A friend needed us last night

I'm sure you were able to help her out with your email message. Any form of comforting would go a long way. If you can, try to visit her once in a while to show that you would exert effort to keep the link alive.

I totally agree with you. I would be still living on Staten Island, in New York if my parents had not decided to sale their home and move to Florida. When they up and left about 5 years later I left to move to New Mexico because that is where my daughters were and especially because of my granddaughter. However, after living there for three years I decided my body had had enough of the dry weather and moved to Puerto Rico. I miss my family so much especially when they are in trouble and need my help, a hug or comforting words face to face. In fact just the other morning my daughter called at 8am in the morning, now where she is its 6am so I knew it was an emergency. She was crying because she was in pain and thinking she was having a miscarriage. I so wanted to be there to ease the pain but I could only do that through the phone. Thankfully it was so called "growing painsz' the doctor said and she is ok. However, I'm like you I wonder how it will be not even 50 years how about 25 years from now. Its scary to think about.

We really do need to have loved ones near. I think that's one of the reasons our society is so messed up--since kids don't have grandparents and other extended family near them, they don't care what those people think. If the people are close they will love them and care what they think and when they are tempted to do something bad they will think twice. Friends are just as valuable and I wish we could go back to those days when travel and moving wasn't a way of life. I hope your friend feels better soon, that was a horrible thing to go through.

Not just good to have, very necessary, I think...

I think there is a huge difference in the way people communicate now. On one hand..it is better to be closer. Human interraction is very important and does make us feel better being cloder in times of need. On the other hand..if there wasn't the option of email and telephone, the people that are further away might be lost. Double edged sword I think. I would be interested to know how things will be in 50 years too.

Im sorry about your friend. You did the best you could under the circumstances and distance too. So true that we are now so far away from each other.....then they wonder why people eat so much.!!!

This also comes to mind with my family, this week. My daughter drove down from Minnesota,because her husband is traveling this week and she wanted support with the kids. My dad and brother live in a different state, and dad is aging and his health is going down hill.I am here, and miss them all. While here my daughter drove down to see the others, we went along of course.

It was good that she had someone to talk to when she felt helpless and lonely. For a single person even consolation on phone helps a lot. Dont think that if you cannot visit a person you will not be able to console him / her. Ofcourse if you get the chance do try and visit her.

I believe that physical presence is still important.After my aunt had divorced, she couldn't get asleep.She would call my mother late in the evening and after a long phone conversation she started feeling sad and insecure again.She needed a hug badly.I've noticed that when someone mails me or sends me an sms trying to comfort me, it works for a limited time.I doubt if something can replace the human warmth.

Now that I am ill I have experienced two types of help from friends and family. You are right that people who love you and are nearby are important. But I have also had help beyond words from my friends online, friends that I only know by their usernames in many cases or that as far away as India or Papua. They have hugged me here and comforted me. And their company has made me forget some problems and be able to stay cheerfull. So let us hope that changes are not only for the worst.. I´m sure you helped your friend in spite of the distance.

I know what you mean, I grew up with my entire family within a 2 block radius. Now most of them are gone or moved out of state. It's not easy to live this way. But I feel the children of today will find it to be a normal way of life. Think of it this way, without all this technology you would only be able to talk on the phone long distance, now you can email, send pictures, use skype, ot if you have a Mac or an iPhone, you can use FaceTime. We have lots more options digitally today then years ago. I know it does not replace the physical, but at least we can talk face to face with video.

Very sad that. But it is also a friend in need is known. I think now you should have it. It is sad but life is and stuff. Have a nice day!

Written words especially from your loved one are never stored in mind, but have a special place inside your heart. You can think you did not do much to comfort and feel her grief but your email did even much. I'm saying this because of the feeling that is drawn from words written by the loved one, the power accumulated by desire to help, love that drove you to write not to mention she knows and believe that you are the only one who care much about her- all these are miraculously sent though written words,but only the right person can experience this special treat. ..apart we are, technologically together as one...

I know what you mean. Our people become all spread out. It's so nice when you can just go over and give someone a comforting hug, have coffee together and talk face to face and such. Go for a walk and talk things over. That said, I'm sure that it was a help to your friend to talk to you. She knew it would be or she wouldn't have called. I am sorry about her beloved llama.