In 1995 I was 15 years old and the cost of a stamp was $.023. My parents moved me from Texas to California, and my main form of communication was picking up the phone or writing letters to my long lost friends. While writing a letter is not always the most convenient way of letting someone know what is going on-in my opinion, it is the most thoughtful. A stamp was only a 23 cent investment, but it always made me smile when something came just for me. When I receive a letter from someone, I know that they took the time out of their day to think of me. It makes me feel special.
Enter email: When the internet really started to impact my life and how I kept up with people, it was my first year of college. I remember heading down to the computer lab and having someone show me how to set up my email account. The whole idea was completely foreign to me, and I was not crazy about the whole thing at first. I did not see how typing a quick note was thoughtful nor a real investment in that friendship, but like so many other things-I warmed up to it. Obviously email is a huge way I keep up with a lot of people. Without it, I am sure that I would have lost touch with even more people than I have already. I now get excited when I look in my inbox and see a note addressed to me! A letter is still better, but an email is still great.
Enter the blog: Like email-a blog is a great way to keep people informed with what is going on in our lives. It allows us to let the group of people around us know what it going on, and with out it would take us all day to call every individual to fill them in. It allows us to post pictures, vent, and give updates on whatever is going on in our lives. With all respect to the blog though, I miss talking on the phone, writing letters, and (dare I say it) emailing with my friends. I miss the personal notes that say-I took the time to write to you-just you.
Maybe it is just how busy our lives are right now, but I miss having the personal one on ones with my friends. I miss the phone calls, the cards, and even the emails. This is not a slam on the blog by any means-I love reading the blogs. I feel that I know so much more about other peoples lives because of them, but I feel that I have lost something though. I feel like a person who picks up a book and reads an autobiography. I feel informed and somewhat connected to the author without ever feeling apart of the story. I want to be informed-connected AND apart, but I don't know how.
I guess this is my way of saying that I would like to start up writing letters again, making more phone calls and sending more emails. I want to feel less like a faithful reader about some one's life and more like I am apart of it. In fact I went down to the post office and bought a book of 44 cent stamps. I miss my friends!
4 comments:
Speaking of email, I actually rarely (about once a month) check mine! I realize that sounds crazy but I am never on that computer anymore. Anyways, I recently saw one from you and was going to reply as soon as I got a moment!!
It's so sweet that you want to be a "reader" but I'm actually not blogging anymore. And by the way, I think I added you some time ago when Andrea mentioned something to me. Anyways, I miss blogging sometimes for the very reasons that you talked about. So if I ever start one back up again, I'll be sure to let you know!
But in the meantime, I couldn't agree more with you about EVERYTHING you said! I guess I'm super duper old-fashioned because I would love to go back to the day of pre-Internet. Seriously, I would. Relationships can lack the substance that we all need and desire as human-beings if they are only limited to the computer. And I love how you described it: like you are reading someone else's story but not necessarily a part of it...so true! It's no knock on blogging because I love reading my friends' blogs too but there is nothing better than actually corresponding via snail-mail! :) It's like a lost art and I fully intend to have my daughter practice it!
Anyway, Allison, like I said: I'll let you know if I start blogging again. But in the meantime, I'll just enjoy reading your "stories!" :)
I couldn't agree more!
Buddy, this kind of makes me sad...and I know that wasn't your intention, but I think it's because what you have described is so true and I do know how it has changed our friendship...
I agree with you about the letter writing and the excitement when I get something in the mail. Did you ever have a pen-pal when you were younger? Gosh, I wonder if kids do that any more? Mine was from Portugal, her name was Lister.
After reading all that you had to say, I want to be more attentive too; and be better about the phone calls and writing letters, sending cards, etc.
Thanks for keepin' it real buddy - I love you!!
My intent was not to hurt any feelings-I promise. I have just felt that I have been a mere observer in my best friends lives! I do love reading the blogs-I feel that I know things about your kids that otherwise I would not. But I do miss truly investing in my friends lives! I hope I did not offend...
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