Retrospect

I'm relatively new to Facebook. My husband opened me this account around August 2010 to generally show off pics of my new babies to eager kith and kin all over the world at the cheapest cost! ;)
I  discovered my old school friends.  Then acquaintances. I was content.  My world of one mommy plus two babies, parents, hubby and inlaws was suddenly broadened.
This doesn't mean that I was bereft lonely and friendless all my life till the advent of social media. In fact I turned up my nose at social media and refused staunchly to join Orkut MySpace.  I even lost a few good friends because I refused to use my ancient Hotmail account, preferring handwritten letters! :)
I have made many good friends. Close friendships for a lifetime.  But as these friends grew up, married and settled down elsewhere we lost frequency of touch.
I got so busy, wrapped up in my family, my occasional flirtations with jobs,  hobbies, pastimes, that they seemed to have become part of a distant magical past....childhood adolescence the college years.
Never thought I could reclaim it all through FB when I joined in 2010. Today I'm in touch with many of them again and joyfully watch from a distance their lives and families blossoming over time.
I didn't really start writing till 2013. At first it was a few odd notes to myself.  Some of my friends liked them. And emboldened I posted a few on my status. And started getting suggestions to join poetry groups around late October or early November 2013. These suggestions came thanks to FB algorithmic structures probably.
And as I tentatively joined a few groups...blushing hit the post button on the first poem I ever posted for total strangers, I discovered the magic world of "virtual friends." So kind so loving and appreciative and caring of my efforts. ..I was effortlessly drawn in by their friendly support.  Malavika Srivastava yes....you were one of my first virtual friends and it was such a reward to know you.
The first poem I ever posted online was Moving.  I think I will can it here today though the saga of my journey through Facebook and my fortuitous friendships there may continue...maybe after dinner is served, eaten and the real family put to sleep?
Giggles and smiles my friends. 
And here's the very first poem I ever posted on a poetry forum...in the fall of 2013.

Moving

Lead kindly light
I am ready for the road
Many silent nights I have waited
For skies to lighten
Today I trace my
heart upon the tracks
The wheel ready to roll
If it's downhill and disaster
So much the swifter
Lord
I shall meet you with my prayers
And if uphill I must
I place
My sole trust
It's an undertaken tryst
I must keep
this tale this story without an end
moving.

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(c) Amrita Valan 2014