Last Friday night Maddie invited some of her 8th grade friends over for a sleepover. They all had to be at school the next morning to catch the bus to Beijing for a soccer game. I was surprised when I heard them singing “Happy Birthday” from Maddie’s room. I went in to find the girls in front of Maddie’s computer screen singing to their friend who moved to Hong Kong over the summer. It was this friend’s birthday, and all the girls were having a “virtual” party, with her. She being alone in Hong Kong and the other girls here at our apartment just hanging out over skype and sharing life together. Technology is great!