Hope & Airbrushing

Last night as I was going through spelling words with Emi (-one,-ose, -ope) she came across "hope" and bragged to me, "I've known how to spell 'hope' my entire life." Her realization really hit me because I know that my daughter will experience so many negative things in life (she already has experienced so much in her only 7 years of life) and even so, she will remain hopeful.

I have used technology as a means of supporting my "hope" habit over the years and would like to share a bit so that you might become more hopeful too.

A couple years back I was hot and heavy into my high school reunion planning (yes, I was That Person) and I became addicted to finding "lost" alumni. Don't judge. This was before I was introduced to FaceBook and I became great friends with a fellow alumna who also felt the same euphoria I felt as we connected with these long lost souls from high school. [Side note: Too bad we didn't hang out in high school because I'm certain the quality of my high school experience would have been much better.] So, as we were finding lost folks to invite them to our 20 year reunion, I sometimes had to come to terms with some past life messiness.

I had located an ex-boyfriend from my class who I hadn't seen in many years...things between us hadn't ended well or neatly so I was apprehensive about running into him at the reunion or in general. Well, we talked and surprisingly enough, things were not awkward between us. He attended the reunion and I even introduced him to my husband and things went over really well. I had the best time and considered my ex of (we dated almost 4 yrs) to be a friend again...

The following year I was helping my friend's class find lost alumni and in my search, I was faced with more of my past that I needed to address. My senior prom date was a junior. A sweet boy I met during a wrestling fundraiser. I agreed to go to prom with him after he came to my work (Frusen Gladje Ice Cream) armed with a cute puppy. He was so cute and so sweet and direct, played no games and I was NOT falling for it. I was very nervous around boys back then, so when my best friend's date stood her up, I found I had a way out of being alone with my date. I decided to cut prom short and go party with my friend. We took pics at his house after I met his family, then went to prom and possibly had pictures taken there. I brought a change of clothes and had him take me to my friend's house, pick us up some beer and drop us off at a local party place. (I know...special place in Hell for me!)

I don't recall ever seeing him after he dropped us with me toting my bagged prom dress in one hand and a quart of beer in the other. Except for when I googled for images of him to confirm I had the right guy for the reunion. I tracked down his e-mail and apologized profusely for my very immature behavior 20 years prior. He was gracious and accepted my apologies; said he had forgotten that night. E-talking with him was very cleansing for my soul.

Later, I got on FaceBook and found friends from waaay back and it's been a great online reunion (except for all of those pesky apps in FB). I barely have time to check in on my friends' statuses, let alone play games. So thankfully those features can be hidden... Since being on FB I've reunited with my first roommate ever (Hi Stacy!) online and in person. And I've gotten messages with apologies or confessions from old schoolmates....all good and all very unexpected. I guess everything comes full circle....also, I can never run for office!