Long Distance Relationships

We all have them. They aren't just romantic relationships, but family and friends too. I am so thankful for the time that we are in. We have email, we have skype, we have webcams and facebook. In today's technological society we have so many ways to stay in touch and most of it is almost instantaneous. So even though we are so many miles apart that actual visits aren't possible as often as we would like. At least we can keep in constant contact and get up to the minute updates.

I think of all the military families who have the skyping ability and emails. How wonderful it must be, when you are so very worried about somebody's welfare that you can send an email and if they are on the computer right then get an instant update. Or within hours.

Not like World War I and World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Each party would write a letter, put a stamp on it, probably kiss the envelope and drop it in a postbox. Then it would be picked up and sorted, by hand in the beginning; then either by train or ship then eventually airplane it would go to a port near the area that person was at, then it would have to probably be sorted again then trucked to where the soldiers were, then handed out. It could take months to get letters of love and encouragement from loved ones. And I cringe when I think of the soldier that died and they get the letters after they find out their loved one is gone. It would be like getting a letter from a ghost.

The people back home would have to wait and worry for weeks, sometimes months before receiving a letter and to get reassurances that their loved ones were still alive and well.

With the technology we have now, there is no reason for people not to stay in touch. Before email my issue was I was wonderful at writing the letters, they just never got mailed. With email I write and send all at the same time.

And with facebook, with a little effort you can find long lost friends.

No one can have too many friends, so when you have a free afternoon, spend time on facebook, go through your email addresses and drop a short note to those you care about. I know when I get an email from a friend I haven't heard from in a while I get very excited to hear all that is going on with them.

So other than an actual physical touch, nowadays long distance relationships aren't as hard as they used to be. With skype you can actually see them in their day to day life. I love skyping with my daughter and my grandchildren. I see and hear the kids playing and talk to them and my daughter and I talk and while we talk she interacts with the kids too. I feel kind of like I am there a bit. Not quite so far away. And when my grandson kisses the computer screen, that makes my heart smile so big.

We have no excuse these days to not stay in contact with the important people in our lives. And it really doesn't take that long to jot of a quick 'I'm thinking of you' note.

You never know when your email or skype or even phone call will be just what that person needs. Doing something so simple can really change the course of a day for someone. So take a moment and send thoughts of love and sunshine to everyone. I know they'd appreciate it, I know I do.