Using Internet phone to communicate with loved ones in Iraq this Christmas? Send me your stories

(photo by Jack Gruber, USA Today)

A story in Wednesday's USA Today about soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan using Internet-based phones to see and speak with loved ones this Christmas got me thinking about fashioning this post.

Are you, or someone you know, planning to use, say, Skype to handle a video call (or even audio call) with a loved one serving overseas?

If so, I'd love to know what your plans are to make this welcome call happen. And after the fact, I'd also love some accounts of how these calls went. Were the pictures of your loved ones clear? How about their voice(s)?  If you want to share photos of your Skype, or similar, session, send them along as Comments or to russjourn@gmail.com.

I remember my Mom telling stories of waiting weeks and weeks for my Dad, who fought Rommel in North Africa during World War II.

But now, we can speak to our loved ones stationed overseas in virtual real-time.  Bringing people together. That's a good bit of what technology ought to be about.