Braden

I am preparing dinner for eight starving children and talking on the phone to Chad as he watches on Skype. We are discussing the requirements for Gavin's Wolf badge for cub scouts. The baby is entertaining himself in the utensil drawer. Why both cell phone and internet? The internet service is a bit iffy on the other side of the world. Sometimes there is sound sometimes not, and usually connections fail suddenly. David is politely asking for some wheat thins because he is so hungry. He is sitting at the kitchen counter beside the computer which is open to Skype with Chad on the screen. When he doesn't get an answer to his query about the cracker from me, he turns to the computer and says, "Dad, did I mention that I like wheat thins. Dad, do you like wheat thins?"

Is it sad that a boy can only talk to his father over the internet or amazing that he can? Is it irritating that I have to use a cell phone and a computer at the same time or fabulous that we can see and hear our dad on the other side of the world?

I don't know which it is, but I'll keep it. Until you have been away from your better half for a very long time you don't know how absolutely amazing it is to hear or see them even if it is grainy and scratchy, has long delays and cuts off suddenly.