FACEBOOK SURPRISES — Sharon Mark Cohen

One of my father’s favorite expressions was, “You’re full of surprises.” I often heard him bark that refrain. It’s a wonder what he would have thought of social media.

When I opened my Facebook page on July 29, 2023, I was surprised to see a photo of two of my friends standing together at a movie opening. I could have been either of them standing by the other with a smile.

Marie, on the left, and I have been close friends since I moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey, on January 1, 1965. We lived on the same street and attended Robert Morris School 18, Lafayette Junior High School, and Battin High School together, meeting in class and then walking or taking the bus to school for six years.

Marie stopped by a couple of weeks ago, and we got to look through the memory book my children put together for my 70th birthday. The book, starting with her entry, offers snippets of my life with wonderful friends like Marie, whom I’ve cherished as one of my longest-time friends for over 58 years.

As for Lois, on the right, we reconnected through Facebook after a very long hiatus. Had we remained friends after our family moved from Roselle, New Jersey, Lois and I may have been close friends for more years than Marie and I.

When we met in person, and, masked during the pandemic, at a scheduled time at Warinanco Park, situated between Elizabeth and Roselle, Lois told me that she remembered me from our days starting in 1958 at Lincoln School, now the Dr. Polk School in Roselle. Sadly, I did not recall Lois, only remembering the students from my neighborhood who walked to school together and a few of the class troublemakers.

Marie, living in Roselle Park, and Lois, living in adjoining Linden, New Jersey, both friends of mine, were pictured standing together and recognized by me on Facebook. My friends Marie and Lois were each invited to that event, not knowing one another prior.

Social media certainly piqued my interest when I saw that posting!! Now, the three of us will have to get together.