The Very Social Media

This is a guest essay by John W. Bloom, a fellow Kiwanian and friend. John is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, a 1967 graduate of Miami University, and a member of the housing corporation for the Zeta-Upsilon Zeta chapter. I enjoyed his reflection on using social media as a continutation of the fraternal experience.  For recent alums, imagine those days without social media to stay in touch with brothers and sisters, and consider how much we may all take for granted how easy it is to remain connected today -- JS

I’m about to get another year older as my 70^th birthday is less than a month away.  In recent years I’ve felt like I’m losing the battle to keep up with all the new technologies, but this morning as I reviewed my Facebook posts I had a new awareness.  Regardless of whether or not I use all the capabilities of Facebook, Facebook is one bit of technology that brings me incredible joy.  Here’s why!

I have 473 friends on Facebook, a modest number by some standards, but the majority of them are Lambda Chis.  The list includes current actives and associate members as well as alums from Zeta-Upsilon Zeta (Miami University) and beyond.  

On any given day I can go to my Facebook page and get uplifted, touched, awed, tickled, teased – you name it.  Most of all I get moved by the goodness and kindness of the brothers in the bond.

Here a just a few of the specifics:

Tributes to the passing of the beloved

The home makeovers

The proud parents whether for the first time or the nth time

The appreciative and loving sons and daughters

The achievements – yours and theirs

The laughter and the tears

The travels near and far

The thoughtful, reflective, spiritual moments

The heartfelt prayers for self and others

The sensitivity to those in need and the willingness to address those needs

The talent, the artistry, the athletic prowess

The politics – even if I don’t agree

The Browns, Bengals, Reds, Indians, Cavs, and the….

The Packers, The Patriots (but not the Yankees or the Steelers)

Oxford and Campus Scenes – and behind the scenes

The military service rendered then and now

Intramurals and (Miami) RedHawk hockey

Community service selflessly rendered via Kiwanis, church, Red Cross, Feeding America….

The weddings, births, baptisms, funerals

The eateries and the watering holes

The time parents spend with their children and the love each has for the other

While I’ve observed the above through my Lambda Chi eyes, I’m positive that others, whether Greek or not and whether almost 70 or not, share daily the joy social media can and does bring.