Never one to embrace statistics, trends, and themes, I’ve noted one; it weaves its way through the comments on my page.
That is, mentions of a loved one’s death. No human can avoid death, whether ours or someone we love. And I don’t mind it being mentioned, especially if it helps you cope.
Sometimes I scroll on by, not knowing what to say. Sometimes I click on the commenter’s profile pic and maybe dive deeper into their easily accessible information, looking for a photo of the person they have memorialized in their commentary.
More often than not, it’s the ladies who mention that they’ve lost their spouse. Now and then, it’s a man who laments their painful loss. It’s fifty-fifty on the comments about the death of a parent, as you can imagine.
Since men only make up about fifteen percent of my readership, I can understand the data and figure out why there are more women than men who mention it; I can be a numbskull, but simple “mathing” doesn’t tax my gray matter, especially when no one demands that I show my work in the crib notes.
I don’t love using emojis, and a small, round, yellow head with tears streaming out doesn’t convey how much I care about how many of you are saddled with the heavy weight of grief.
I don’t like the hug emoji, either. And a thumbs up or smiley face without a verbal or typed footnote can be taken the wrong way, and often is.
It’s Monday, and I want you to know that whether it’s a recent loss or something aching within from a loved one lost even years ago, it’s always noted and considered when I scroll through and read each and every comment.
Don’t think for a minute that you’ve wasted your time, because I’m happy that you found it important to place it out there.
I don’t know why I thought of this on a Monday morning, but it bears repeating now and then that this comment section is for you, and I read them all.
If there is one thing I learned about Facebook pages, it’s that most writers don’t really give a rip about what you say as long as you say something, or click on a LIKE to keep up the algorithm.
Just because I don’t say anything, I want you to know that I’ve seen it.
That’s all I’ve got.
From the Jagged Edge of America, I remain,
TC
While written for my Facebook page, I felt this one should be included in the blog. Thanks for reading, buying the books, supporting my Interweb-centric writing through BuyMeACoffee, and for generally being a good bunch of humans. tc