Out Of Date

I've thought a lot lately about the advances technology has made in my lifetime.  Who else out there remembers playing The Oregon Trail?  The black screen with green letters and characters?  Or how about the days of VHS tapes?  Stop, rewind, stop, play.  (Although the ability to record over less-desirable footage was handy.  I will never forget the short Looney Toon insert my mom taped over the love scene in Ghost.)  Remember the world's first cell phones with those foot-long antennas and lack of reception?  What about the days before Facebook?  I don't think any of us want to go there....

But seriously.  Technology has come a long way and it's not showing any signs of stopping.  Perhaps I've thought a lot about it because neither Tyson nor I are quite "up" with it all.  Our television's dimensions are about 2'x2'x2' and it weighs at least 50 lbs.  It's only use is showing movies, we don't have cable.  Let alone T-VO (I don't even know how to spell it?)  Even when we're watching on a TV that does have T-VO my mind doesn't even think about it.  What's wrong with commercials?  I don't know TV without them.  As for movies, we aren't as archaic as VHS but we've never advanced past basic DVDs.  And cell phones?  We are the proud owners of Motorola and Samsung basic feature phones.  No data.  No internet.  No games.  Not even picture messages.  I know, I know.  How do we live?? 

I assure you we do.  Happily.

But the real reason for this post is the whole Facebook thing.  I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook.  I mostly love the opportunity it provides me to keep up with people.  Since graduating eight years ago I've moved 18+ times.  Really, without Facebook, it would be difficult to keep up with all the wonderful people I've met in so many different places. 

But that is also the reason I hate Facebook.  I hate what it's done to me.  It's made me a lazy friend.  It's so much easier to log into FB and check on hundreds of people within minutes than it is to take a minute to visit, call, or even text.  And personal announcements?  Why should I attempt individual contacts when I can throw it up on Facebook for everyone to see? 

Let's compare this age with earlier ages of communication.  One specific story comes to mind about Tyson's grandma and grandpa Todd.  Grandpa Todd was serving in the Korean War while Grandma was expecting their second child, Bruce.  Bruce was born and it wasn't until he was almost eight months old that his father was able to meet him for the first time.  First of all, I can't imagine expecting, delivering, and temporarily raising a child without my husband.  Second of all, I especially can't imagine not having direct, immediate contact with my husband during his absence.  While grandpa was away, he and grandma kept in touch by mail.  Snail mail.  Written by hand.  Sent across seas.  It took weeks to receive letters.  Can you imagine? 

I still remember sending and receiving snail mail when I was younger.  Mostly to my brothers on missions.  Sometimes to pen pals.  I loved it.  Now, with all the advances in electronic communication I'd almost forgotten what it was like until I received this card in the mail just two days ago.  It's from a dear Summer Citizen friend that we came to know while we managed Cobble Creek in Logan.  Her name is Maija Stuberovkis from Europe.  She writes:

"Dear Dani, 

Congratulations to you both for the new addition to your family!  Please accept the 2 small gifts I purchased them a long time ago, around the time of Ryder's birth!  Early January, 3 uncomfortable events took place.  Death of a family friend, lost a bid on a summer house in Wisconsin, and was strongly advised to call off the summer in Logan! - We are still waiting to buy another small house in Wi, but it's on "short sale," i.e. we are getting short in patience (ha).  The good thing is that this property is almost next door to our oldest daughter's home.  "Kitty corner" from the back yard.  So our future is on hold and so is the summer.  Quite different from your busy household.  Who are the new care-takers, I hope you know them?  We hope that our next president will be M.R.  I would think that Cole has grown to be a smart & athletic 16 yr old.  Drop me a line if & when you have a minute please.

Maija S."

This sweet card really made me stop and think.  How thoughtful of her to take the time to write.  The message was short, really, but how thoughtful to take even a few minutes to let us know she's thinking of us and to give us a short synopsis of what's going on with her.  More than that, I'm sure this is still her idea of long distance communication.  This is how she's always done it.  All I keep thinking is "how neat."

I wonder how much Facebook is actually crippling my relationships?  What would they be like if I lived in a day and age that required greater effort to communicate?  I'm grateful to keep up so easily with the quantity of relations in my life, but I could be better at fostering greater quality within them.  Because I know I will inevitably experience the day(s) when friends and loved ones pass and I will wish I had done something to let them know I loved them.