Fifteen Minutes of (Social Media) Fame

There has been plenty about 2016 not to like. The snowstorm and Arctic cold we experienced last week has been brutal as far as weather goes.

I can't help but be a little giddy, however, about some of my social media "success" this year. No, I don't have a YouTube channel. I don't have thousands of followers hanging on my every word. But when one of my posts gets more than a handful of "likes," it makes me happy. Realistically, I write just for myself. I use Twitter while watching TV and share the viewing experience with people who enjoy the same sort of show. I'll post a little something on Tumblr because it makes me chuckle. I blog here because there's something I want to say. I was already enjoying some of what social media has to offer when I wrote "I Like Social Media Because..." back in 2013. In a way, I guess it's that I like to hear myself talk. This way, nobody has to listen. That's why it's such a kick to learn that other people are listening.

I don't watch a lot of TV compared to some, but the shows I choose, I follow enthusiastically. PBS introduced me to "Doctor Who" when I was a child, but I've only been a regular viewer for about 10 years. So much to enjoy, and so many fans around the world. That's why I was honored when BBC America chose one of my tweets to display onscreen during a special episode featuring fan content early this year. There were dozens of tweets used, in addition to fan artwork and the like. I wish they had re-aired that enhanced episode or made it available online so I could have gotten a picture of my Twitter name onscreen for thousands of people to see.

"Am I a good man?" Gee, where have I heard that before. #DoctorWho

8:43 PM - 26 Sep 2015

0 replies0 retweets0 likes

In July, I was watching a little recap show about Comic-Con. Naturally, I was tweeting while I was watching. I'm glad I was paying attention to the television or I would have missed my name scrolling across the bottom of the screen with other fans' tweets.

I appreciate #LiveAtSDCC on @Syfy for giving those of us who will never make the trip to #SDCC just a taste of nerd heaven.

7:23 PM - 21 Jul 2016

I enjoyed a little show this summer loosely based on the real-life friendship between "Houdini & Doyle." A little mystery, a little history, a little fun for an hour a week. Their team was active on social media, trying to build up a fan base. Alas, the show was cancelled, but not before one of the writers chose my tweet in a contest for an autographed script. Cool, huh?

I don't just live-tweet current shows, though. It also brings a new dimension to old favorites, those classic movies and shows that you don't mind watching again and again. Guess what? There are other folks out there who like to watch the same thing! It struck me one night when I was watching the 1933 "King Kong." Movie-making was still a relatively new art form at that time. Here we are using technology that may not have even been imagined when people were taking their weekly trip to the theater. How times have changed.

In 2014, I asked myself, "Do I NEED Another Social Media Account?" I decided that it wouldn't be such a bad idea and started using Tumblr. I'm still more active on Facebook and Twitter, but sometimes Tumblr is just the right venue for something I want to say. Recently, that was validated for me.

BBC America has been airing "The Power of the Daleks," animating some old "Doctor Who" episodes from 1966 for which only the audio recordings remained. It's another fine example of using modern techniques to make something old almost new again.  Surprise! I've been tweeting while I watch! The network is pretty good about having a presence during the most popular shows, liking, replying, and retweeting as the mood strikes. One of my tweets caught their eye, so they retweeted it.

Give a Dalek a plunger, & it will serve you for a day. Give it a whisk, & it will try to rule the universe for a lifetime. #PowerOfTheDaleks

10:40 PM - 10 Dec 2016

Because of that action, my tweet has received almost 200 likes and more than 40 retweets. Not bad, eh? *pats self on back* Since it got a decent reception on Twitter, I figured I'd share the same idea on Tumblr, with just a few more than 140 letters.

Give a Dalek a plunger, and it will serve you for a day. Give a Dalek a whisk, and it will try to rule the universe for a lifetime.

#POWEROFTHEDALEKS #DALEK #DOCTOR WHO

DECEMBER 11, 2016 (6:50 PM)

Again, the BBC America account reblogged my post. Now, after almost two weeks, I've had more than 1,100 interactions. Four digits! That's a new record for me! That sort of response doesn't always occur when I post, and it may not again. But I had just the right words at just the right time. I am pleased with myself.

So, I'll bask in my version of momentary glory. It's fun for me, and that's the reason I use social media.  You never know when I might have something interesting to say, so feel free to check me out as ProofingSandy on Twitter and on Tumblr. And of course, stop by here any time.

Well, I S'pose

I attended an event last week where I expected to only know a handful of people. I typically do better in what could be an uncomfortable setting when I have a buddy with me, someone who's got my back and can help me just relax and mingle as myself. Unfortunately, this week's event was the memorial service for the very woman who has helped me feel at ease in the past.

One of my dearest friends for the last 17 years passed away earlier this month. We knew that it would happen within a few weeks, so it wasn't exactly sudden or unexpected. But it was certainly more sudden than any of us would have liked. I suppose the death of a loved one usually takes place before you want it to. This one just feels like it hit us way before we were ready.

Sure, I've attended funerals before. I've lost family members like everyone else. A cousin's daughter died at the age of 2 many years ago; my dad's been gone six years; other relatives have all been of an age where you knew the time was near. And I've gone to services for the family of friends. I think you want to support those you care about by honoring the ones they've lost. 

But this one feels different. It hits so much closer to my heart.

I've been friends with her for a third of my life. I'd say "best" friends, but who can honestly pick just one friend to be at the top of your list? She had lots (and lots) of friends, but we were a group of three that had so much in common and grew to understand each other on so many levels. I truly imagined us to one day be three gray-haired wrinkly ladies getting together for Sunday brunch at least once a month ad infinitum. 

I can't even begin to adequately describe what sort of woman she was. So, in no particular order, I'm just going to randomly give you a glimpse of the friendship we had.

The three of us did so much together. We shared beverages, from margaritas to Bloody Marys and wine to coffee. We traveled together, though they were just little weekend jaunts (see my posts "Weekend, Schmeekend" and "Staunch Women"). We raised our kids together, whether that meant getting advice, or babysitting, or living vicariously through the one daughter in the bunch. We ate "frogs" and wove tapestries of memories, and it didn't matter if nobody else understood quite what that meant. We rang in lots of new years in each other's company, honoring the old and welcoming the new. We celebrated our achievements and circled the wagons around each other when we needed support (see "Rescue Me"). We joked about spelling, grammar, and punctuation, agreeing to disagree on the Oxford comma. We were entertained by David Cassidy and by Craig Ferguson (two separate events, a decade apart). We had so much in common, while still remaining unique (see "Three Peas in a Pod"). When you found us together, whether in a kitchen, on a deck, in a restaurant, or at a borrowed condo, you might find laughter (see "An Inside Joke") or you might find tears. You would always find conversation. You would always find sharing. And you would always find love. 

I noted above that she had lots of friends. During the final weeks, I don't know that their house was ever empty. There were people stopping by for stories and giggles and tears and good-byes. They came from down the street and from across the country. I'm glad I was also able to spend more time with them when the time was drawing near. Honestly, that's not much different than an average day in her life. Their home has always been warm and welcoming. I was in awe of, but not surprised by, the amount of support that surrounded them when it was most needed. While I expect many of us have some friends for this activity, and another group of friends for that other activity, these people encouraged the intermingling of those groups. I've met some fabulous people through her and her husband over the years, some of whom I now call friends. It was clear at her memorial service how many people shared a common love for this one uncommon woman.

She's been gone for a few weeks now, and it still doesn't feel right that I can't just text or call or drop in when something makes me think of her. I jotted down a few thoughts when we knew that her time was coming (see "Because You Were Here" and "A Tapestry of Memories"). But I'd been putting off this post because I felt I could never adequately honor what she has meant to me. 

In a way, that's how many of our get-togethers ended. One of us would realize, "Well, I s'pose I should get going now." Then, the conversation would continue for an additional 15...30...60 minutes before we would actually leave. All good things must come to an end, and that end always seems to come too soon. 

This Thanksgiving, I can be sad and angry that she is gone. But I will remind myself that she brought much joy to my life and the lives of so many others. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a friend so dear. I am thankful that I got to share so much living with her.

I don't want to say good bye. But now, my dear, I s'pose it is time.

What Can I Say?

I had more words running through my head today, but I hadn't typed anything up yet.

And now...the time to say good-bye to one of my dearest friends is approaching much faster than anyone would have wanted. In the weeks to come I will likely attempt to honor her in some small way here. But for the time being, all I can do is remind myself of some of the special times we have shared. 

Weekend, Schmeekend - October 2012
Rescue Me - October 2013
Staunch Women - November 2013
Because You Were Here - October 2016
A Tapestry of Memories - October 2016

There is not much more that I can say.

A Tapestry of Memories

The treadle has fallen silent,
the weaving done too soon.
But what of the remaining thread
Surely left upon the loom?

A basket full of memories
just waiting to be spun.
But step back now and turn your eyes
to the work that you have done.

See your love and warmth and beauty
you shared with one and all.
It adorns a thousand tapestries
upon a thousand walls.

Because You Were Here

There's a knot in my stomach that won't go away.
There's an ache in my head that won't go away.
There are tears in my eyes that won't go away.
All because you are going away.

I whined and I wined because you were here.
I laughed and I learned because you were here.
I endured and enjoyed because you were here.
All because I was blessed to share time with you here.

I wish rest for your body as you go away.
I wish ease for your mind as you go away.
I wish peace for your spirit as you go away.
Your place in my heart, dearest friend, will never go away.