As I was working on what to write about today, wading through potential material for subjects, I kept thinking to myself several different times, “I sure do miss ___________ (insert missing “old days” thing here).
It happened at least a half dozen times.
The thing that finally broke the camel’s old humpy back was an advertisement. Yes, I was reading article after article, with numerous ads popping up all over the place. They came in every shape and size imaginable.
There was one for a nifty iPhone holster, another for some toeless leather shoes, and yet one more for some sort of “me time” cream. Do I really need a cream for “me time”, I wondered?
But the final blow to my system was a photo of a woman, legs only, holding what appears to be a kitchen sink sprayer right between her legs, and the caption reads, “Quit using toilet paper.”
That nozzle had gone too far.
I began longing for the old days of the internet. The kind with the sweet tune of the dial-up modem, clinking away, as we waited with bated breath. Those times when we all had AOL accounts, and that resurging jump of joy when we heard “You’ve got mail.” We only had one, maybe two pieces of email in those days, and they were from real people. People we knew. Every so often we would get one from Prince Abdomulabulacki, who promised us a portion of his wealth, if only we could send him $600, for those handling fees. But he only offered once, and then the chance was gone.
I wanted to go back to the days of black text on a light background. HTML at its finest. Occasionally, there would be a photo or a drawing, but it would be small, and unobtrusive.
Oh, it was a much simpler time then.
I am not begrudging today’s technology. In fact, I love the fact that I can click on any place in the entire world and get a street view of that place. Or a satellite image, if I’d rather. I like ordering Lou’s special dog food right from the comfort of my own living room. I appreciate catching up with old friends and family, without having to actually be with them. Videos from Rainbow Randy make me smile.
But.
Some days, you don’t want the seven-course meal.
Some days, you would much rather just have a nice bowl of potato soup.
With saltine crackers.
Sometimes, it just feels right to be sitting down, watching the paint dry.
We all need our time to breathe, our time to slow down.
Without any “Me Time” Cream in the picture.
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“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.”
― Plato
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“Snails were built for comfort. Not for speed!”
― Anthony T. Hincks
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Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast.
— William Shakespeare
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Nifty Modem Sound, for old times sake.
