My friends, relatives and acquaintances are communicating mostly on Facebook today. I find I am missing out on events, invitations, opinions and general interactions simply because I have "declined" friending everybody in the world.

I don't have the inclination to spend hours keeping up with all the minutiae that appears on various Facebook pages. Sifting through the dross to find the one relevant item takes more time than I'm willing to commit.

Like other modern media and electronic entertainment venues, Facebook is surely addictive. Should I acquiesce, I picture myself becoming a troglodyte with big, round eyes and pale skin, staring at the screen, trying to discern what, if any, of this miasma of information pertains to me.

I don't want to miss out. Still, I have missed too many parties in my life to not attend to all of it. I picture hours and hours and hours ...

No, I resist Facebook paralysis and anemia. Send me an e-mail, or, anachronistically, send me a card or a letter. Tell me how you are, what's new with the kids, health concerns, or just that you love me.

I'm out here in the communication void -- waiting ... waiting ... waiting ...

HARALD ERIKSEN, BROOKLYN PARK