Two FaceTime Calls in One Day

We don’t get a lot of FaceTime calls - in fact not many at all. There are three husband/wife friends/couples that we do hear from every so many weeks or so. Two of them live in the Midwest and one lives in France. Last Thursday we were at our neighbor’s house and we got a FaceTime call from one of our friends in the Midwest - but because we couldn’t talk we agreed to try again later. Earlier in the week we made arrangements to have a FaceTime call with our other Midwest friends - and we did last evening at six PM. Because we hadn’t “seen them” for over a year the very enjoyable conversation lasted two and a half hours. Then right at the end of our chat our other friends called. So we ended one conversation and started another and that one was for another hour and a half! Both my husband and I were very thirsty after all of the talking. In both instances we had such great conversations and stories to tell and hear. We have known both couples for over forty years. We really don’t have friends like that here since we moved to the DC area eighteen years ago. As much as we like “seeing everyone” I wish it was spaced out over a couple of days so we could enjoy it even more. We always traveled back to the Midwest every year but since Covid all of those trips stopped. Maybe this year we may finally make the trek. There is something about seeing people in person. But until that happens it’s just so nice talking to and seeing and reconnecting with the old friends we know! 

WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime

Yesterday was a boom for phone calls and messages. We heard some sad news via text that someone (my age) that we knew in the Midwest passed away from leukemia. Then our daughter in law called to check in with us to see if our provisions were holding and to talk about life in general. It was followed by a short chat with the grandson - his prom was supposed to have taken place the night before. We missed a call from our friends in England - so we called them back via FaceTime. They are dealing with not having access to medical care that is not an emergency. Then we called our friends in France on FaceTime, but in the middle of the conversation we switched over to WhatsApp. We have used Skype with them before, but now they prefer WhatsApp. No one can leave the house in England and France without permission, and they are fined if directions aren’t followed. On Instagram we hear from family in Sweden, Denmark and Iran. While we can’t see how they look, hearing that they are all ok is a comfort - although our niece from Sweden called last week. So far everyone sounds ok, and when we can see them, look okay too. What makes this hibernation easier to take is the technology that allows us to still connect. And in the end, hearing from and reaching out to others is really all that matters - regardless of the circumstances.