“Call me on FaceTime, pass the phone to the back seat, and let me chat with the kids for awhile.”

That was me a few months ago to my daughter, who was attempting to placate her two squirrely children on a road trip.

I was jealous as soon as the words left my mouth. How I wish such technology was available when I was a young mother.

During the countless trips over the years up and down California to visit my parents, I would have had them entertaining my kids on FaceTime for the entire 8-hour trip. There AND back.

Today, there’s a multitude of ways to communicate instantly with people near and far. Favorites in my family are FaceTime, Voxer (which works like a walkie-talkie), Messenger and, of course, good old email and texting. We’ve also used Skype and Zoom in the past.

Apps such as Find My can allow a person (with permission) to check the whereabouts of traveling friends and family. Not so helpful of course if you’re in an area with no cell service — say, a national park where you decided to detour (without notifying anyone) and end up in a car accident (about which you can’t notify anyone).

But I digress.

It’s been said that these apps — and social media in general — are creating isolation among humankind and are actually encouraging us to be LESS social. Beware — the downfall of society! Of course, they said that about TV, too.

To be sure, there are many negatives, but in my opinion, the plusses outweigh them when it comes to family and friends flung far and wide.

To me, the world seems like a much smaller place nowadays. With a few taps or clicks on my phone, I can check in with a sibling, answer a question from one of my kids or chat with an old friend.

Anywhere, anytime.

Just this very minute, while writing this, I got a text with photos from a grandkid several states away, sharing the exciting news about his first new apartment.

Of course, there’s plenty to be said about the postal service and good old-fashioned snail mail. Nothing compares with the thrill of discovering a card or package in your physical mailbox. With family — including 15 grandchildren — scattered across the Pacific states, my local post office can attest that I give them plenty of business.

However, the ability to have a swift and even live chat is a treasure I do not take for granted. It’s a marvelous time, in my opinion. (Especially with 15 grandchildren).

My mother — who would have not only been happily chatting with my kids on FaceTime the entire 8 hours, but tracking us on Find My, too — would surely agree.