Monday, December 22, 2008

Connecting Begins at Home

Back to my thoughts on Skype. I LOVE it. My parents have been travelling this winter. They closed down their home and headed out in their truck with their Beagle and a tent. Early this past fall they left for three weeks, and the disconnect was too much. I was able to talk on the phone whenever I wanted, but this winter between camping sites in national parks and the occasional hotel I wasn't sure where they were. They would only call on the weekends during their free cell minutes, but the phone calls just can't hold a light to the conversations that Skype has to offer. I convinced them last weekend to buy a web cam and create a Skype account. They did this morning, and you couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces. Though they are still suspicious of "The Man," they felt comfortable enough with the limited information required to create a Skype account. Their is a shift happening, but it's not just in the schools, churches, and businesses. This shift is occurring at a very personal level. This shift starts with the individual in their personal lives in their family lives. My nearly-sixty (they'd hate to know of this reference as they still act quite young) are accepting this shift. My two younger sisters are sold on this communication tool, and they will be setting their connection up in the next few days. Christmas is a time that we don;t want to miss with our parents. Connecting begins at home.

3 comments:

  1. Hey...I figured out how to comment. I'm with you on this home connectivity, but there is a limit. I just spent the holidays at my 90-year-old mom's house in Groveton (not so far from you). No internet. I gave her a used computer a few years back thinking she would play solitaire at the very least. No go.
    I'm still baffled about using Skype. Reception was beautiful when talking with Jeff in Bangkok. Yet, my computer always freezes when videochatting with my son in DC. Maybe it's the difference between Skype and AIM.
    Home connectivity made the whole 'empty nest' thing bearable. I remember so vividly the first time I 'saw' my son at his computer.
    One thing is for certain...the more I learn, the more I realize that I don't know.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So cool! :) I am happy for you, that you have found a connection with your family through web2.0 tools! Now, if we can figure out how to make this happen in our schools. That is the next mission!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Funny to find the following inspirational quote at the bottom of my blog after reading your comment:
    "The secret of getting started is breaking
    your complex, overwhelming tasks into
    small manageable tasks, and then
    starting on the first one."
    - Mark Twain

    ReplyDelete