Having just celebrated another birthday, one I share with Elmo and the anniversary of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens, my life crosses two centuries – the 20th and the 21st.
In that time I have seen a lot of new things come into this world. From watching a black and white television to watching programs on a 50 inch tv via streaming and DVD. And riding in a car built like a tank with no seat belts to a vehicle that has seat belts, airbags, wi-fi, and runs on electricity.
When I was little the telephone had a long coily cord and either hung on the wall or sat on a table. To call long distance was a fortune. Privacy meant hiding in the pantry or closing a door. If you needed to make a call outside of the house, you needed coins to feed into the pay phone. Today we all carry our phones around with us and long distance calls are as simple as pushing a few buttons.
But what the most important invention would be depends greatly on the perspective of the person answering the question.
For my brother who was in the Army, being able to warm up his packaged meals (MRE’s) is a big deal.
For a person with a mobility disability, being able to get around using a power wheelchair is a big deal.
My dad used to teach blind people how to use an abacus and read braille. Today everything talks back to you and your television can describe everything going on on the screen.
When I was a kid, bicycle riding meant pumping your legs hard especially when you were to get up the hill. There were no speeds on the bike. Today, I have an electric bike, no pedaling required. Just push the button and the bike goes.
I learned to type when I was nine years old using a portable manual typewriter. Had to hit the keys rather hard to make them work. Today, it takes only a light touch to get my laptop keyboard to work.
Some of my favourite tv shows have immortals as the main characters. I often wondered what it would be like to live several centuries and watch all of the new inventions.
Jeff Foxworthy has a joke about being a red neck involving late night bathroom trips requiring shoes and a flashlight…now it’s right down the hall!
Imagine planning a big party that required handwriting the invitations and mailing them six months in advance just to ensure they got there and you received the answer in time to add their names to the guest list. These days, all it requires is a simple text that the phone can type for you!
I have a modern sewing machine, but when it comes to sewing hems and elastic casings, I still prefer to do it by hand.
Some inventions are great, but there is also something to be said for the old ways when it comes to doing some things.