I have a love-hate relationship with
the tech world.
I am impressed with what can be done
with electro gadgets these days, but hate when something goes wrong.
Actually, I often hate technology when
everything goes right.
Nothing is more frustrating that doing
everything right on a computer and it still won't do what it is
supposed to.
Some would say that means I am not
doing everything right and them I say...well, they are probably
right, but I am doing everything I know how to do and it is still not
working.
But I muddle along as best I can with
my old-man brain.
However, one of the cooler areas of
technology I have embraced is Facebook.
There are many aspects of Facebook I
must admit I do not care for – pick a political meme, any political
meme - but there are some really great things about it as well.
The coolest thing about Facebook is the
ability to keep in touch with people all over the world. It also
allows you to re-connect with people you may not have seen in a long
time.
Such was the case when I connected with
a buddy from high school. We took different paths after graduation
and I have not seen him since, but through the magic of FB, we are
once again able to 'hang out' and this time it is not painful in the
least.
Let me explain. You see, when we were
in elementary school this friend and I played a little game where we
would try to maim each other.
It was nothing too serious, just good
old fashioned youthful energy channeled in such a way as to cause
each other occasional bruise, scrape or second-degree concussion.
I don't know how the game started, but
there are two distinct incidents I remember well.
The first was in the gymnasium where
the class was doing a variety of sporting type activities. I happened
to have a basketball which, as most people know, is fairly hard.
Seeing my buddy standing 10 feet away,
I looked over and said 'Hey, Jeff' in a very non-threatening manner.
He turned around and I threw the ball
with every ounce of strength I had, hitting him square in the face.
I was quite pleased with my shot, and
when he regained consciousness I was even happier.
He was out for about 10 seconds and I
thought for sure I was going to get it. But instead he was very calm
about the whole thing.
That was my first warning sign because
I knew he was planning his revenge and for the next couple of days I
was a nervous wreck.
Cue gym class again and we are playing
softball under the clear blue sky.
I am on first base running to second
when suddenly I see stars.
The next thing I remember is looking up
at that clear blue sky while the gym teacher freaks out because one
of her students has been doing the ball diamond slumber for almost a
minute.
I have to admit, it was one hell of a
good throw by my buddy.
A batter hit the ball to the infield
and my friend grabbed it and fired a masterful shot, beaning me in
the bean as I ran full tilt toward second base.
He claimed he was trying to throw to
second, but we all know the truth and the smug look on his face
showed how proud he was of his accuracy.
I had a headache for three days and am
pretty sure that was the first time I received a concussion.
But all is fair in love, war and the
maim game.
We carried on this way until we reached
high school where such antics faded away as we matured and all that
stuff.
Basically we got tired of always being
on edge and always wondering where the next assault was coming from.
Being a young boy is not for cowards.
At least through Facebook we can't
knock each other out...yet.
Copyright 2017, Darren Handschuh
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