Less Anonymity 

The other day, sometime between Christmas and New Years, my phone made a chirping noise sometime around six in the morning. That week is one I consider a holiday so I like to try and sleep in, thus I was very unhappy to discover that the chirp was a “nudge” from someone I play words with friends with. I am uncertain if I actually know the person because they go by one initial.  
In my anger of being awoken I resigned the game with a message saying that I did not appreciate the nudge so early in the morning during a holiday. Now, I certainly play a tile or two in the very early morning hours, sometimes at like three or four if I am unable to sleep, but I don’t like being told to play anytime.
After I fired back I was unable to go back to sleep and I got to thinking I might have been hasty in my response because the person was more or less anonymous to me. I am not sure if I know this single initial and if you read this blog, sorry if I was abrupt.  
It is my goal to be less virtual, less anonymous and more in person this year. I am still going to write my blog, which makes me some what virtual, but I can’t go to everyone’s house and tell them a story everyday, although I would really like that. I just want to add more face to face time with friends and family. Perhaps even actually talk on the phone with far off friends and not just “like” their stuff on facebook. That means you Suzanne and Janet, I’m calling.
Today Carter and I had lunch with my friend Lee and her daughter Lucy who goes to Northeastern. It was nice of Lucy to spend time telling Carter what life on campus was like. Lee talked to me about where I wold stay during orientation. It horrified Carter to think I would be there. “Don’t worry Carter, I have lots of friends in the Boston area I want to see, Stori, Page, Janet, Marty…”
It is amazing how old fashioned it feels to call someone on the phone or heavens forbid, meet face to face and have a conversation. I have found myself tiring of texting back and forth to try and figure out something simple that can be solved with a quick phone call.
So I am embracing the old fashioned. Lunches with friends, dog walking with neighbors, calls with family and more communication with real people. Now I am not giving up all anonymous game playing, but I would welcome more face to face playing. Perhaps this is the year to add another day of the week to Mah Jongg, that satisfies everything I like to do!