I read Michael Wilbon's column in today's Washington Post.  He covered Alonzo Mourning's very personal conversation with reporters after Mourning won his first NBA championship.  In 2000, Mourning was diagnosed with kidney disease and had to have a kidney transplant a few years ago. He gained a lot of emotional support from Lance Armstrong's books, and later, a personal relationship with Lance: (emphasis added)

"I got a call from Lance Armstrong," he said. "He text [messaged] me after Game 5. We've been playing phone tag because he called and spoke to my mom in Miami and wished me a happy Father's Day. Before the series even started he called me and was telling me that even though his heart is in Texas he wanted to see me win. . . . He was a huge, huge inspiration to me in my whole recovery period. I read both of his books after my surgery. Laying in the hospital I was reading his second book. I think about what he had to go through [in his fight against cancer], literally being on his deathbed. I said to myself, 'If he can do it, I can do it.' And the way I looked at him, I know there are thousands and thousands of people who look at me that same way, and I want to be here to provide them with the hope to overcome and not succumb. . . ."

Wilbon doesn't comment on this mobile correspondence. And maybe he doesn't have to?  Texting is becoming more common every day.  Busy people need a way to stay in touch with their friends and family.

Celebrities are often on the cutting edge of techonology because they get the gadgets for free. However, busy professionals are often the first power users of technology because with every new gadget is the promise of untold extra hours to play with your kids or take that cooking class.

This brings up two points of inquiry for me:

1. Is there anything to learn from how mobile communications supports those who are recovering from health conditions or addictions?
2. How do celebrities, business executives and working parents use mobile technology?  Are there differences?