Since When Did A Television Become My Hourglass?

As wife 2.0 and I reach middle age (if 50 is middle age, I must be planning to reach 100), we notice more often how technology measures our lives.  For example, my earliest “technology memories” involve black and white television, by the 3^rd grade, color television and high school, video games.  A decade later, it was personal computers and another five years brought widespread internet.  Clearly, at some point 2.0 and I stopped using the calendar and started measuring the passage of time with gadgets.

Son 1.0 was born along with the internet and attended grade school with cell phones.  Junior High was digital high definition TV and IMAX 3D movies.  High school was electric cars.  Who knows how we’ll measure college and grandchildren?

Tonight, however, was old fashioned stereo hi-fidelity, a genuine throwback to 1978.  Son 1.0 discovered my three foot speakers stored in the attic with the powder blue 100% polyester leisure suit. Explaining their function was like describing space travel to the pilgrims.  This child of the lap-top generation has a remarkable sound system; but, the “big” speakers are approximately the size of a pair of Twinkies and driven by an iPod smaller than a deck of cards.  Much like our relationship, we both thought our technology wouldn’t interface.  However, it turns out that with a borrowed audio receiver, a series of adapters and old fashioned stereo cable, 2011 will indeed connect to 1978 (or, a 2011 iPod will connect to 1978 speakers through a 1984 receiver).    It also turns out we both like Credence Clearwater Revival really loud. It further turns out the neighbors do not.         

Have you ever noticed that teen agers don’t wear watches?  They have cell phones.  On the other hand, my mom (74 and counting) doesn’t carry an iPod and still has a VCR that flashes 12:00.  (I SWEAR she uses electrical tape to cover the VCR clock because she can’t program the time.)

So, it turns out we don’t need calendars, we just need technology and good memories.

See you next time.