This electronic age: I love it. My sister (who lives in Arizona) and I (who lives in California) chat via "buddies" at least 5 times a week. We both are probably the worst letter writers in the world, and if weren't for i-net, we probably would hear from each other maybe once a year on our respective birthdays.
I never know where our conversations are going to go when we first log on, but we manage to chat for at least an hour and a half. And we quit then only because it's her dinnertime.
Unfortunately, some friends whom I love dearly don't have computers. This leaves me two choices if they live some distance away: telephone or letters. Well, obviously, letters are going to be cheaper, but it means that I have to get out paper, fire up the old typewriter (you DON'T want to receive anything handwritten from me) and try to recollect the last time we corresponded and what has happened in the meantime. Then find an envelope and stamp. Telephoning is almost out of the question, even with five cents a minute rate, because a conversation will last at least an hour. I can buy a lot of stamps for $3.00.
If the friend lives within a reasonable driving distance, I go visit. But that has its problems, too. But the big advantage is the face-to-face contact. Kind of hard to insert body language (even with "emoticons") in an i-net conversation.
Of course, there's a lot of junk on the i-net, but that's why I have a "bulk mail" category. I frequently find something interesting on the Net, then frustration sets in because I can't share with friends who aren't connected. And on the subject of interesting, just today I read Dwight Eisenhower's farewell speech to the nation as he was leaving the presidency. If you're interested, check out "Forgotten History" at The entry is labelled "Eisenhower's Military-Industrial Complex Speech." His words are equally important and timely today.
Well, this didn't end up where I thought it would (so what else is new?).
I never know where our conversations are going to go when we first log on, but we manage to chat for at least an hour and a half. And we quit then only because it's her dinnertime.
Unfortunately, some friends whom I love dearly don't have computers. This leaves me two choices if they live some distance away: telephone or letters. Well, obviously, letters are going to be cheaper, but it means that I have to get out paper, fire up the old typewriter (you DON'T want to receive anything handwritten from me) and try to recollect the last time we corresponded and what has happened in the meantime. Then find an envelope and stamp. Telephoning is almost out of the question, even with five cents a minute rate, because a conversation will last at least an hour. I can buy a lot of stamps for $3.00.
If the friend lives within a reasonable driving distance, I go visit. But that has its problems, too. But the big advantage is the face-to-face contact. Kind of hard to insert body language (even with "emoticons") in an i-net conversation.
Of course, there's a lot of junk on the i-net, but that's why I have a "bulk mail" category. I frequently find something interesting on the Net, then frustration sets in because I can't share with friends who aren't connected. And on the subject of interesting, just today I read Dwight Eisenhower's farewell speech to the nation as he was leaving the presidency. If you're interested, check out "Forgotten History" at
Well, this didn't end up where I thought it would (so what else is new?).