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Coffee Talk - Back in the Day |
Hostnine
| I went to a new eye doc yesterday for a much needed eye exam.?After I turned in my paperwork, the front desk woman took the docs and walked over to a device.?I sat in the waiting room, and I heard a strange yet familiar sound.?I looked around, and there it was the woman was using a typewriter!?I can't remember the last time I saw an actual typewriter in use.?Naturally, this gave me a bit of concern as to the efficacy of the office, but turns out all was modern except for that aberration.?The eye doc told me she likes the trustworthiness of the typewriter.?Since it's only used for basic info, she decided to keep it in use.? This got me thinking about things from my past that I miss, like the sound of a typewriter.?Since it's Friday, I thought I'd ask you all to join in the list.? I miss communication the way it used to be a rotary phone without caller id, call waiting or an answering machine.?This forced me to learn some small level of patience either I was home and no one else was using the phone or I was out of luck.?Back then, things were slower and only an actual emergency was an emergency.?Now, everything is rushed and hurried and needed now.?? Silence nowadays, finding a moment of silence, a second without someone virtually tugging on your sleeve, is a challenge.?Not even the car or the train is quiet anymore.?In fact, the only way to get silence is to put on headphones and either drown out the other noise or listen to your own.?Every moment has something or someone vying for attention.? I miss respect.?When I was a kid, adults were people I was taught to respect.?Talking rudely to a teacher or an adult was unacceptable behavior.??Screaming at others in public was not a normal behavior.?Nowadays, no one seems to respect anyone else for any reason.?? Having fun for the sake of fun.?? Actual human interaction.?It's becoming less and less common, which may explain the lack of respect all around.?I remember going to the gas station with my mom, and the service folks knew her name, and were actually helpful as they filled the tank, cleaned the windows and checked the oil in the car.??Going to the bank and chatting with the tellers.?Calling for assistance for a product and getting a human who spoke actual English.?Actually calling people on the phone instead of sending text messages or emails.? |
| Actually calling people on the phone instead of sending text messages or emails.?? And speaking of emails, I miss letters.?Good old fashioned hand written letters.?With cross outs and misspellings and bad handwriting and all.?I loved the time put into letters; the thoughts and ideas and effort they entailed.?Whenever I traveled, I would send tons of postcards from wherever I was, just to preserve that moment.?I loved being able to pick up old letters and reread them and revisit that moment in time.I miss auto-text.?Yeah, the geniuses at Microsoft decided that in Word 2007, they'd replace auto-text with an insanely moronic concept called Quick Parts.?So they elimanted an incredibly useful tool and replaced it with a time wasting monstrosity.?I miss mom and pop shops and restaurants.?They used to be the predominant force now it's all about chains and franchises and big box stores.?Yeah, I know, it helps keep prices down.?But it also drowns out individuality, independence, and self sufficiency.?? I miss open space.?I've spent most of my life here on LongIsland.?I remember driving along empty tree lined roads.?Now, those tree lined roads are packed with cars and lined with coops, condos, mcmansions, townhouses and homes.?The trees are gone.?We paved paradise and put up a parking lot.? Those are just a few of the things I pine for this morning.?How about you??What do you miss?I'm off to CT after dinner.?My new cabinets are installed, and I plan on spending a thrilling weekend of cleaning, organizing, tossing as well as working on the LOTF revisions.?The weather forecast for Sunday is sunny, so I may be making my first Elephant expedition, which will of course involve lots of photos.?Hope you all have a great weekend!Just a reminder that tomorrow, May 10, is STAMP OUT HUNGER DAY.?Put together a bag of canned goods and leave it next to your mailbox.?Your postal carrier will pick up the food and deliver it to a soup kitchen or food pantry in your area.?Please help make a difference for someone else!? |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 July 2008 )
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