One of the things about our modern age with which I have a
love/hate relationship is the ease with which we can build and maintain
relationships over long distances. For example, I have known the Mechanicky Gal
for over 20 years. During that time we've lived in the same city for only a few
of them, and for many years we weren't even on the same continent.
And yet, we've managed to maintain our relationship over the
years and the miles, to the point where we're family, now. There isn't a single
thing in this world I wouldn't do for her if she asked.
And yet, she lives fricken three states away.
We make an effort, of course. Twice a year, come hell or high
water, we spend time together. And I stay with her and the Mechanicky Guy when
I'm in Southern California, which is totally bonus time.
But it's not enough.
I want her to live down the street from me. I want to be able to
go for walks with her and the fuzzy head-case in the mornings. I want her to
come to my family's monthly get togethers. I WANT HER CLOSER.
Of course, the diasporas of people in the 20th and 21st centuries
are the very thing that allowed us to become friends in the first place. It's
allowed her to become friends with my friends (I love that), and for us to keep
in touch.
But I want my cake and eat it, too, not only when it comes to
Mechanicky, but with Sister Stacey and a few other people for whom I'd go to
the ends of the earth. I want them HERE, with ME, not strung out all over the
country like wild vagabonds.
Teleportation can't come soon enough for me. Hurry, science.
HURRY.
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5 comments:
YES, a thousand times, YES.
OMG, yes. And until teleportation is a viable method of travel, I need all of you in the same city with me, dammit. And that includes Mechanicky Gal and Mechanicky Guy. Fine, they're in the same state. But that's not enough!
I was reading something a couple months ago about the Irish American Wakes.
"For the Irish, emigration was like death. The American wake was a custom that seems to be unique to Ireland. People saw little difference between going to America and going to the grave so unlikely were they to return. "
So, as a sop, we're better off than we used to be?
(American Wakes are actually fascinating, and were very much like traditional wakes.)
(http://www.mayolibrary.ie/en/LocalStudies/Emigration/AmericanWake/)
Oh, we're TOTALLY better off. Because without the Internet, at least half my friends would be strangers to me.
And that just wouldn't be acceptable.
20 years? But, but, but, it seems like just yesterday we met!
A compound. We need a compound. Not in the deep woods, that would bo too much Doomsday Preppers, but something similar.
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