We laugh about it now…sort of. But at 5:45 am, seeing the news that I had yet to break gently to the immediate family posted on the walls of Facebook was no laughing matter. Furthermore, fielding the calls as my aunts and uncles discover this coffee spewing news during their morning review of their “home screens” was a less than pleasant way to kick off my day.
But that’s how it happened.
Having found out late in night that my dad had died suddenly, I was only able to reach my brother. I tried to cushion the blow for the other two by leaving just enough information to let them know that something was up but not totally put it out there in voicemail or text. In truth, I sort of messed up with Big Sis’ message — said too much, then beat myself up for doing so. Lil Sis got only a text: “Are you awake? It’s about Dad.”
I guess my dear brother thought I’d contacted everyone. But, after unsuccessfully reaching my sisters, I didn’t want to spread the news any further until they were in the know. Besides, my dad’s family is HUGE. I honestly didn’t have the energy.
Before the clock struck six, the aunts, uncles, cousins, and everyone in the grand social network either found out by FB — or the telephone calls that followed: a true account of social networking gone awry.
Seeing the message on my wall asking if I was okay, the photo of my dad and us kids (taken after Tom’s funeral) on all of our walls, OR the post that my brother put up that read “RIP Dad” has a way of spread the word — like the plague.
By 7am, my home phone and cell were ringing off the hook. Family members in shock, called to find out what the heck happened. I talked until I felt blue in the face AND emotionally. Yet, there really wasn’t much to tell for nobody knows exactly what happened.
On the other hand, we certainly know how to get the word out to the family at large: just post it to FB.
Info travels fast eh? C’est la vi.