Blogger Confessional

8th Grade

By Lois Lane

Even if you aren't Catholic there's times in life when you want to spill out your confessions to cleanse your conscience. Today is that day for me.

Forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned. It has been one week since my last real visit to the nest. I wish I could say I have been busy working or taking a lovely vacation with family, but truth is, I've been cheating on all of you.

*Hangs head in shame*

You see, it all started when one of my old classmates recognized my photo on Facebook. Even though I go by a moniker, there was no hiding this mug of mine.

Once I came out of my state of shock, I answered and accepted him as a friend. Before long, the majority of my 8th grade class was back in my life as if they'd never left. I've spent every free internet moment catching up on the last 20-plus years of their lives. Which is reason #1 why I haven't been here.

It amazes me what the mind can dig up. You see a thumbnail photo of a friend and a flash of information takes over the mind. Memory lane has been good to me.

It's funny that this specific group of people from so long ago, were some of the closest friends of mine. I believe because in elementary school (it was a k-8 school) we went through so many stages and phases, and they were there through it all.

By the time high school came along, we had already changed. Many moved away. New friends didn't get to learn as much about who we were or where we came from. College friends and adult friends never got to know the internal workings of our lives either.

The older we get, the more guarded we become. If we could open ourselves up and just be, like we were so long ago, we would all have too many friends to count.

The internet, my blog, this blog are a few of the places where I've let my guard down, offering up the real me. I believe that is why I feel so close to you all, and why I feel so guilty about not being here lately.

If you're on Facebook, please add me. My name is Lois Twater, which is a story in itself. Facebook wouldn't accept Lois Lane as a real name. Since I am cautious about my real identity online, putting my real name wasn't an option. So I asked my teenaged son for some help.

"Find me a name as close to Lois Lane as you can."

Within seconds, I was Lois Twater.

Our real last name causes teenaged boys to call my son twat and twater, among many other fun nicknames. When my son had his Facebook account, he went by Harry Twater. Yes, I'm so proud. Anyhow, that's where the name came from.

I've missed you all, and will be back just as soon as I catch up with my past, or visa versa.