What are we looking at?

I think back to my time as an exchange student, punching in access numbers off my MCI phone card in order to dial home at exorbitant international rates. Sunday was the cheapest day to call. You carried on your discussion while standing next to the phone base, because back then those fancy machines were still attached to the wall.

Kids these days, they’ve got it so good.

Yesterday I went out with my dad and checked the mail. He is located 500 miles away, but the magic of smartphones boasting cameras enabled me to accompany him on the 50 meter walk down the driveway in the evening snow. After we walked back to the house, I stand by and watch him open up whatever solicitations arrived that day: Disabled Veteran’s of America, birthday cards for my brother who is out on extended exile, some Republican junk mail. My role as daughter is inserting disrespectful comments, and I perform my duty almost as if I am right there—and this is the point of the entire activity. Without being home, I get to feel like I’m home.  This lifts my spirits immensely.

I don’t begrudge today’s youngsters for their access to endless selections of fantastic communicating contraptions (okay maybe I do), but I can express a profound appreciation for the contrast that exists between our generational evolution.

On the best days, I’ve got Skype and Facetime. On the worst days, I’m texting with the person located in the next room and wondering why the hell they’re not answering me.

As in-person reality becomes more and more insulated by our multiplying fluorescent touch screens, I would offer that their ability to bridge time and space is invaluable. Keeping in touch with loved ones is our enduring lifeblood—especially for those of us in lifestyles that take us far away from home base. The ability to go out and peer into the letterbox in the middle of a New England winter’s night without ever leaving the comfort of my toasty apartment? Well that’s just wicked awesome stuff.

That’s it. I really just wanted an excuse to post a couple of silly screen shots. And now I feel like I’ve just drafted a bad pitch for some old timey New England Telephone commercial… remember those? You could record them on the VCR.