another reason I won't quit facebook.
I've mentioned before that my local Democratic groups are on there. I've also said that my extended family, scattered all over the US, is on there. I have relationships with nieces, great nieces, nephews, etc, I've never met in real life, and cherish that.
Just yesterday I attended a fb live feed in which my great niece learned she is having a boy! and then her boyfriend kneeled, put a ring on her finger, and I was able to be there and share that moment.
But there's even another reason. In 2001 my daughter was killed 13 days after her 21st birthday. Through the years I have heard, through facebook, from friends of hers, some I had never even met myself. Her memorial page on facebook was created by one of those friends and we met at Bekah's grave in 2018 for the first time. The little girl who lived next door when Bekah was 6 reached out around that time and we met at Bekah's grave in 2019; hadn't seen each other in over 25 years. And more. 5 years after she died; 10 years after she died; 15 years after she died.
Her best friend from grade school just messaged me yesterday; I haven't seen nor heard from her since Bekah's funeral. I knew she'd married and did not know her last name. She had moved to a different state before Bekah's death.
It's hard to try to explain how it makes me feel as a mother to know that all these years later, Bekah truly is not forgotten. It means a lot. My girl inspired so much love and touched so many people. It's a gift and I will keep that avenue open as long as I can.
Here's Bekah (left) with her best friend in 4th grade. They were so prim and proper and young and beautiful.
= new reply since forum marked as read
if i had to give up everything but one, but yes. FB has helped me through this pandemic. Alone, but not alone. 
I too have webpages and FB pages...
I used to have a family webpage on aol.
Then I got a Google page for my gardening.
I'm also a Precinct Chair.
Then I tried to make Google page when we had a special election. It was soooo much work, so I quickly made a FB page....I can make events, share events. I still have much webpage, but it is so much work to update...so I just put a few basic things on it. Webpages are not as easy as they were 10 years ago. Google is making it more difficult.
Since I see you on DU, I looked up Bekah when I saw your tag line years ago.
so much time and effort, but it was a labor of love. some of the pages still pop in some wayback machine, but not all of them. seems like fb is as close to forever as the internet will be.
Aww...just rereading your post and saw that you already knew about Bekah.
I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. For years I thought 21 was some kind of cursed year. When my youngest son turned 22 I think I breathed a sigh of relief. Of course that's silly because people die at every age, but it was almost like the 27 for rock stars. It just seemed like so many died at 21.
I'm not on Facebook but I often hear about friends from my siblings and friends who are on Facebook. I can imagine the pain you still feel - losing a child is forever pain.
I can't change that, i can only do my best within that reality.
I am so sorry you lost your lovely daughter at such a young age, but it must be comforting that her memory is kept alive on Facebook with friends and family. My niece and oldest sister died and their pages are still up on Facebook. Some of us go there on birthdays or special holidays and leave a message. It has become a 21st century tradition, one that I rather like and it allows me to share memories with people who are far away.
Over the years I have found some long lost cousins and we are in regular contact now. My other sister has even gone to visit a couple of them more than once because I'd found them on Facebook. I also found old friends I'd never imagined I would hear from again. Meanwhile, a few of my favorite DU friends drifted away from DU, but we are close friends on Facebook and interact on a daily basis. We even have our own private group there.
So much of my family is scattered all over the country and Facebook has given us a place where we can share news and photos. It has become a great way to stay connected. Thank you for sharing your story. 
and leaves no room for wondering if you should continue on FB. I'm very glad you have that. 
I have no doubt. 
I am so sorry. Bekah was crossing a street when a drunk went on the wrong side of the road, picked her up and dragged her down the street, then dumped her in the median and drove on home. Her killer was charged with murder but took a plea for much less and ultimately spent a little over 2 years in prison. she's dead now and presumably in a much different place than Bekah.
I'm also a MADD advocate and member of the MADD victims only page on fb, though not as active since trump took office. Very sad to say that our loss is duplicated over and over to this day by families all over. 
who have suffered the enduring grief with the loss of a child. We have two great, healthy kids in their 30's who are the joy of our lives. We cannot imagine the loss of either, though as any loving parent would say, the possibility is always in the back of our minds.
Though we don't use FB, your post helps me understand that for many people and for many reasons it is a literal lifeline. Thanks for helping me see that. Condolences on the loss of your daughter, Bekah.
for the wonderful picture of your Daughter Bekah and her friend. I'm grateful to be reminded that wonderful things do happen on Facebook. She must have been a wonderful person for all these people to remember her with good thoughts. It hugs my heart. I hope it is a blessing to you
a blessing beyond expression.
yes very prim and proper, very ladylike.
