Thinking back to when I was 9 (yeah, sixty years ago) =
and how life has changed since. Not on every matter, but on so =
many I’d wish it was back in a simpler time.
*BACK THEN, I =
asked my dad for a penny for the gumball machine. TODAY, kids ask for =
$300 for a new phone.
*BACK THEN, =
if I called someone and they didn’t answer, I figured they were =
out and I’d call back later. TODAY, if kids don’t get =
an immediate response they become depressed and wonder why everyone =
ignores or hates them.
*BACK THEN, =
I’d sit with awe and watch the gas station attendant fill the car =
(18.9 cents a gallon), check the oil, and wipe our windows. TODAY =
I stand alone in -25F and 35 mph wind for the privilege to doing it =
myself for 15 times the cost.
*BACK THEN, =
if I got a bad grade in school my parents would apply the board of =
education to the seat of learning, and it hurt. TODAY, kids would =
be coddled and parents blame the teacher, demanding she be =
fired.
*BACK THEN, if you saw me looking up in the air, it =
would be to see my kite. TODAY, kids look up to take selfies with =
selfie sticks.
*BACK THEN, =
my Brownie Starflash allowed me to take 12 pix, send them for =
development, and paste photos in an album a couple weeks later. TODAY, =
kid’s phones take 4000 pix, and none are printed and they wonder =
what exactly IS an album??
*BACK THEN, =
a computer filled the room and 5 megabytes cost $120,000. TODAY, a =
watch is more powerful and a 65,000 megabyte chip (size of my thumbnail) =
is $40.
*BACK THEN, if I had a couple minutes to spend waiting =
I played with a yoyo, played jacks or catch or tag, or <gasp> read =
a book. TODAY, kids have a cell phone to play virtual games and never =
break a sweat on interact with another human.
*BACK THEN, =
I listened to the radio stories and used my imagination to =
“see” what was happening. TODAY, kids have movies on demand, =
680 channels on cable, and don’t have to use their =
imagination. And I can’t mention what they =
“see”.
*BACK THEN, =
I got cards, gifts or a party on my birthday. TODAY, kids get =
notifications and likes, and think the universe revolves around =
them.
Methinks that nostalgia is not what it used to =
be.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus Knows Me, This I =
Love!"