Some of my readers will remember the world as it existed before the advent of the internet and the cell phone in the 1990s. Those who don’t will have missed out on what the English poet Thomas Hood called, “the light of other days.” To remember the “old days” with nostalgia is always an exercise fraught with the perils of hypocrisy, selective insight, narrow vision and patronizing, irritating discourse. I am always aware that the phrase,
Love the recollection of a time long past; our experience was unique to our generation. The 60's/70's/80's were specific to the people who experienced them, and will not be repeated. Midway between nature and consuming products and propaganda.
Incidentally, I recall the first time, in the 1980s, that I heard the collective (Americans, at least) referred to as "consumers". I knew immediately there was a problem with that - "they think we are cows".
So many things, I have forgotten such as the anxiety of having to speak with the person who answered the phone, engage him/her in pleasantries. Otherwise, it would be rude to just ask for one's friend.
I had to drive just to get to a pay phone to be able to call my boyfriend, he lived in another province. Thankfully, he's much closer now, sleeping upstairs. lol
We had a lot of difficulties meeting up, and I recall one time he waited for me in his car for 6 hours and finished a book: The Dancing Wu Li Masters.
I often try to reimagine this magical world with my kids. I do think increasingly there is going to be a movement of people who will find solace in mimicking an internet and cell phone free world.
To live in the moment is to get a glimpse of eternity, this is very difficult with the constant bombardment of digital distractions.
Your poem is so beautiful. I felt the longing and anticipation and freezing and the magic. I could see it all. The flowers in the window.
The romance has gone. I know things were no better in any measurable way in them there good ol' dayz, but they had moments of pure dazzle over the smallest of things and for the most part, those kinds of moments are gone. Evaporated. Like the dew. Moments that demand being IN the moment to catch them they are so fleeting. It's impossible to catch them with heads bowed down into phones.
Ah, the good ole days, Dr. Christian. Thank you for the reminder. I remember having 3-4 households on a shared line. Not very private but always interesting - lol. Today my kids rarely call. They text. There is so much lost in texting and emailing. You can not hear the tone of the words. It is like having NO personality. Thank you for often sharing your poetry. :)
Love the recollection of a time long past; our experience was unique to our generation. The 60's/70's/80's were specific to the people who experienced them, and will not be repeated. Midway between nature and consuming products and propaganda.
Incidentally, I recall the first time, in the 1980s, that I heard the collective (Americans, at least) referred to as "consumers". I knew immediately there was a problem with that - "they think we are cows".
Dear Dr. Francis,
So many things, I have forgotten such as the anxiety of having to speak with the person who answered the phone, engage him/her in pleasantries. Otherwise, it would be rude to just ask for one's friend.
I had to drive just to get to a pay phone to be able to call my boyfriend, he lived in another province. Thankfully, he's much closer now, sleeping upstairs. lol
We had a lot of difficulties meeting up, and I recall one time he waited for me in his car for 6 hours and finished a book: The Dancing Wu Li Masters.
I often try to reimagine this magical world with my kids. I do think increasingly there is going to be a movement of people who will find solace in mimicking an internet and cell phone free world.
To live in the moment is to get a glimpse of eternity, this is very difficult with the constant bombardment of digital distractions.
Thank you for for the poignant reminder.
Your poem is so beautiful. I felt the longing and anticipation and freezing and the magic. I could see it all. The flowers in the window.
The romance has gone. I know things were no better in any measurable way in them there good ol' dayz, but they had moments of pure dazzle over the smallest of things and for the most part, those kinds of moments are gone. Evaporated. Like the dew. Moments that demand being IN the moment to catch them they are so fleeting. It's impossible to catch them with heads bowed down into phones.
I loved your poem. God Bless.
Ah, the good ole days, Dr. Christian. Thank you for the reminder. I remember having 3-4 households on a shared line. Not very private but always interesting - lol. Today my kids rarely call. They text. There is so much lost in texting and emailing. You can not hear the tone of the words. It is like having NO personality. Thank you for often sharing your poetry. :)