Where are Grandma’s videos when she was younger?

While at the beach, enjoying a much needed vacation, I overheard the family sitting next to me discussing beach videos.  It seemed the mother had made a video of the children playing in the waves and on the sand, using her phone.  She decided to give grandma a quick live view of her grandchildren having fun.  She quickly sent it and got an immediate response.  As they chatted via text, the grandma remarked that the children reminded her of vacations spent long ago when she was their age (12-13).  Telling the children this, they remarked they would like to see the video of their mother on the beach.  They were astounded that there was no video.  And why not, they inquired?  Did grandma not carry her phone with her on vacations?  They were sincerely shocked that this would be the case.  They were shocked even further, when she replied that there were no cell phones, at that time. 

This made me really think about what I had just heard.  We take for granted the technology that exists today, as though it has always been.  And kids today, obviously, think it was always available.  How well do I remember the days that a telephone, had a wire hooking the receiver to the phone, and a wire hooked into the wall.  Talking on the telephone, meant being still in a chair, or on a bed, while talking.  There were no phones to quickly call home to say, “all was well, but we were a little late”.  No, the curfew was just violated and a consequence was in order.

I must say, when my children were teenagers, I would have loved the wireless invention.  My worrying time was when I knew they were on the road, be it going, or coming.  My rule was to call, to let me know if they were going to be late, and call again before leaving, so my worry would be shortened.  I remember one very cold night when my son was coming home, from his girlfriend’s house, and the cold caused his car to stop.  Little did I know, but he was walking in the freezing cold, to find a telephone to call for someone to come and get him.  Needless to say, he was late getting home and I was really worried.  About the time we decided to go look for him, the phone rang and he told me how cold he was.  A very good friend lived very close to were he was, and picked him up within five minutes, waiting in a warm car for us to retrieve him.  That night a cell phone would have been wonderful.  It still sends shivers up my spine when I think about it.

Yes, not too long ago, there were no cell phones, no quick video, no texting and no immediate communication, no matter were you were: and I have to admit, I like the new technology of today!

Source: K.P. Guessen