I have a nephew who is six-months-and-a-few- days old. His name is Will and he lives in Ohio with his parents, and since I’m all the way down here in The Nation’s Wang, I’ve only gotten to hang out with him twice. The first was at my wedding, where he was 16 days old after being born five weeks premature. Plus, I was kind of busy that day. The second time was at Christmas.
Despite our distance, a few nights ago I was able to see how big he’s getting, when my sister hoisted Will up to a webcam while she and I kept our regular Skype date. For those who haven’t used it yet, Skype is the fulfillment of every science fiction writer’s dream, a way to talk on the phone while seeing live video of the person at the other end. Skype uses webcams, monitors and a microphone to make the visual, auditory connection. Oh, and it’s free. You can find it at Skype.com.
In addition to letting me see how he’s growing and changing, my sister and I hope Will gets something out of seeing and hearing me, too. Every time a television commercial featuring Mickey Mouse comes on, she points to it, tells him that’s where Aunt Jamie lives, and promises they’ll head down to see me before long. Maybe through regular Skype chats, I won’t seem like such a stranger to Will when we spin together in the Mad Hatter teacups.
It seems like a lot of the time when we talk about the amazing ways the web keeps us connected, the focus is on crossing time. An example is the big reunions where someone you haven’t spoken to in years finds your blog or you become friends with your preschool teacher on Facebook and are now privy to her day-to-day activities. That stuff is awesome, but one of the most precious gifts 21st century technology has given us is the ability to cross space.
I started thinking about this at an Oscars viewing party where I spoke to John Ryan, a talented Orlando actor, about his upcoming performances. He’s gearing up for a few months in New York City where he’ll act in a stage show. I know John has close ties to Florida so I asked him whether he misses home while away and he said he does, but mentioned how visiting sites like WatermarkOnline.com let him keep up with the local headlines and help him feel less removed.
Given the intensely gifted theatre community enjoyed in Orlando, I’ll bet John isn’t alone. And of course, distance relationships go beyond theatre, to faraway romance and displaced family and even something as short-term as a business trip. John really got me thinking about how tools like e-mail, text and social networking connect us to people far away, but there’s something to be said about your local newspaper’s web site and the way it can make you feel like you’re still plugged in to the town that has your heart. In cases like my chats with little Will, the connection goes beyond words on a screen to sights and sounds. Please excuse the Hallmark moment, but I can earnestly say the web is precious for how it can make us feel at home, no matter where you really are at that moment.
Barefaced Hype Alert!
I have some things going on at Watermark Online I want to be absolutely sure you don’t miss.
1. Twitter: Watermark will be tweeting on a special Twitter account, leading up to Gay Days Weekend 2010. We’re co-hosting the brand-new Stratosphere party and creating a hip, super-useful GD2010 Guide, so there will be lots of behind-the-scenes dirt to dish and Twitter is where we’re going to let it out. You can follow us at Twitter.com/GDWatermark. While you’re at it, head over to WatermarkOnline and let us know if you have a Twitter account. We’d love to be following you, too.
2. Giveaways: WatermarkOnline and SoHo Tan Spa is giving away some great prizes that will help you get hot for the upcoming party season. The grand prize is three months unlimited tanning, plus a free facial to three runners up. Entering could not be easier—just log onto the site and comment on the post that announces the contest. We’ll choose winners at random. Please note that the SoHo Tan Spa locations are all in Tampa, so be sure you can actually claim your prize before you enter. Hurry! The giveaway ends March 20.
Can’t use tanning or a facial? Well hold onto your wellies, because our next giveaway is launching soon and it’s by far the biggest prize we have offered yet. I can’t tell you what it is yet, but I’ll give you a hint: an ocean will be crossed.
And not in that technology way I was ruminating on above—a real ocean.
