Opening the Flood gates!Oh my F-Book!

When I started this blog a little over two months ago, at first I was a bit hesitant (panicky).  Although I may be a straight forward (opinionated), poet-at-times,farmer, aviator with numerous stories to tell, I'd like to think that I am still a private person. Additionally, I  try and refrain from using too much social media.  Like everything in life, social media sites can either be truly beneficial or detrimental to a person's well-being, depending on how they are utilized. Facebook is especially handy when you travel, study overseas, you are the President of a scholars' club,Ambassador of that same club for Oceania Continent (ok Australia but Pacific is still a continent to us), stuck in the middle of nowhere and need help, free accommodation, catchup with a friend or to reconnect with people whom you have not seen or heard from in a long, long time.

I permanently deleted my Facebook Page twice (yes it can be done), deleted Friendster, Bebo,Hi5 and all the other 'please add me to be just another name on your 1000+ friends list that I don't even know or talk to, so I can validate, feel-good about myself' websites.  After returning from London, I had some 900+ people on my Fretbook page and several posts that I wanted to reinvent. I decided that due to limited and expensive internet access (beauty of living on an island), I would delete my page and use the ancient, oh-so reliable email. So, I did.  Earth to me! Within 30 seconds , I kid you not, some 5 friends jumped on email/whatsapp/Blackberry chat and harassed me.

"Enid, where are you? 

why have you deleted your Fb page? 

Are you crazy!

What's happening?"

All questions to imply that I have killed myself off from the world and that I have died a social death immediately.  My friends will soon wither in numbers and that my family might find me naked on the couch. Okay, maybe not that extreme but you get the picture.

I realized that I could have been more subtle going about Fretbook Page deletion (or not), that 'hey wait a minute', I deleted the page thinking there is too much of my life in the public eye and that I will do fine without Facebook. On the flip side, I totally forgot that I do have hundreds of friends and family who LIVE on FretPage and cannot go a day without it.  I have friends who are all over the world who can easily keep track of me on there and that they within seconds recognized that I am gone from the face of Planet Earth!

Upon the request (harassment/lamentation/threats) of my overseas friends (Indian and Japanese), I slowly resurrected my FretBook page and was very cautious of what I posted on there. A few weeks/months later, I started this blog.

As soon as I publicized the blog, I have been getting so many responses, questions and lovely stories. Positive and overwhelming,unexpected responses.  In my little corner of the world, my blogs have inspired a few, ignite new ideas for some and made others laugh a little.  I set out to write a few words on the life of a young woman in aviation not knowing that there are many who want to hear/read/know this story among some of our Samoan stories.  A story like mine can easily be bettered, just not told in the same way. In the words of a great poet,

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

Maya Angelou

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mayaangelo133956.html#TPSPxKW59858S20V.99

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you"~Maya Angelou

Yes, I have a gift, a God given-talent to write, no matter how many times I deny it.  I have a way with words that react to people (people react to) and now I am ready to share it with you. In writing about myself, my Samoa, Pele Project, I am made aware that in order for the world to know more of our/my stories, FretBook needs me/ I need Facebook. There, I said it. Facebook has captured millions and like moths to the flame we come and join it.  It's free, fast,worldwide and instant.

Perhaps I was a little bit scared of Fretbook, but now that fear has been eradicated. I am not scared of it because Facebook to me is just a tool.  It is a wonderful tool when used wisely, cautiously and correctly.  Facebook does not force us to do anything.  It does not cause our fingers to post silly photos, status, feelings, insecurities, vengeful thoughts of ourselves or other people. I'd rather touch one person's life with the gift that I have been given through this tool than hiding and leaving it too late, dying without using it. 

Facebook is what you make of it.  Be careful of what you post on social websites, who knows?, Bill Gates might wake up one morning and decides that the ''Delete, undo,backspace' buttons will no longer be included for new computers.  The Fretbook guy might have 'ugly, hate, shut up,back off' buttons on his Facebook. That's saying them in a nice way.

Sharing yourself with the world (From FretBook)

So, I shall keep my Fretbook Page until such a time when this author no longer feels like one. Lastly, WE decide what we share with the world. Even when we are tagged by others in unpleasant photos, status etc you can easily untag yourself without using colourful (swear) words, or send an ugly private message that they will forward onto more people and so forth. Samoa is a very very very small world, very being the emphasis here and it's getting smaller everyday with Fretbook, so don't fret, be wise about it. Use it wisely.  My dear blog, will stay and I have to confess I am happy with blogspot because it is less invasive than FretBook.