Wanting my cake and eating it, too

Monday, October 27, 2014

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.

5 comments:

Anne C. said...

YES, a thousand times, YES.

Carol Elaine said...

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!

Random Michelle K said...

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/)

Janiece said...

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.

The Mechanicky Gal said...

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.