Goodbyes. Every summer (and some winters) I wonder if it wouldn't be better to forget about internet and mobiles (cell phones for you americans) and even letters. Internet, although it allows us to stay in contact with anyone who has access to it, seems to elongate and distort relationships between people. Do you know what I mean? I was watching Amazing Grace last night, and what struck me most about that movie was not it's great ideologies or the touching personal story of the main character (see, can't even remember his name now). Instead, what really hit me was the scene where Wilberforce is reuniting with his old colleagues and the one says to him "You haven't changed a bit!"
I wonder, wouldn't it be better sometimes just to make a clean break of it? And not worry about trying to sound all casual and day-to-day-ish on sites like facebook or myspace? Then maybe when you meet again the next time, there won't be all the emotionless, black-and-white words and intervening-time stuff between you. Because you simply can't carry on a normal, working-day relationship with people who are continents away. Invariably you end up discovering (but not saying) that each person's life has grown as far apart from the other's as there are km between you. And until you meet again, on common ground, there is nothing you can do to change or develop that. I suppose it's like my other good friend said (she's overseas, so it's not like she has a vested interest or anything. :P): you have to pick which relationships you want to invest in.
Me, I don't know. Certainly I think it would be easier, in some cases, to simply say "goodbye" or "until we meet again" and then leave it at that. However, we never know if we WILL have the chance to meet again. And too often that would be immensely sad. Friendships- even potential ones- are precious. They should not be wasted by the intervention of a silly little thing like distance.
Plus, it is just so nice to have the option of staying in contact with people through the internet. Why waste such a resource?
I guess my real question here is- do the benefits of internet outweigh it's costs. The logical answer to that is, it depends on circumstances and on how you use it. Apart from that, I don't feel like going through cases and ramifications right now.
here ends my coherent thought tonight.
i wish you all a thoroughly good Sunday.
over 'n out.
2 comments:
good thoughts kate, i know what you're saying. i'm glad we kept in contact though. i find encouragement in our long distance friendship. (remember our plan to go to germany in two years? then we can be face to face! all the better)
Beautiful and touching as always, my friend. And, as Hannah said, sometimes even long-distance friendships repay you with encouragement and strength. I know that has happened with us :) And, as your very wise friend mentioned, it is important to pick which friendships to invest in. For some, it is better to say, "until we meet again," and then start up again when you do in fact meet again. Others can not only be maintained, but can also fully blossom while you are apart. It all depends :)
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