You know, I sit here today, perusing the diaries, CNN droning on in the background about the tragedy at Virginia Tech, and trying to decipher my 2 and a half year old son's urgent pleadings, "Na, you dot da note?" "Na, na, NA! You dot da NOTE?" and thinking about the things that I have seen and done in my life, the changes that have happened to our civilization, good and bad, and what life will be like for my own kids as they turn 39, the first happening in 30 years. It blows my mind.
My first memories are of going to the Thanksgiving Day parade with my dad and my Grandpa Valente, I am told that was 1969, so I wasn't 2 yet. The memory is vivid though. Grandpa put me on his shoulders so I could see, but he was 4'11" tall and it didn't help much. I remember peering through the mens' hats to glimpse Santa Clause in the convertible. It was so cool!
I remember sitting on the floor of Grandpa's tailor shop in Paterson, NJ, actually tucked up under the big sewing machines on the giant wrought iron pedals with my brother Vic, sharing a big hero sandwich. Grandpa was known as "Mr. Paterson" and was the tailor for Lou Costello, Abe Green of the the World Boxing Commission, and Mayor LaGuardia.
I remember watching the World Trade Centers being built from across the river.
I remember 3 television channels.
Cartoons ONLY on Saturday morning, unless there was a holiday coming, and then you got claymation from Rankin Bass and Peanuts cartoons.
I remember my dentist giving me a big plastic tooth filled with candy after the visit.
When I was a kid computers were giant mysterious things that held absolutely no interest for me.
Richard Nixon was president, he was a sullen, solitary asshole who listened to no one, and we were mired in a war around the world for reasons that were unclear with no end in sight.
Journalists were unbiased, impartial (at least they tried to keep that appearance up) and reported the NEWS, searched for the truth, and media ownership was independent.
Politics was serious business, people discussed issues, stood up and shook a fist when their leaders spun out of control. People watched the conventions. People read newspapers.
Sure, there have been some great advancements in my lifetime and I am grateful for many things. I love my computer, being able to write this diary and post it, maybe get some others to share their thoughts on life with me. I love it that I can play Scrabble with my good friend Stu in Australia, one of the country's top players, and learn some valuable tips while getting my ass kicked and talking about life.
I love touch tone phones. I love all the groovy phone company features, like call waiting, call forwarding. Those are awesome. I love the fact that I can call my husband on his way home, in his CAR! Tell him, bag it, I am not cooking tonight. Bring something.
I love that I can watch news 24 hours a day. I just wish it was actually NEWS. I love that right now I can push a button on my remote and watch last night's Daily Show, and that if I can't make it to midnight tonight, another episode will be waiting for me tomorrow.
I love that I can get ice out of the door of my fridge.
I love that I can take pictures of my kids and instantly send them to their grandparents in Ohio, in my constant attempt to guilt a visit out of them. I love that if I wanted to, I could click a few times with my mouse, book a flight for them, and pay for it instantly (well, if there was money in my account I could!)
I love that I can be sitting her on my New Mexico mountaintop, find an outfit I like on line, order it and have it shipped to me tomorrow.
I love Ebay.
I love being able to get into a great discussion on Daily Kos, get wound up, get pounded on, but really hear what people have to say.
I hate that Bush is on my tv trying to pretend he gives a shit about those kids at VT.
Ok, what do you love? What do you hate? I am listening.