Thankful Series: Technology Brings Us Together

Continuing on this Sunday morning in my thankful series, I am thankful for the wonders of technology. Without the many things that we take for granted, the relationship between D and myself wouldn’t be what it is today. Yes, phones and letters or packages sent via snail mail are wonderful. But for the day to day communication, I am thankful tht I live in the age of super-cool technology.

We started out e-mailing after our initial conference call. To this day, we send e-mails back and forth. E-mails for us usually contain questions that we want to ask or need answered when we can’t otherwise locate the other member. “What size pants is the Munchkin wearing now?” Or, “Okay, we’re thinking that this month would be good for a visit, what’s open for your guys.” E-mail has also offered us the ability to discuss things in a less on-the-spot manner for some of our bigger issues. Instead of feeling pressured to come up with an answer immediately, like if we were talking on the phone, we can take our time and form a coherent response. As long as we think before we press send! (It’s happened. Both sides. )

Eventually we started using instant messaging to keep in contact. This provided instant contact. This also helped to take our relationship from one of mere coincidental happening to a true friendship. We learned to talk as friends do, exchange ideas and more about each others’ personalities. We use IM-ing platforms to talk about anything from how our days were, how we’re annoyed with our husbands or what the kids are doing or, as of late, not doing in reference to sleep. While neither of us are constantly at our computers (uhm, kids!), we leave each other little messages here and there for the other to return to eventually. It’s nice.

About a year (I’m vague on time) into our adoption, I invited D to join LiveJournal. It is another blogging type site. I had maintained an LJ, as it is fondly referred to, since 2001. Inviting D into that world, where she would be free to read everything, was a bit scary at first. (LJ has the ability to lock out random people so that only people listed as friends may read your journal. Without D joining and my listing her as a friend, she wouldn’t have been able to read anything.) Through this medium, we have learned even more about each other. I know what gets under her skin and makes her passionate. I’ve learned a LOT about her personality that I didn’t get to see before due to the fact that visits are hectic! On the same note, she’s learned a lot about me as a person, as a Mother and as a friend. She’s gotten to look closer into my personal struggles, both inside and outside of adoption. It’s been a great learning tool.

Recently, LJ offered up their own version of VOIP (Voice Over IP) technology called LJ Talk. We both downloaded the client and now can talk via our computers as opposed to running up phone bills. I think one night we talked until some ridiculous hour. It was great.

Other great things have included Snapfish and then the super awesome flickr which have allowed us to instantly share large groups of high quality photos. At one point in time we did also attempt to use our webcams but I think we both have rather old, outdated ones and the picture quality wasn’t exactly great.

Without these advances in technology which we are able to use day in and day out, I don’t think our relationship would be what it is today. For each and every little thing that has allowed us to learn about each other, talk with frequency and generally be close when we’re an entire really wide state apart, I am entirely thankful.

I am thankful.

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