THIS IS WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT!

 

THIS IS WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT!

Forget the divisive cesspool of politics, propaganda and derogatory memes, I’ve recently had an experience that reminded me of what the true intended core value that social media originally offered to us and wish still did!  

 I grew up a Navy brat and through my first 8 years, my Dad was stationed in MA, NY, TX then NY again before settling back in MA to end his long Navy career.  From late 1963 through early 1966, we lived in the Mitchell Complex for Naval families in East Meadow, NY (Long Island).  When I was 3 years old, I remember with somewhat unique clarity, having my first “best friend” who I’ll call Michael P.  He lived in the same Naval housing complex and our Mother’s were good friends, so we constantly had ‘play dates’ at his house or mine.  I recall that I thought it was funny that we had a lot of the same toys, which made it easy for us to find common ground on what toys to play with.  We especially spent a lot of time playing with our favorite toy, an electronic, chain-driven Jeep called “Mighty Mike” (by Remco).  We actually once had a nasty fight over that toy, but more on that later.

Anyway, my Father got stationed in Arlington, TX, so we moved away when I was 4 years old.  Over the next few years, I asked my Mother if she could call Michael P’s mother, because I missed my friend.  She actually did call her and Michael and I spoke on the phone sometime around 1970, but that was the last I’d hear from my “best friend” during my childhood.

Fast forward to a couple decades ago and I saw an reality cop show that featured a Nevada LEO who shared the same name as my old best friend.  The internet was fairly raw at the time, but I tried looking him up in hopes of finding an address or phone number so I could reach out to him.  But I had no luck.  Over the years, something would occasionally trigger my nostalgic side and I’d attempt to search online for him again, always with the same empty results.  

Finally, in 2021, a Facebook search netted a result, though the account name didn’t match Michael P’s name.  A quick review of the account revealed that the account owner was a retired Nevada LEO who was currently living in the Southwest US and who was a NY Yankee fan and in particular, a fan of Sparky Lyle.  I decided to send an unsolicited message via FB Messenger, to introduce myself.  I inquired as to whether his Father had been in the Military and if so, had he ever been stationed in NY.  And if not, did he have any other relatives bearing his same name. 

Michael P acknowledged that his Dad had been in the Military and that his parents had mentioned that he lived in NY for a very short time, but had no memory of ever living in NY.  We bantered back and forth as we tried to connect dots as to whether he was the same Michael P that was my best friend back in 1965.  Unfortunately his recollection was not as clear as mine, though he did have a vague memory of getting in a fight over a toy when he was very young because it resulted in him getting whacked in the head by the other kid with a small metal can. Temper, temper!  I similarly recalled an argument over my friend’s Mighty Mike, which I erroneously claimed was mine, because it had the same broken windshield bracket as my Mighty Mike.  

We both found that story to be amusing, but we were not 100% convinced that we actually ever knew each other when we were 2-3 years old.  Actually, I was 90% convinced, but Michael P seemed to be more like 50-50.  

I happened to have an autographed Red Sox ball from Sparky Lyle.  Since it was his favorite player, I surprised him by sending it to him with a note, jokingly stating that “just in case we did actually know each other (in 1965), please accept this autographed ball as an apology for whacking you on the head!”   Over the next 3 years, we never reconnected, then in early September 2024, I got a text message from Michael P, out of the blue. “Found these photos in what's left of my childhood photos.  No clue…”  The text was accompanied by two well-worn pictures of 2 little kids, one sitting on the stairs and the second, all bundled up in winter garb, standing in front of a walkway in a neighborhood, a familiar neighborhood.  I knew in an instant that the little boy on the right of both pictures was ME!  I was overwhelmed with a flood of emotion ranging from disbelief to pure joy and satisfaction! 

I had never seen those pictures until that moment, but it was like opening up a time-capsule of memories, feelings and senses as they brought me back to some of my earliest known memories!  Memories of family, being a proud Navy brat and memories of my first “best friend,” now confirmed, thanks to the power of social media! 

It is my hope that sharing this story might bring some of you back to your own childhood and, more importantly, remind us all of the initial intent and value proposition that social media promised in the beginning…and perhaps, can be again, if we let it!