And, it's been a great thing when you're in the event production world. I can remember a show we did in Tampa. There we were, Clear Comm headsets on, radio ear pieces in and my cell phone in my pocket. We could call the show on the Clear Comm, while getting weather updates via the radio from the production trailer (it was raining... hard!!) and our artist runner would text me en route from the hotel to backstage, keeping me apprised of her location as we went about our jobs.
Text messages have also been my mode of prayer over the past couple of years - with my friend Donna Kallmeyer in particular. On any given day, as I drove to and from Reliant Stadium for various meetings, issues and frustrations, I'd shoot her a text with my prayer for the day. And she'd text me a prayer in return, or a "shout out" of encouragement. It was also the way I communicated with my dear mentor and friend, Vicky Jones, as she fought an illness a few years ago. I knew she was tired, couldn't talk on the phone much, had a lot going on. So whenever I thought of her (which was often), I'd say a silent prayer for her and text her my thoughts... letting her know that I was praying for her in that moment, thinking of her during that particular day.
Texting has been great in natural disasters! During Hurricane Ike, in the middle of the night when the storm was at its worst, I got text messages from all over - including my dad who was up and couldn't sleep because he was worried for us. He texted me his prayers and thoughts for us in the wee hours of the morning. I would turn my phone off and on to save battery power on my cell phone, and since I couldn't sleep, I turned it on to see that he had been thinking of us. As my sister prepared for Hurricane Irene in New York City, we enjoyed a funny text conversation yesterday when she was running around town, after a full day of shooting her show, trying to get in the last minute errands necessary for "hunkering down." This was the conversation:
Becky: I have a lantern!
Me: Oh good! Call me when u can. I wanna make sure ur safe. Love u. Are they evacuating you?
Becky: Okay. I have water. And cheese sauce! They are evacuating some areas, but not where I live.
Me: Cheese sauce? Do you have somewhere to go if u need to.
Becky: There's no where to go. Cheese sauce with chips, like nachos.
Me: Yuck.
Becky: All of the states near us will be hit as well. We would have to go to Ohio.
Me: You know people in Toledo. :)
Becky: It's like a 10 hour drive. We would end up stuck in traffic when the hurricane hit.
Me: Well, enjoy your nachos. Do u cook with gas? Cuz u can always hand light that and eat ramen.
Becky: We have a gas stove. I let you know what happens.
Me: K. Love u.
Becky: Love you.
Looking back at this exchange was hilarious. Only two sisters who know each other well, both love to cook and eat, can have a conversation via text like that.
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I love how you can get announcements via text too - this included the other day when an old employee sent me news of another co-worker who we had been rooting for.
Jayne: Congrats to Dougie Fresh - the new Houston Dynamo Stadium GM!
Me: :) Yeah!
Jayne: Hope all is well - miss you!
Me: Miss u too!!!
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And then there was the conversation yesterday, as I experienced "event-withdrawals" and my friend B was calling show in Minneapolis.
Me: How did conference go?
B: Last session. It has been awesome... thanks you again for the referral Boss Lady.
Me: Yeah!! Did Dave Peterson stop by?
B: Talked with him twice.
Me: Cool. Looks great (**referring to picture he sent me via text). I am having event withdrawals.
B: I was waiting for that.
It's those little exchanges, even without being voice-to-voice, that you can "hear" the people in your life talking to you - small words, personal catch phrases... sharing a moment right then and there without being in the same room. I love texting. Some might find it impersonal. I think it's become one of the best ways to communicate with someone - especially when one is calling a show (like my friend B) and can't actually talk voice-to-voice, or running around New York City getting ready for a hurricane, or feeling overwhelmed and heading into a meeting and getting a little prayer from a friend... I say texting is a wonderful thing!
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And, today... it was keeping up with my son who went to Dave & Buster's and a movie with a dear teacher and some friends. After I dropped him off I realized there were a few things I hadn't said to him before dropping him off: Me: Nate, call me if u need me. And don't go to the restroom by yourself - take a buddy with you.
No response from Nate. But oh well, I knew he had read it... and that my little text message would stick in his sweet brain!
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Of course, texting cannot replace the voice-to-voice I still enjoyed with my old co-worker and friend, B, while driving back from Austin the other afternoon, or the Happy Hour that I'll have with Jayne to get caught up on life since we finished our last project together, or the little boy who climbed in the backseat of my car after school and gave me all the details of his day, or the lunch I had with Donna this past week where we shared our hearts over a really good sandwich and salad, or the conversation I had with my sister tonight as the storm rolled in - where she was able to tell me all was well, she was cooking Vodka Penne for dinner for her and Fran, and she sounded like it was no big deal. The sound of calm in her voice was better than any text message.
-Rachel for the Quan Clan
