Computer vs. Communication

When was the last time you picked up your phone and called a friend?  In today's technological world, isn't it so much easier to send a text message or an email or a note on any one of the social networks, rather than speaking via telephone?  Have we lost the art of verbal communication?  How many of us still have home phones?  What kind of calls do you get at home?  Telemarketers?  Wrong numbers?  Bill collectors? etc. etc.  I can't remember the last time I had a phone call with a friend.  Its not that I don't have friends -heck, my FB page says I have 68 friends.  Yet how many of those friends do I speak with on the phone?  One, maybe two.  It is not for lack of trying to maintain human contact.  With time zone differences, work hours, etc. it is very difficult to even reach people via phone calls.  You leave messages, they return your call and leave messages, and then its phone tag, until you give up and realize you don't remember why you were calling in the first place.   So you go to your social network and you "poke them" or send them an IM to say "hi".   Is this what the technological future is?   Because if so, I'm not sure I'm happy about it.  I miss the sound of my friends' voices.   I miss hearing laughter, sharing memories, and yes, I'll say it, mindless chatter about anything and everything.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love my computer, and my cellphone, and being able to share things with my friends online.  But I would also like to hear their voices and share things over the phone.   So, the next time you have something to share with a friend, or are just thinking about them, think about this - pick up the phone and call them - you could very easily make their day.   And that's my Thought For Today.