also my Cousin Rose's birthday. She's not really a football fan, but now that she lives near Tampa and the Bucs are competing, and her adopted hometown is hosting it, she's into the game. She also really, really loves Mark Harmon. So I posted this photo for her on Facebook to wish her a happy birthday.

Jeri is a journalist and a classic movie fan I apparently met at the TCM Film Festival in 2019. I say "apparently" because, honest to God, I don't remember her. But after the festival, when we all got home, she reached out and wanted to be Facebook friends. OK! You want to talk William Powell and The Thin Man movies? I'm your Gal!

Jeri commented on Rosie's birthday pic immediately, saying she's loved Mark Harmon since St. Elsewhere. Rose and Jeri gave one another's drooly comments thumbs up. This amuses me mightily.

For in real life, Rose and Jeri would likely never meet or speak. Rosie is a very devout Catholic. She never misses worship. If she comes to visit you, she'll tell you which of your neighborhood churches she'll be attending and when because she's done her homework. Rosie never swears. Ever. If you cuss (and I do), she will firmly ask you to "cut it out" because it make her uncomfortable.

Jeri was not born a woman, but she lives as one. She writes for The Advocate

While Rose was very supportive of my gay friend Henry after his accident, contributing generously to the GoFundMe set up to pay his hospital bills, I know that was out of love for and loyalty to me. The LGBTQ world confuses her. She simply doesn't get it.

And today, Rose and Jeri were trading giggling comments on Mark Harmon. It makes my heart happy. I keep hearing how "cruel" Facebook is. I seldom find that. More often, I see connections made and maintained. Maybe I'm a Pollyanna, but I remain a social media fan.

I have an aunt who forgets her manners on Facebook, but that's only in relation to Donald Trump. I blame the former President for that -- his disrespectful all-caps Tweeting just overheated everything and made rudeness fashionable. And I blame my aunt. I know she loves me, but her Trumpy anger eats her up. It came between her and her oldest son early on and, if I let it, it would separate us. I email her regularly, but I won't engage her on Facebook. But that's on her, not Mark Zuckerberg.

Instead, I will enjoy the connection between Rose and Jeri, and I will keep an eye out to see what other of my posts they both respond to. Maybe someday I can introduce them in real life!


2 comments:

  1. I enjoyed my visit here today. I agree, I enjoy my social media and most of it is positive. Most of my friends are from my church and few from groups that I am in. If someone post something I don't like, I hide it. They can post what they want on their page. I try to post positive things. Most of my family is on FB and it is a good way to share pictures. But I am spending less time on it over all. I have been reading through the Bible since last February and am now in Mark. I finally got my blog updated. Have a nice week! Oh and Mark Harmon is good looking!

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  2. I forget how dreamy Mark Harmon is.

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