|
Editorial Musings |
Home Page » March 2004 issue |
|
Please send comments or rebuttals to the Editor-in-Chief
The Art of Cyberage Friendship
Some time ago, as I was leisurely driving down a country road towards my Southwest Florida home,
I heard Paul Harvey's distinctive voice on the radio.
He was relating an amusing anecdote about a "computer expert" who'd been
helping the residents of a senior center learn the ins and outs of email.
About a month after his good deed, this "expert" received a communication from one of the center's residents:
a woman in her 80s. Because of his wonderful computer lessons she wrote, she was now communicating almost daily via email with her grandchildren
who lived on another continent!
She thanked him profusely for adding a dimension
to her life that was bringing her such great joy. Paul Harvey went on to say that the elderly
woman had not emailed this note to the computer expert — she'd actually sent a 'thank you' card via the US Post Office!
Mr. Harvey thought this was very amusing.
For a moment I chuckled along with him, then I thought about how easy it is to send an email. A recipient receives an email in just seconds – which can cause problems if you push 'send' when you've written something in a moment of anger. On the other hand, if someone does something especially loving or thoughtful for you, it takes no effort to send an e-greeting card in response. E-cards are always fun to receive — but are they memorable? In my opinion, not really. If you want to leave a lasting impression, it still takes the U.S. Postal Service to d-liver d-letter d-sooner d-better.
For example, one Valentine's Day not too long ago, I opened my mailbox and inside was a small envelope from a good friend. Opening the envelope, I discovered a sweet little Valentine's card! I was very touched at my friend's thoughtfulness, far more so than I would have been if I'd checked my emails and discovered a Valentine's e-greeting from her instead. Why? Because I know that, like so many other folks (including me!), my friend's life is full to the brim with time-consuming activities. She works two jobs, raises showdogs, frequently visits her family in another state, and has recently begun a relationship with a man who is 'very special' to her.
Her active life doesn't give her much time to herself. In order for her to send me that Valentine's card, first she had to find the card, which meant a trip to the mall, then a search for the card shop. At the shop, she probably browsed through several racks of cards to find just the 'right one' for me, her friend. After she bought the card, she had to find the time to include a handwritten note, then address the envelope, put postage on it, and finally mail it to me. All this effort for someone she emails several times a week!
What effort does it take to open your web-browser, click on a bookmarked link to an 'egreetings' site, type in a recipient's email address and then press 'send'? Nothing compared to the effort it takes to send someone a thank-you note through the mails! Holding the card that day, I was deeply touched when I finally understood that my friend cared about our friendship far more than I had imagined. Being single and living alone, there are moments when I feel that no one knows I'm even alive or would miss me if I vanished.
This morning I spent an hour adding the birthdays and anniversaries of my friends to my electronic scheduler. Now when a significant date in the life of someone dear to me draws close, my scheduler will inform me far enough in advance so that I too can make a journey to the mall for that special card that says 'I care, I love you, you're important to my life'. Oh, I'll also send the requisite e-greetings, but now I've been reminded that snail-mail is not 'obsolete', but still a very vital component to human communication.
In the future, when I begin to feel unloved and alone, I can simply glance to the top of my computer monitor. There sits the proof that I am not making this journey alone — a sweet Valentine's card from a loving friend. Thank you, dear friend, for reminding me that it is actions, not e-thoughts, that count the most!
Send mail to Webmaster. (Remove the 'nospam' in email address before sending email.
with questions or comments about this web site.)
MindTag! ® is meant for readers over 18 years of age.
|
