This falls under the category of the need to take a step back and enjoy some of the blessings in life. It will demonstrate how there are times for the digital world to invade our lives and there are times for it to be put aside.
It was the weekend of March 31 when my wife and I traveled north to her hometown and the celebration of her mother's 95th birthday. It is a milestone in and of itself because of the longevity that is involved. But it was also an opportunity to bring family together something that happens all too infrequently in this day and age. Grand children and great grand children were present, friends of the honoree that in some cases date back decades, and some long lost acquaintances who showed up unexpectedly to round out the day. Someone actually provided about three dozen helium filled balloons to be launched as part of the celebration. (Just try getting the extended family together to do that sometimes) The opportunities for fellowship and coming together as a family are becoming less and less so the celebration served as a reminder to take advantage of them whenever you can. This was not the time for the digital age to intrude in our lives.
But just before this celebration was a perfect example of using the digital tools at our disposal to communicate with one another in a meaningful way. It was on the way to the celebration that in came a message on my wife's smart phone with a picture attached. It was just a half hour earlier that our 8th grand child was born (a girl) and grandma suddenly became very excited. She quickly forwarded the information on to those who needed to know. And yes, the parents had up on their Face Book pages pictures of their daughter within a few hours. So even though she already has a digital footprint that will grow in the years to come, technology and social media did play an important role in getting the word out. Just don't let it interfere with those special family times. Just put down the phone and the computer and enjoy.
What's on both will still be there in a couple of hours.
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