Facebook and Its Funny Friends

Some people can be so funny. Or strange. Or uptight. Or maybe just too self-conscious?

I'm a little annoyed over something that happened to me last night regarding Facebook and a comment I made on one of my friends' pictures. This person is a great friend. One who I have enjoyed spending much time with and have developed memories with over the past 8 years. She inspires me in many ways and makes me laugh in many others. However, last night she sort of left me going... "Really? Are you serious?"

Now for some back history. This friend and I used to lay out at the pool of her apartment almost EVERY WEEKEND in the summers. During the week, we were hard at work, but on the weekends if the sun was shining, you can bet we had our swim gear on, our toes painted, and our beach towels ready. We soaked up every ray of sun in Salt Lake City and sported our tan skin everywhere we went. Now although I'm Italian and can soak up my fair share of the sun beams, my friend can soak up more. She's got some awesome legs and they were always a nice golden brown in the summer time (much more golden than mine).

WHICH IS WHY...

I thought it okay to poke a little fun at her not so tan legs in a picture. I simply said "Dang girl! Those are some white legs. You need to get working on that tan. Remember when we hung out at the pool sun tanning all summer? I was just thinking about that today :)"

I thought this was a harmless comment, but apparently she did not. Not 2 seconds after I left it, I received a text message on my phone telling me to delete it. I replied back saying "You know I love you" to which she replied "I know, so delete it." (Here is where you can insert the "Really? Are you serious?!" thought).

The funny part is, when I went to delete it, it was already gone. She did it before I had the chance.

Now yes, I realize how silly all this is, but it seriously got me thinking about how funny we behave on Facebook and other forms of social media. We put pictures out there for people to comment on, and trust that our friends won't berate us. But I suppose if we don't like what our friends say about us, we have the right to delete such things (and I doubt that most people's friends post mean comments about one another). But isn't it kind of silly? I mean, at the age of 30, I figured my friends would be secure enough in their own skin to know they are beautiful inside and out, and to know that the friends who love them believe that 100%. What happened last night sort of reminded me of high school drama. So silly.

Shouldn't (almost) decade-long friends be able to tease and joke a little?

Maybe I'm not seeing it, but I honestly didn't have any intention of hurting her feelings over a comment about something as silly as a sun tan. If I had stark white legs in a picture and one of my friends made a little joke, I'd probably respond with something like "I know! These legs are all sorts of white right now. I best be getting my butt in the sun :)"

But I guess that's how I'm different from her. And as I exit my 20's in four days to make a grand appearance in my 30's, I am going to do my best to live out the next decade with a light and joyous heart.

Hell, if I sweat the small stuff too much, I might not see my 50's and I want to be around to enjoy many summers (and sun tans) to come :)