The past two weeks have been devastating for me; learning of several close friends’ financial crises and a loved one’s recurrence of cancer. All of these things have taken a toll on me; I’ve realized my personal issues really aren’t as bad as others’. After all, Christmas is a time we put aside our personal issues and help those in our circle.
Fifteen minutes in the mall last week was the time I needed to rekindle my Christmas spirit and wipe the soot from my furry red suit. I had no idea I was right in the middle of a cute Christmas story involving two 12 year old kids planning to attend their school’s semiformal dance.
I was talking to my aunt and her daughter when a friend and her son caught my attention going into a shoe store. The boy is normally pretty gregarious, but this day he was being extremely coy. Even my friend was trying to figure out why her son was being so quiet.
Shortly after my friend and her son left, my cousin interrogated me about the boy and my connection. Her explanation pretty much summarized an earlier article about women’s intuition. She could sense he liked her, but was unsure because the opportunity hasn’t been right for them to talk.
Once I heard enough, I ran down the corridor practically tripping over an old lady and a baby carriage trying to make it to my friend and her son. Out of breath, I managed to gasp out, “why don’t you come back to the kiosk for a moment” then explained there’s someone I’d like him to meet. As we meandered back to the store, my friend started laughing, “only you Jeromy.”
When the two were face-to-face I could see it instantly. She became very bashful and couldn’t look at the boy. Of course, the boy not being a mind reader had no idea the girl liked him and was most likely confused by the girl. That’s when I thought of using a low-tech approach and contact each other on Facebook or text.
After my friend and her son left the kiosk I was barraged with my cousin’s frustrated (yet happy) litany of accusations. After she was past the embarrassment of me calling her out, I suggested she simply contact him by text or Facebook. What does she really have to lose by using technology to her advantage? Text messages and Facebook chats are simple enough.
Earlier this year I wrote an article about online privacy and identity protection. In the case of my friend’s son and my cousin, neither has common Facebook friends which prevents each from finding the other. She explained she’s tried looking him up but can’t find him.
Neither shares class time or lunch together; however, the two do share the same library time. She told me talking to him in the library could end in detention so it doesn’t seem appropriate. In another article I wrote this year I talked about finding contact information online. I’m not sure that’s the case for 12 year old kids, but certainly someone has to have his number. If she’s right and the boy does like her, then he’s not going to care how the two connected.
Well, the two of them never went to the dance together due to other circumstances, but they did connect on Facebook and have been texting. She had to ask one of their common friends to add both on Facebook and hunted down his cell number from another friend. If you’re in a similar situation, take it from a set of 12 year old kids and make the first move. With a new year comes the turning of a new leaf: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot.”
Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can text him directly at (978) 413-2840 or visit www.LocalComputerWiz.com.