Categories: anything-and-everything
Date: 02 November 2007 10:35:53
The other day I was just sitting remembering things. I suppose this is quite a good time of year to be remembering, seeing as Remembrance Sunday is approaching - but actually that is purely coincidental to my remembering thoughts of last week!
I don't feel particularly old in the grand scheme of things but there are quite a lot of technological and other items of day-to-day life that I remember the beginning of... digital watches, CDs, video players (including the VHS/Betamax debate - my Uncle Ron was convinced that Betamax would win!), telex and fax machines when they were the 'new thing' at work - and I remember when it was all paper and we had to get all the files entered up as the 'computer age' hit. I don't remember quite as far back as my dad who has a photo of himself as a young man at work, with a computer that was the size of a large room!
And how bizarre it seems to imagine life without the internet and the mobile phone - I remember seeing a man outside Sainsbury's a long time ago with what must have been one of the earliest ones - and thinking how stupid and weird it looked and sounded to see a man talking on the phone, outdoors, in public!
I remember not being convinced by or particularly impressed by those CD things - I liked my box of tapes and beloved vinyls.
I remember when people used to ask "are you on the phone?" rather than assume that you were and when the streets weren't overrun with cars because families had one between them (if they could afford it) instead of one per 17+ member of the household as is the trend now.
I'm sure there are lots more things I remember too, isn't it funny how the world changes but we don't change a lot. I should probably add that I don't regret all these changes (except perhaps the cars - though I did get my first little mini when I was 17, so who am I to comment?).
Perhaps the best thing to do with remembering is be thankful and not let go of the values and priorities that have held humanity in good stead for generations... don't forget to say "good morning" to the neighbours when you switch off the computer.