"Facebook"

Facebook is something else. I just hooked up with an old friend of mine, who I hadn't talked to in over 30 years. Our last conversation via the telephone went like this.

"Harry, how would you like to be sipping a vodka martini, shaken not stirred, on a deserted island hideaway that you own?"

"Well, uh, yes!" I said. "What do I need to do. Sign me up!" Having a deed to an island seemed like a good deal.

"Would you like to retire, Harry, at an early age and sit around making sand castles without a care in the world?"

"Well, uh, yes. Sign me up. What do I have to do?" I always had a penchant for the ocean-the waves cascading, the seagulls mulling, the nice bikini clad women strolling, and I could always make a mean castle complete with moats sans drawbridge. Pun unintended. "Tell me more!"

"You'll have servants. Preparing your meals, maintaining your tropical island venue, and catering to your every desire(s)."

"Well, uh, yeah." I loved James Bond and could see myself as the next Sean Connery. Playing baccarat in the casino-hope it's close to my island paradise, but then if I'm rich who cares.

"Dix-neuf for zee dealer, moi, vingt for monsieur. You win again."

"So. sign me up. I'm game, old friend. What do I have to do?"

"Amway. Yes, Amway, brother! You sign up. Start selling the product. Get others excited. Have them sign up. Before you know it, it's a domino effect. You'll make thousands, dare I say it, millions. What do you say?"

I said no. And that's the last I heard from my friend, until a coppola weeks ago when I typed in his name on Facebook. A picture of him from the 70's appeared, and I knew I hit paydirt.