Ever Changing Ways

Have you thought about how much the ways we communicate have changed over the years?

Take for example my husband’s birth in Louisiana, in 1952.  His parents living in Miami, would not choose to make a long distance call. Rather they would send a Western Union telegram to announce this event.

I value this very special yellowed slip of paper which now seems so quaint in this era of the cell phone and internet.

Over the holidays I began to think about the tradition of sending Christmas cards to relatives and friends.  Lately the number of cards has dwindled, and I hear friends talking, and feeling guilt and regret about their intention to curtail this December ritual. For them this practice had lost its purpose, in the light of e-cards, Facebook, snapchat, Instagram and FaceTime.

I believe we have really solved the problem of distance.  We aren’t separated anymore.   At least we don’t have to be by miles.  We can stay connected in new and modern ways. No more picking up the party line, the landline, or rotary dialing for us!

Some might even say that we are better off than before.  Even with our head-bent concentration, and the “islands” that are created while we sit on our devices right next to each other; most would still say we have found evermore new and more interesting ways to connect than we ever previously enjoyed.

It is such a thrill to instantly share all the photos of our loved ones. No more having to take a film roll to the local drug store to be developed.  No, a baby can be birthed, a wedding contract ink barely dried, before a video or photos can be in the hands and hearts of family and friends, who are waiting with baited breath to hear the news. Within minutes, or even seconds after the momentous event, we have those precious pictures in our hands.

When Covid struck, and there were no more large gatherings, Zoom meetings became fashionable.  We could gaze at, talk to, laugh, cry with, and share our hearts, though isolated in our homes. There were Zoom weddings, bible studies, happy hours and parties. 

I would even say we are blessed to have so many of these new ways to keep connected. I do lament the loss of the cursive hand and the dwindling of the posted letter, but, we can thrive in this new world of staying in touch if we will embrace it.

And once in awhile, rather than sending that text, or e-viting a friend, it can feel so good to get out a beautifully crafted card, or a piece of personal stationery and sit down with your favorite ink pen in hand, write a newsy message, address and seal the envelope, place a stamp, and walk it to your mailbox, sending it off to loving family or friends. 

Either, both, lets make the most of, and even embrace our ever-changing ways of communication.