Ode to E-mail

Ohkay confession time—when it comes to e-mail I guess I am part Meg Ryan inYou’ve Got Mail—idealistically loving the candor of swapping letters and part Sandra Bullock in The Net—experiencing live from the safety of my own little cocoon. It’s what I’ve learned to call artistic solitude where the extrovert and the introvert collide. But who doesn’t love getting e-mail (and for arguments sake I am talking about interpersonal e-mail—not work e-mail or junk e-mail) Recently I started to think about how many amazing things have come my way via e-mail. I know I know, big surprise to any of you who have gone for long stints of time waiting for me to call you back b/c I am avoiding my voicemail—you know who you are—but there is something non-threatening about e-mail.
Personally I have two e-mail accounts one with my maiden name and one with my married name. I remember I set up my first Yahoo account when I was a senior in high-school. I was temporarily living and working at the state capital as a Page in the House of Representatives and I needed a way to communicate that didn’t change with my location. Since then I have moved oh at least 18 times (no joke think about it—college every year-every summer—then afterwards). My address and phone number have changed so many times I can’t even keep up—but my e-mail has always been faithful—always constant—come to think of it since I graduated high school it is one of the only things that has been consistent. Because of that it’s my gateway to the world (I am a writer and a mom—there are days I don’t leave the house—you REALLY love e-mail then.) Nate asked me out for the first time via e-mail, we were friends long at least a year and half before but my heart was in my throat the day that showed up in my in-box-I probably still have it in a folder somewhere—see consistency.
I’ve gotten jobs through e-mail, made new friends—believe me this motherhood thing would be much harder without my prayer group moms some of whom I’ve never actually met. You can Zondervan is made up of people who love the written word because all our correspondences is primarily through e-mail—gotta love it. I love the group e-mails that make it feel like I’m hanging out with college friends again or family. I think I’ve heard about new babies, engagements, adoptions even worked out hurt feelings through e-mail.
I suppose you could say it’s a little sad how much of life has been experienced this way, its definitely not how I pictured my life when I got online eight years ago. I remember before I learned to type I would get so frustrated with IM that I would simply pick-up the phone and call the person I was talking to. What’s the point I used to ask? But I am so thankful that this thing called e-mail allows me an open door to so many of you throughout the world. College friends, friends from pubescent days in Africa, my little brother and I can swap movie lines. I have a new family now that I am falling in love with and you never know where a Ndjerareou is going to pop up—so thank heaven for e-mail. I love words and I love sharing in the lives of all the people who have crossed paths with in life.
P.S. Technically speaking is it: through e-mail, on e-mail, in e-mail, via e-mail. Ohkay now I’m sick of the word e-mail—not very literary of me to use it over and over again—but I still love the concept!