My first clue to the changing face of communicating with my family came from my daughter-in-law. I would dial her cell phone and leave a long chatty detailed message and then receive a call from her saying she didn’t listen to it but knew to call me back.
Then my son made it clear if I would just text him, he could answer my questions – like “How are you, what have you been doing, when are your days off?”
However, my 15-year-old grandson will call me on his cell phone (after I text his Mom, saying I’d sure like to talk to him). This grandson is a wonderful photographer, I know because I see his photos on his Instagram account. “Send me some pictures please,” I say. He says he will but they never seem to land in my email inbox.
Instagram is his preferred place to show and tell. I notice in the comments under his photos strange notes by his friends making me think they go to another platform to really talk about the pictures.
This younger generation seldom checks an email or leaves a voice mail. I, on the other hand, love my email and check and read them all and listen dutifully to each voice mail. I like hearing the intonation of the person’s voice – it gives me an idea of their energy. Facetime is my new favorite, capturing the grandkids in their silliest moments, my sister at her best in the kitchen, or a new friend I’ve met in an online writing group.
When it comes to my grandchildren here’s the lesson I learned: connect on the platform they use if I want to hear from them!
Even my most sophisticated friends who travel the world stay connected to their family and friends by using their smart phones and computers along with Zoom (a video call) and WhatsApp Messenger, a free service to smartphone users to message & call friends, sending photos and videos.
I still send letters and cards. I believe my grandkids love to get something in the mail with their name on it. Every holiday, I purchase eight “kid” cards (for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter) and hand write a special note. It helps when I put a little “WAM” (walking around money) in the envelope too!
I recently jumped into the online world of business as I began teaching a writing course on line after teaching it in person in Tucson.
As a digital nomad traveling in a motorhome 6 months of the year, I wanted to keep teaching.
I quickly learned I needed a support team, by that I mean an editor, a website specialist, and a virtual assistant.
All these positions are filled by talented women from all over the country. We have different time zones and lifestyles so we communicate in writing. No problem, I’m a writer, I can express myself easily in that way.
But even that is challenging, because one claims she only likes Facebook messenger and not email, and another really prefers texting. It became so frustrating – I now ask before I collaborate with someone – how do you prefer to communicate? “I like to use email, how can we work together?” I ask.
Sometimes I long for an old-fashioned phone call – like I used to do in my work in the corporate world where everyone was available by phone or by fax.
But I realize at this stage of my life, I can’t always have what I want. So I go with the flow while I hear the Rolling Stones singing “You can’t always get what you want” and manage the best I can in this digital world.
I find myself humming along with Mick Jagger to that 70’s song as I slip into my office, pull out my best stationary and write letters filled with heart-felt words to my old-fashioned friends.