I have given this a considerable amount of thought. Nowdays we are digital. We
are digital TV, radio, car parts, thermostats, blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, dishwashers, stoves......You name it !!! How many timess have you seen your Mom
or Grannie out on the front porch crocheting or knitting? This question is especially crucial to the baby boomers. Well, you saw Grannie knitting or crocheting about as much as you saw her quilting or cooking. Every spare minute she got she was relaxing with needlepoint. She could use those needles and pull yarn while she talked with the best of company or relatives. She could listen to the radio and work those needles.
The same thing can be said for Gramps with whittling, for some of us who remember. They could pull out a knife and whittle a figurine or just cut shred the bark from big sticks to little sticks. My point. The computer. Today after working, or helping with homework, reading, watching a little TV, walking, swimming, the 21st century generation of grannies have learned a new time occupier. It's called The Laptop and blogging. For some it is Farmville (rolls eyes) and Facebook. For many seniors they compute in between the quiliting or sewing. Sara R comes to mind. I had this thought early this morning as I drug myself out of bed at 18 degrees in Florida, built a fire in the fireplace,
got our little off to school, stopped for a couple of biscuits and sausage to go, poured a hot cup of coffee, washed the dishes, ,did a little vet work and then settled down to
a nice bit of blogging on Daily Kos.
go to the little jump below
I tired to imagine my Grandmother sitting in front of the computer and talking recipes or patchwork quilting. I could. I could actually visualize this. I tried to picture my Grandpa sitting on the front street where he whittled and discussed politics and I could see him blogging. I could actually see them relaxing in this manner. I could see
my Grandfather after learning the keyboard really go for this new fangled technology to reach the masses with his political opinions that were reserved for the local town folks in the 30,40, and 50's.
It was at the time of my imagination that I thought back to a time that was not that much different than now. People who need to occupy their time with something other than work and sweat and need sheer relaxation or enjoyment and then wondered how much they needed those needles and knives. I think quite a bit as I think back. When I do think of that time and recall, I don't remember ever seeing them sit idle. They napped but sometimes with the needlepoint in their laps. I know they put their needlepoint and whittling away to get up and go attend to something but they made that time for themselves. Now the same thing can be said for musicians and their guitars or pianos. The music is as much a part of them as an arm or leg, The ones who are not casual but good musicians. They usually have a pic in their pocket or a song on their mind. Readers generally have a quote or author in their head constantly.
The people did not change, the habits did not change, the equipment did.
We did not dare ask our elders a question of How much longer are you gonna be working on that cap, or sweater or quilt. We did not. We knew better. This generation has become so willing to please the children and please the family time which is OK as all things should be in moderation but after much reflection I think folks
feeling guilty over spending a lot of time on the puter shoud not, As long as they are not neglecting their families or work then this is their generation of passtime with a plus of getting things done actively in a positive manner (if they choose the right judgements on where to visit) and this is the 21st century tool of comfort. It is broader and wonderful that so much can be achieved in this era and in the world of tweets and skype, email, google and even online shopping, we have learned to think in a different way but this is really nothing new. Generations past knew of that time to one's self and how important it was. When I received my lifetime subscription, it was like I was given a lifetime supply of yarn and needles. Thanks my friends.