The Katywompus Journal Observing Life's Little Quirks by Diane Moody |
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Entry #43: It's a Small World After All
Question: Was there life before cell phones and email? Hard to imagine we ever survived before these technological wonders came along, isn't it? Remember when folks only had one phone in the house? It was usually a black monstrosity of a thing, with a rotary dial that was slower than molasses. Long-distance calls could be a bit of a challenge. I have vivid recollections of my grandmother calling from Texas when I was a young child. She would talk REALLY LOUD (Amarillo was, after all, a long, long way from Tulsa!) and REALLY FAST ("I'll make this quick since it's long distance!") Not so today. I remember it well . . . the first cell phone I ever saw. It was a clunky portable model carried around in a fat briefcase. It belonged to my husband's boss. He and his wife lugged that thing everywhere they went. I distinctly remember wondering what could possibly be so urgent you'd need to have that kind of constant accessibility. Weren't beepers enough? Silly me. Now look at us! For some, the cell phone is #2 right behind oxygen when it comes to Things We Can't Live Without. Think I'm exaggerating? When was the last time you saw a teenager without one glued to his/her ear, especially if he/she was behind the wheel of a car? And then there's email. Remember back in the day when snail mail was the only option for written communication? On a temp job back in the early 80s, my employer trained me on what was called a "facsimile" machine. I could not understand how that thing worked. My narrow little mind simply could not comprehend a letter being sent and received that way. To me, it was as mind-boggling as the concept of live images appearing on television. (A phenomenon I still cannot grasp, by the way.) Fast forward to present day, when letters and messages fly into my email inbox the split second they're sent, no matter where they come from. Then there's the Instant Message screen that pops up on my computer as my friend Teresa in Florida "stops by" to say good morning! We chat real time over a cup of coffee 800 miles from each other. Amazing. My, how times have changed. On any given day, my husband receives business calls and emails from places like South Africa, England, Pakistan, China or New Zealand. The clarity of the calls is perfect, as though traveling from across the street instead of the other side of the world. The emails keep him connected to his customers, night or day, no matter what time zone they may live in. If the email message comes through in Chinese or French or German, he merely runs it through the Lycos translator and voila! It's in English! Incredible. Of course, with the good comes the bad. A recent computer virus transmitted via email shut down a couple of airlines. We all fight those insidious viruses. And on any given day, we're bombarded with enough spam to drive us all crazy. Do I really want 40 ads a day trying to sell me, uh . . . well . . . "appendage" enhancements? Or what about those scams like the foreign lady who's always trying to find someone who would be willing to deposit her 2.5 million dollars in their account. Sure she is. The big computer companies are only now devising ways to eradicate these pesky, constant annoyances. And then there's the seedy side of email - those pornographic messages that slither into your inbox unsolicited. What kind of sick mind comes up with that stuff? Granted, cell phones and email tend to be more luxury than necessity. Yet, sometimes they can mean the difference between life or death. I watched a special Sunday night about the daring rescue of mountain climbers on Oregon's Mt. Hood a couple years ago. When tragedy struck, one of the hikers called for help from his cell phone. Who knows if any of them would have survived without that call? And to be perfectly honest, I appreciate the exceptional peace of mind that comes from knowing my kids have a cell phone with them, especially when they're driving. These "luxuries" have enabled all of us to stay better connected. Such instant means of communication have changed the world we live in - in our businesses, in our families, and in our friendships. Walt Disney was right - it really is a small world after all. And that's a good thing. "Can you hear me now?" Click HERE to send Diane an email. She welcomes your comments and suggestions. She's Flying the Coop Blessed are the poor... Back to School It All Started With Eve It's Almost Here! Forget About Weapons of Mass Destruction - let’s Talk Hormones The Other "W" "If only I could..." "Put Down That Remote and Step Away From the TV!" Take This Job and Love It! As the Stomach turns! Pet Peeves Cue the Balloons! A Picture Perfect Thanksgiving 'Twas Two Months Before Christmas . . . Egg Nog & Popcorn The Importance of Making Christmas Memories Step Away from the Mistletoe! O Crystal Ball . . . 2003 Unplugged Geek is Chic! Mind Your Manners! Go "Figure" You’ve Gotta Laugh Reality Check A Parent’s Worst Nightmare Notice Me! It's Not About the Stuff Too Many Buns! What's Your Legacy? Music to My Ears Why, Thank You! Ah, Spring! Mel vs. the Easter Bunny He Did It! He Finally Did It! Unexpected Joys HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHUCK McFARLAND! Bring on the Barbecue! Not So Happy Mother's Days The List |
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