A Healthy Mixture of the Two

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My mom called me this morning to see if everything was OK because I hadn't blogged in so long. Since she wasn't able to catch up with me here, she figured she'd pick up the phone.

I'm really glad she did. Turns out I needed a good, long chat with my mom. I wasn't even aware that I was in need of cheering. But I felt better afterward. Thanks, Mom!

Nothing's up, I explained. Just life as per usual with the holidays thrown in. Beccah's birthday on Wednesday. Annual book club dinner on Thursday. Heating up leftovers and crashing on the couch with the movie, Sex in the City, after an exhausting week at work on Friday. Shopping 'til we dropped on Saturday.

Tonight was Grinch night which involved a lasagne dinner and the requisite making of fudge and the baking of Russian tea cakes (thanks, Nicole!) and ginger cookies. There's a whole story behind that tradition that I'd love to share with you, but I'm beat. And it's late. As my husband just this instant said to me, "Fern, we're up late again."

It will have to wait for another day.

I just wanted you to know that I'm around. In case, like my mom, you were wondering.

Or even if you weren't.

But it does beg the question: Do we talk less on the phone now that there are blogs and social networking systems such as Facebook? Or are we actually more in touch with one another? Is Internet social networking building relationships or tearing them down because, as some say, it leaves less time for face-to-face or even voice-to-voice communication?

I think my mom loves to hear what's going on in my life through the writing that I do on this blog, but I'm glad she still picks up the phone when she needs to hear my voice. Maybe that's the winning combination--a healthy mixture of the two.

Comments

[becky olsen]

That is a great question about the social networking!
I think the interactions are with more people, but the quality and type are different. Just my observation. Seems blogs are great too, but what we present in them is very edited. Blogs are a wonderful way to get a snippet of that person's life though, and I am grateful that I can keep up with people that way and not feel like I am bothering them by phoning.
That being said, who doesn't love a random phone call from a friend!

B-

[Karlene]

I love reading your blog, you are so creative and so good at expressing what you feel. I still love talking on the phone and have a daily chat with my sister every day at 10:00 am as she heads to work. Hearing her voice always starts my day in a positive way. On the other hand, thanks to the wonderful world of blogs and facebook I have found long lost wonderful friends like you. I love having the best of both of these worlds. Have a great day, friend, it's good to read your words again.
Karlene

[Miss Pat]

You pose the question:

"Do we talk less on the phone now that there are blogs and social networking systems such as Facebook? Or are we actually more in touch with one another?"

For our particular relationship, no we don't talk any less (or more!) on the phone - but I am so much more in touch with you thru your blog...you probably don't see as much of me though, do you??!! :-)