In a thing we’re addicted to, which is so often irritating, this redeeming quality

Also: ‘Socktober’ – cute but serious; and our recommendation of a historical outing

What do you like about Facebook? What do you hate about it? Have you ever sworn it off because it had become so irritating, only to find, after a day or two, that you couldn’t help but log back in? What is it about the top social media site that makes us do that?

Just when I’m about fed up with it as a useless irritant, this poignant (if sad) thing happens: An acquaintance from long ago and far away posts a prelude to a final message – he’s just gone into hospice care and hasn’t long to live and just wanted to let all his Facebook friends know. It’s shocking, but not something you can turn away from. In fact, you’ve got to say something to him; and so do a hundred others. You have to mentally review your friendship with this man; you have to come up with something to say to him and unlike the thousand other comments you’ve posted, this can’t just be nonsense. It’s got to be meaningful and honest.

He is a good man, a good citizen, a good teacher, a good photographer and a good person to have known. The world and his community were better because of him – all things you’d have said after reading an obituary, at a funeral, at the coffee shop with friends after he was gone. Now you’re thinking and reacting and telling him goodbye ... almost as if you were there and able to visit him. Something redeeming for social media.

* Thumbs Up: “Socktober.” Sounds cute and fun and all, but it’s a serious thing.

Homeless people and poor people – folks who are members of this community – could use a few good pair of socks.

Of course they need a lot of things. And a lot of things might be more important than socks ... but the vast majority of us can easily afford to donate a simple pair of socks – procure a pair and drop them off at any of the six or so drop-off locations.

Loaves & Britches, the clothing and food program at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marysville will be helping collect socks for the homeless. Last year the community came up with a thousand pairs. This year the goal is 2,018. Check out the top of www.appealdemocrat. com for drop-off locations (story is outside the paywall).

* Thumbs Up: We can recommend this weekend’s “An Afternoon at the Donnebrough Mine.” Hosts Ruth Mikkelsen and Mike Schuster own and live on the property above the historic Browns Valley mine and they are very into preserving the history of the mine that was started in the late 1800s and was functioning up until the 1950s.

They’re not just working to preserve the area, they’re gathering all the history they can. We went to a similar presentation a couple of years ago ... it was a couple of hours well spent. You learn about the mining industry that burgeoned in the area in the 19th Century, you get a feel for what it was like. They can explain the process of hard-rock mining for gold, the equipment, display some of the tools and articles from the old mine camp, and talk about the lifestyle.

During the years that the mine was open and operated, some $10 million in gold was recovered.

Call Yuba County Historic Resources Commission members Kathy Smith at (916) 8382757 or Roberta D’arcy at 743-8742 to RSVP. The presentation is today from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at 5573 Marysville Road, Browns Valley.

* Ugh: (Thanks ... I guess ... to an old friend who wanted to help and sent along these gems:

An acquaintance: “Even after 70 years, you still call your wife ‘darling’ and ‘sweetheart’ and ‘honey’ ... What’s your secret for staying so much in love?”

Old Man: “Gosh, I just forgot her name and I’m scared to ask her.”

* Old Man: “Hey, doc: my wife talks in her sleep nonstop. It drives me crazy. What should I give her to cure that?”

Doctor: “Give her some time to talk while she’s awake.” Steve Miller is Editor of the Appealdemocrat