Befriending On Facebook

I have made it a bit clear around these parts that I am not a huge fan of my own family. I have done a pretty good job at distancing myself from the craziness. I do still have a connection with some family. I talk to my dad about 4 or 5 times a year. My mother, 3 times a year. I have an aunt that I love dearly but I usually call her if I know we will be in her neck of the woods and can stop for a visit. Christmas cards are usually how most of my family hears from me…..I am that annoying person who does Christmas cards with an “update” letter (although in my defense, I DO include the yucky crap that happens to us over the year).

Cousins, aunts, and uncles I have a bazillion. I come from a pretty large family actually. We see them at weddings and funerals. Kyle is usually a bit distressed at these events. He comes from a tiny family and is not fond of being thrust into large crowds. My self imposed separation to my family became quite clear when I got married. Only a handful were there. And all of Kyle’s family was there (which as I said wasn’t many). My real family showed though, we had a ton of friends present and that made it super special.

Recently, my grandfather decided he wanted to friend me on Facebook. This is a man I am not fond of. He is a master manipulator to my immediate family. I don’t allow him to have that hold over me. He was at my wedding and I did take a picture with him at my father’s request (ok I am a bit of a daddy’s girl whenever he is around)

Anyhow, this is a man that has no problems making racist statements and yet acting like he is best buds with people of color when he is around them. When we moved to NC in 1993, we lived with him in Raeford (just outside of Fayetteville). He had no problem insisting I make his alcoholic drinks even though I had just been released from drug & alcohol rehabilitation centers that I had been in over a course of 14 months. I was told just to do it to make things easier on our lives. Good thing I had developed a good sense of personal strength during that.

For the last year, Facebook would list him as a suggested friend. And I never clicked on his name. I had no desire to welcome him into my life. Then yesterday he actually sent me a friend request. I couldn’t believe it. And honestly, I was a bit torn. On the one hand, dude is getting seriously old. He saw his great grandkids for the first time at the wedding, that was 4 years ago. He hasn’t seen them since. My compassionate side feels sorry for him because he has seriously screwed up in his life when it comes to relationships. I thought about adding him just so he could see pictures of his great grandkids. Not too interested in whatever he posts over there. At the same time I didn’t want him thinking we were suddenly best buds. I also didn’t want him to have access to my website or twitter information. I have since learned I could block him from seeing that info. But still, it made my skin crawl knowing he could find out that much more for me. And what if he decided to join twitter? *shudder*

Fortunately the man is not internet savvy. He could easily google my name and find this site and my twitter. So I am safe. I may be an open book, but at the same time I like my distance.

P.S. I updated some pages! Pagan Children’s Prayers and Pagan Songs For Children have been worked on. I will update prayers as I find some or come up with some. Songs will be updated as well and I will add more video for the songs that don’t have videos.