A farewell to Facebook; for awhile, anyway.

Hello.  My name is Rachel Bee, and I am a Facebook addict.  It has been four minutes since I logged on last.

Actually, it has been a few hours.

I have almost exactly 300 friends.  I had many more than that, but last year I got so fed up with a few hundred people that I deleted them all.

And I got a few nasty emails.  I didn't realize I could simply "hide" people.  Oops.

Regardless, I am an addict because for the most part, I like Facebook.  Having lived in other parts of the world, I am able to keep up with people who I thought I would never see again.  I am able to browse through wedding pictures, receive pregnancy updates, and even get moment-by-moment notifications of childbirth.  It really is astounding.

But when I think about it, a girl who has the capacity for maybe 5 close friends should perhaps not be responsible for 300.  Every time I post something, I think- what if these 300 were in a room shoulder to shoulder?  What would I say?

How about (type, type, type...)?

No (delete, delete, delete).

OK.  This (type, type, type)?

Uh, nope (delete... you get it).

Such discretion didn't exist a year, or even six months, three months, or one month ago.  I am a girl wants to be governed by impulse.  As I have said before, I enjoy raising eyebrows.  Colossians 4:6 encourages us as Christians to let our words be full of grace, and seasoned with salt.  Paul doesn't encourage us to speak with garlic, seasoned with habanero pepper.

300 people, shoulder to shoulder.  What do I say?

I wish it was that simple.  As a Facebook addict, I am not only concerned with my own status updates, but I am also concerned with what other people have to say.  I love to laugh at the silliness of MBF.  The geniality and openness of BC is always heart-warming.  I enjoy getting weather updates from the other side of the world!  But then there are old clients who post pictures of new haircuts which I did not do.  There are political statements with which I simply do not agree.  There is a close friend who decided to go with another photographer other than my husband for family photos or an event.  There are very old friends who are attached to very painful memories and indiscretions.  There are cryptic statements that I am too paranoid to admit are not about me.

Am I mature enough to handle all of these darts and distractions?  I am mature enough to recognize that Facebook is nothing but a game?  Well, if it is a game, my husband would be the first to tell you that I do not like games.  I do not play cards, Scrabble, golf, video games, baseball or basketball.  I was asked to join a basketball team in Jr. High because of my attitude.  In three years, I played no more than 20 minutes, TOTAL.  Why?  Because I am NOT GOOD at games.  I lose every time.

I guess all of this is to say that I am done with Facebook for awhile.  I will continue to post my blog posts on my wall, so if you want to keep up with what I am doing or baking, you can do it here.  If you are a client who depends on Facebook for scheduling appointments, you can email through my website, www.rachelbiestman.com.  It is super easy!  If you are one of those people who enjoy commenting on my blog, you can do it here, on my blog.  And to encourage you to comment on the blog, I am offering...

A GIVEAWAY!

I am offering one delicious 10" cake, or one dozen cupcakes of choice to one lucky person in the continental United States.  That's right, I will ship the cake to you!  All you have to do is...

Tell me, what is your favorite cake flavor?

Comment on this post.

The winner will be chosen at random.

The winner doesn't have to immediately receive the cake.  He or she can wait for her birthday, a friend's birthday, office party, graduation, whatever.

The contest is closed at 12 AM July 4th.

Get me?

Alright.  Oh, geez.  Those recipes.  Tomorrow.  :)

Thanks for reading...

Rachel Bee