Life Beyond Facebook

IMG_2656

It turns out quitting Facebook is not so easy. First step was figuring out how to leave it. After searching around in Facebook itself, I finally gave up and "googled" it. I used these instructions, which were very helpful. So I finally got to the part of deleting it, and the wording was very effective in making me feel like I am doing something I will regret. But I pushed on. I had to remind myself of why I'm doing it… for more peace of mind. I dared to push the button that would "permanently delete" my account. Or so I thought. I got an email instantly that informed me that my account is scheduled to be deleted in fourteen days. In the meantime, if I decide to change my mind, I can go back and cancel the deletion. So just when I thought I was done with Facebook, I can think again. 

It's not like I'm considering something drastic, for crying out loud. I get it that when people file for divorce, they need to be separated for a period of time, to reconsider. After all, a divorce means that a family is being broken up. That's a serious decision. But goodness gracious, this is just Facebook I'm quitting. Once I've made that decision, why not let me do it… once and for all? 

Okay, rant over and done. Now for the things I am grateful for. I'm enjoying the weather here in the Pioneer Valley, which has become just exquisite: perfect temperatures, breezy and sunny with puffy, cotton clouds casting their shadows across the mountains. There are flowers blooming and the trees are getting their early summer leaves. The dogwoods are blooming — they are my favorite flower on earth.

I appreciate this glorious weather all the more because of the long, hard winter we've just endured. It's like that with so many things in my life… that which I have struggled for I feel the deepest gratitude for.

David and I will be on the road again. Our book tour schedule has become pretty tight in the next few weeks. You can see our whole schedule on the events page of my website. If we are going to be anywhere near you, I hope you will come see us. And please bring your friends… the more the merrier. 

David and I will also be visiting several of our siblings and friends along the way. We hope to see you during our trip.

In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying Spring wherever you may be. 

IMG_2656

Last year at this time, with my friend, Candelin Wahl

Read my blog

Plain Roots: Community, Story, and Support for Higher Education

By Saloma Furlong | March 14, 2026

We are getting glimpses of Spring up here in northern Vermont. David and I spent…

Traveling South to Meet up with Spring

By Saloma Furlong | February 28, 2026

By the time you read this blog post, David and I will be on the…

How an Amish Boy Became a Physicist, Part 3

By Saloma Furlong | February 21, 2026

Leon graduating from Florida State University Today we bring you the conclusion of Leon Hostetler’s…

Sign up for my blog

Hi there! It's wonderful to see you here! Sign up to receive a notice in your inbox when I post to my blog.

Click on the logo to learn about the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund.

To order a signed copy of any of my books, please go to my Contact Page. Leave me a message with your email address, and I will send you an order form that you can send through the mail with a check. 

LiberatingLomieECover
BonnetStrings-1
WILtA cover Large
Posted in

Saloma Furlong

14 Comments

  1. Marge on May 20, 2014 at 6:11 am

    Thought maybe you would be in the southwest , maybe next time around. I enjoyed your books so very much. Waiting for the next one! LOL

    Marge

    • Saloma Furlong on May 20, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      David and I definitely do want to make it to the Southwest. We have no plans for it yet, but if enough opportunities arise, we’ll certainly travel there. 

      So glad you’ve enjoyed my books. It is gratifying to hear from readers who are looking for more… many thanks!

  2. Katie Troyer on May 20, 2014 at 11:35 am

    So it is that hard to leave Facebook?

    • Saloma Furlong on May 20, 2014 at 2:36 pm

      Yes, it is. There are dialogs online about it… others have also noted the roadblocks you have to get through.

  3. Tom The Backroads Traveller on May 20, 2014 at 3:42 pm

    Hi Saloma,
    Life has a way of just going on and on.
    Enjoy the week doing enjoyable things.
    Tom The Backroads Traveller

    • Saloma Furlong on May 20, 2014 at 7:38 pm

      Hi Tom. Thank you very much… the same to you.

  4. Fran Shultis on May 21, 2014 at 4:29 am

    The two week delay of being taken off a cyber list has happened to me, as well. Mine was an online catalogue. The stuff was so ridiculously priced I just couldn’t stand it. To think there are people that pay such outrageous prices for trivial items when there are so many starving and exploited children in the world! Stuff like this really gets to me.
    Your stomping grounds sound spectacular. I wish I could see mountains daily. What a treat that would be. There is so much of the United States I would love to see but haven’t yet. Well, in time.
    A few years back I lived in an apt. that had the most beautiful white flowering tree right by the balcony. I would sit out there and trace the delicate lacey petals with my eyes. I can’t tell you how many times I thanked God for that tree. What a gift it was.

    • Saloma Furlong on May 21, 2014 at 3:37 pm

      Fran, I know what you mean about the outrageous prices on trivial items. And so much if it gets shoved down our throats on a regular basis. 

      I love seeing mountains daily. We live right under one, and next to the Connecticut River. I love your description of the gifting tree. And most profound about it is your appreciation of it. Many would have lived by that tree and taken it for granted. We have a birch tree like that, tall and beautiful. When I’m ironing inside my bay window in my bedroom, I feel as though I’m in a tree house… up there with the birds. Thank you for reminding me to be thankful for these things and not take them for granted.

      Thank you for stopping by, Fran.

  5. iliana on May 21, 2014 at 11:36 am

    Safe travels, dear scrabble sister. Miss you. Come north when you can!

    <3

    ../iliana

    • Saloma Furlong on May 21, 2014 at 3:40 pm

      Iliana, it is SO great to ‘see’ you here! Thank you for your good wiishes. I miss you too. I’ll definitely come north sometime upon my return, even though your Scrabble skills have become scawy! Miss you too, Iliana. 

      Enjoy Spring in gorgeous Vermont!

  6. Miriam Koch on May 25, 2014 at 9:24 am

    Dear Saloma,

    May you have a safe journey and a blessed time travelling. Thank you for your email address, I will contact you soon.

    Have a wonderful Sunday,

    Miriam

    • Saloma Furlong on May 27, 2014 at 2:42 am

      Thank you, Miriam, for your good wishes. I received your wonderfully warm email, and I will respond in kind when I return home and can give it my full attention.

      Have a wonderful week.

  7. Peggy on May 26, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    I’ve never tried to quit Facebook, but I can imagine some people have used it for lots of pictures and would lose them instantly if they did not change their mind or should someone compromise their FB account and delete it without their knowledge – same problem, but that is not the case for you and now you are FREE and WE still get to enjoy your posts!

    Have a wonderful tour this summer and we’ll be keeping track of you!

    • Saloma Furlong on May 27, 2014 at 2:43 am

      Hello Peggy, and thanks for your comments and good wishes, as always. I hope our paths will cross sometime in the near future.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply