How does it happen that an innocent picture sparks a firestorm of sorts? All I did was post a picture of a deer on my Facebook page, and Wham! It's knockout time! The picture was a little out of focus because it had been taken through the window of my living room. A young buck was standing in my front yard, head up, as if he had posed just for me. He was facing another young buck out on the road, although that one is not visible in the picture. Before I could get a picture of the other buck, they both turned and left. No conflict, no disagreement, not even any posturing or pawing the ground. A total contrast to what happened when my friends saw the picture.

At any rate, when I uploaded the picture to my computer, I thought it was just different enough that some of my FB friends would enjoy it; so I posted it. Big mistake. That a picture of a deer can provoke political name calling, hate mongering, and cursing is beyond my understanding, but that is what happened.

My friends are not, and never have been, limited to one particular group, be it political, religious, relatives, or neighbors. I like them all; some I love, and I never use that word lightly. I enjoy the different points of view that my friends offer, even if I don't always agree. But I do not stop liking someone just because we disagree in our politics. Sometimes, I even listen to the "other side." Although most of my friends would call me a liberal, I try to choose what's right. That's right as in correct, not right as in politically on the right.

Maybe that's why it's so hard to understand what has happened. I guess I should be thankful that not much of the invective was aimed directly at me. And thank you to those whose comments focused on the picture itself.

Facebook

To all my Facebook friends, I apologize.  It is absolutely necessary that I close my Facebook account.  You see, I spend too much time just reading all the posts everyone puts up; even spending time only once a week, it takes at least two or three hours to catch up with everyone.  This is time that I have decided could be better spent elsewhere.

This is in no way a criticism of those who use and love Facebook.  It is simply a comment, and a sad one at that, on my inability to stay focused on one task -- my writing.  When I sit at the computer, I find myself doing everything else except what I should be doing.  I surf, I email, I look at my Facebook page, and I shop.  But I need to write, so I am trying to cut out these other distractions.  Believe me, it is a hard thing to do.

I don't want to lose touch with everyone, or anyone, again; but I think you all have my email address, or can get it or my phone number easily.  Please stay in touch.