Distance

I've been in contact with my family more over the past year than I think I ever have been. Some of the time even spent on actually connecting (on my part -- they're quite good at it, while I am not). Overall, last year was extremely positive and I am hopeful about our relationships.

So I tried to get my mother (who loves Facebook) and sister (who reluctantly uses the interwebz) on Pinterest so we could share ideas for recipes, crafts, outfits, etc. They like the layout, and that you can see the cool things your friends have posted, but...they are stuck on how to actually DO Pinterest.

1. They do not waste time on the computer.

Mother is involved in half-a-dozen ministries, besides cleaning, crafting, cooking, teaching, and exercising. Adrianna is full-time at the Madrid conservatory, neck-deep in theory, violin, piano, and soon voice. She's also involved in ministry and travels into the city constantly on the bus. Neither of them have 'personal' computers.

2. They are not, at heart, collectors.

Neither of them like 'stuff'. The less there is, the happier they are. They see no value in holding onto things or collecting -- not even recipes. Of course, Mother has a craft stash (patterns, yarns, fabrics) and Adrianna has an art stash (paints, brushes, canvas) but they often give the finished products away (thereby eradicating a pile) or teach with the materials they have. Also, they've had to move so many times that after a while, they just got tired of carrying stuff around.

3. They're not really tech-savvy and don't have any wish/need to be.

...It's just a choice they've made, and they're probably better off for it.

And so, both of them begged me to take over their Pinterests. (Well, I suggested it and they both jumped at it)

I logged on to Adrianna's Pinterest and sat there looking at her empty folders, and all of a sudden all my grand aspirations faded away to nothing.

I don't know her anymore. (Did I ever? We're so DIFFERENT...)

If I pinned clothing, I'm not sure what she'd wear. I don't know, on a day-t0-day basis, what her style is. I have shrewd guesses based on other online interactions (SKYPE, Facebook messages/photos) but beyond that...

What makes her laugh? We don't share the same sense of humor (except word humor -- although she hates puns and I think they're brilliant)

What food does she like?

What kind of art projects does she do?

What does she think is beautiful?

I have no idea.

I had to write her a message to tell her to check her pins to make sure they were "her" enough and not just me guessing.

There's something really sad about that to me.