Stay in touch with out-of-town family
You may not see them very often, but you can feel close to relatives who live miles away.
There's no need to jet all over the country to stay in touch
with relatives. Today's technology lets you be a part of their
lives in many different ways.
Send a DVD or video of important events. Tape your
daughter's solo in the school musical or record your son playing
with your adorable new puppy. Faraway family will appreciate
actually seeing -- and not just hearing about -- what's going on.
Connect via the Internet. Start a Listserv for your family.
Gather everyone's e-mail addresses and set up a free group at
www.groups.google.com or
www.groups.yahoo.com. When your relatives send
a message to the Google or Yahoo Groups e-mail address, they'll
reach all the group members at once. This way, your extended family
can easily post announcements, send out birthday and anniversary
reminders and plan holiday get-togethers.
Organize a family reunion. Plan games that encourage people
to interact and get to know each other better. Get activity ideas,
find family-friendly hotels and design invitations at
www.family-reunion.com.