When did family news become gossip?

When I was young holidays were visits to family

You knew who were in your family

Meeting up around once a year was a joy

So much news of what happened in the year, oh boy!

All cousins and aunts and uncles were brought up to date

What had everyone got up to date

This was the way we kept in touch

Exchange news about those also, who had not met up much

The family stories got told

Old anecdotes retold

There was a connection felt through this narrative

These meetings between various members, weaving and strengthening the narrative

So when did this change from keeping in touch to gossip?

Why did it all become gossip?

Now while technology lets us be better connected

Our hearts and lives are even less connected

Social networking, skype, twitter, whatsapp are all flourishing

But real conversation is dwindling

Instead we have our status to update

Feelings and fleeting thoughts to state

Does any of it improve the weave of the narrative of life?

Does anyone read these self-indulgent glimpses of our life?

When we happen to manage a ‘chat’ with someone

We no longer exchange news about anyone

 The scope of conversation is limited to us alone

The passing on message to others as a short cut to keeping relationships alive

Is a thing of past, for now each one is individually connected and not part of the hive

The fabric of family and society has changed a lot

More connected we are now but also isolated a lot

Relationships have become more one to one

Rarely do we get together to have fun

As we move around the world it’s never been easier to keep in touch

Surely it is not hard as such

But humans still crave physical meetings

So those once near and dear become just passing greetings

When far away, friends become family

Also old friends go the way of the family

The change should bring people together

But many find themselves being left out altogether

What will happen to that familial cultural narrative?

Will anyone be able to place themselves within the fabric of that narrative?

Will be become just a single generation society?

Where we do not know wider family in that society.

How can we be kind and caring?

When there is limited contact and sharing.

So I ask myself again and again, when did keeping up with family news become gossip?

Why indeed it is all classed as gossip?

Making people reluctant to talk about what is happening with others in their life

Is the making of a lonely life

This loosening of the family fabric is sad, is it a wonder?

It loosens the links between members and the gaps eventually will render that fabric asunder

I know not what the solution is?

When will we wake up to this loss, in the busyness that life is?