Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tuesday Ten - Modern Conveniences


A couple of weeks ago, I was taking a morning walk.  As I walked, I was remembering a conversation I had the day before with my eight year old daughter.  We were discussing the room that is my daughters' playroom - a garage that was converted into a "rec room" back in the 80's.  In the playroom, there is a desktop computer circa 2007ish.  It's less than ten years old, yet it seems archaic. During our conversation, my daughter referred to that computer as "the old-fashioned laptop."  I realized that, in her memory, most computers are laptops - much lighter, sleeker, and streamlined than the TV-tube like monitor, separate keyboard, hard drive tower, and speakers that consume the desk in that room.

As I replayed this conversation in my mind and giggled to myself, my iPhone, which I carried in my hand, dinged signaling an incoming email.  Almost reflexively, I raised my hand to read the new message.

Of course, at the same time, I was pondering possible blog post topics (because bloggers are always pandering possible blog post topics) and this was one of those perfect equations.  My daughter's reference to obsolete technology and my dependence on a modern device added up to equal a list of modern conveniences that we take for granted.  If you really think about it, the scientific advances we've made in a relatively short period of time are incredible.  We have become so accustomed to having them, however, that we often don't even think about them.


  1. Television - Even my dad, just one generation away from mine, remembers getting his family's first television as a child.  Of course, it was black and white.  In less than one man's lifetime, TV's have evolved into High Definition, gigantic flat screen entertainment.  Now, it would be extremely rare to find a home - or even a doctor's office waiting room - that doesn't have at least one television.
  2. Appliances - As a mom, I am quite dependent on my washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, and even the toaster.  I often despise them because of the monotony they symbolize, however I cannot imagine life with out them (and I wouldn't want to!)  Going back to washboards, hand cranked dryers, and cooking on a wood stove??  No thank you!
  3. Cars - With three kids, numerous errands, and multiple after school activities, I spend a lot of time in my car - a car that has even more modern conveniences like a back up camera and doors that close automatically.  We can go just about anywhere we want at anytime.  Other than the occasional "We had to walk uphill 10 miles in the snow" story from our elders, we rarely consider how different our lives would be without our vehicles.
  4. Clean Water - Yes, this is a convenience and one that we really, really take for granted.  Last
    Photo Credit
    year, our church collected funds to provide a water filtration system in a third world country.  We learned a great deal about what life is like for people - right now, today - who do not have clean water.  They cannot turn on a faucet and get a drink of clean water.  They cannot take a bath.  They cannot wash clothes or dishes.  They walk miles and carry large containers of dirty water that is contaminated and unhealthy.  Think about that the next time a sink full of dishes is staring back at you!  (I have to remind myself as well!)
  5. Education - Education can be hot button topic.  It is right now in my state.  But, I come from a family of educators and was a public school teacher myself.  Our education system is far from perfect, but the fact that anyone at all can go learn is wonderful.  This is not the case for many children around the world.
  6. Medicine- Got a cold??  Maybe even strep throat?  We all know that diseases which were once fatal are now cured with simple antibiotics or have been all but wiped out by vaccines.  We have come a long way from small pox outbreaks and polio epidemics.
  7. Stuff - I used to like to watch Little House on the Prairie.  They went to Oleson's Mercantile for fabric, flour, and various items that they couldn't grow at home.  Do you remember that store?  Now think about Target or Wal-Mart.  We don't go there to buy sugar.  We go to buy STUFF.  Need shampoo?  You have about 50 options - colored hair, straight hair, curly hair, dry hair, etc.  The same is true of lotion and deodorant and toothpaste and granola bars and potato chips and socks and toys and clothes and ...and...and...and.....  Sometimes I feel like we are surrounded and consumed by stuff.
  8. Food - This one sort of coincides with the "stuff."  You see, in Oleson's Mercantile, there was very little food to purchase because everyone grew their own.  Now, you can go to the store to grab bread, or veggies, or meat, or milk, or ice cream, or pasta, or chocolate.  I often get frustrated by the growing expense of feeding my family.  However, I cannot imagine having to grow everything myself and butcher my own animals in order to put dinner on the table!
  9. Phones -  Kind of like televisions, telephones used to be a luxury that only some homes had.
    Photo Credit
     Then there were the party line phones where everyone could overhear everyone else.  Yikes! I distinctly remember my grandmothers old, black rotary dial phone with the receiver that was (gasp!) attached by a cord.  Then came the push button and the cordless versions.  Now, we carry our phones in our back pockets.  We use them to talk, text, play games, and surf the internet.  Wonder what Alexander Graham Bell would say if he could see us now?
  10. Technology - This is a pretty broad term, I know, but just think about all the technology we use everyday.  Computers, GPS devices, and medical equipment that can see inside our bodies just to name a few.  It is truly remarkable.  
When I started this post, I really didn't mean for it to sound so nostalgic.  But, I'm a nostalgic kind of gal.  I do remember my dad telling me stories of his family sitting around listen to radio shows.  I remember my mom talking about her mom sewing her clothes.  Now, I have to explain to my kids that phones and computers weren't always portable.  I have to tear them away from the television.  I fear they will forget what it feels like to flip the actual pages of a book.  I don't want my kids to take it for granted  just because they have never lived any other way.  If we really stop to think about how far we've come in less than 100 years, it really is incredible and it makes me wonder where we will be another 100 years down the road.  Will my kids be reminiscing with their children about the days when they actually had to type on keyboards or put gasoline in cars???

How about you??  What is a modern convenience you take for granted, but know you could not live without?      




27 comments:

Janine Huldie said...

I totally still remember picture tube TVs and rotary phones in the 70s and early 80s. I also had one of the first ever computers in our home with the ADAM computer, which played Pong and Pacman! Seriously, now I feel old this morning, but still made me a bit nostalgic, too. Thanks for the walk down memory lane this morning, Lisa! :)

The Dose of Reality said...

My dad has a great story about getting their first TV, too! They were one of the first families on their street that had one! Going down your list...GAH!! YES!! How would I do without my appliances...or grocery store...or phone!!?? YIKES!! Tanya is so right, too. Music is totally different now, too!
Although I sometimes lament the "plugged in" way we live now, I wouldn't trade my modern conveniences!! --Lisa

Amber Day Hicks said...

funny story- we live in my hubs family homestead (of course, he has remodeled...lol) this home didn't have a bathroom until 1960ish... they had an outhouse... yep, Mike's mother was born in this house & it didnt have a bathroom... (we do live on a farm- just fyi) I can't imagine... I do remember when there was no internet & then we went from dialup to DSL & that was the best thing EVER, LOL!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

You're welcome! I remember my cousin had a Atari with Pacman - he was older than me and super cool!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks so much Tanya!! First of all, glad you enjoyed my piece in the book! The others are awesome, too! I agree about the music - much easier than boom boxes and my old Walkman cassette player. Have to say, though, I would be lost without my iPhone! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Agreed!! I think being so "plugged in" creates more stress. I am, admittedly, addicted, though! (Just like 95% of the rest of the population!)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

O.K. You and I have to meet for coffee sometime. We live like 10 minutes from each other and we live int he house where my hubby gee up too!!!!!!! It's was built int he 70's and it's not a farm, but it is on 10 acres out in the country. I remember on of the first internet searches I ever did in the library at UNCG. I was a child development major and was writing paper not he benefits of breastfeeding. When I searched "breastfeeding" I got all kinds of sites about BOOBS!!! I was stunned & embarrassed & hoped nobody saw my computer screen! :-) We certainly have come a long way, huh?

Amber Day Hicks said...

We definitely have come far in the tech world!! & we SO have to do coffee SOON!!! :-) way too close...

Amber said...

Great list and so true. I know I'd be lost without my computer.

Tamara Bowman said...

It's funny how when we watch TV that isn't HD or isn't on a large, flat screen, it seems so weird. I wouldn't say that's my biggest answer to your question, though. I think it has to be computers. I wouldn't do anything without them these days. And two years ago, I had no iPhone. Oh my god. I had to wait until I got home to get my email. The horrors!!!

Julie DeNeen said...

Modern conveniences are such a double edged sword. They make life easier, and they also make it easier to do too much!

From Tracie said...

My daughter thinks it is so strange to use the VCR at her grandmother's house. I remember when I was very small and our family got our first VCR - it was such a HUGE deal, because they were new and not very many people had them. I also used to use a rotary phone sometimes when I was at my grandmother's house as a child.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Me too!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Horrific indeed! Last week, I left the house in a rush and forgot to grab my phone. I swear I had symptoms of withdrawal with in 15 minutes. I was actually pretty pathetic! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

They certainly are!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Oh, hadn't even thought about the VCR. I think DVD players are almost a thing of the past as well. Now everyone just downloads movies or gets them from Netflix.

Jodi @the noise of boys said...

LOL! The "land line" rang in the cell phone store when we were renewing our contracts. My 3.5 yo was slightly scared! He had never really seen or noticed a phone connected to the wall- or heard one ring! We use cell phones exclusively.

Erica Jensen said...

I was just talking to somebody the other day about having to look at a map to find my way around and what a big deal it was when mapquest came along- Imagine! You could plug in addresses and get directions! Amazing!- Still, if I got even remotely lost, I had to pull over and find a pay phone to call and get directions. These days, GPS in my car and GPS on my phone if the car one fails. Amazing.

Dana said...

Even in the last 5 or 10 years technology has skyrocketed ahead. My kids saw a rotary phone once and didn't know what it was. They also didn't know what the ashtray on the top of a public trashcan was - I think that's a good thing!

Emily (OhBoyMom) said...

I'm a nostalgic girl too and the older I get, the more nostalgic I get! All of this was so true and also made me feel so old! :)

Nothing By The Book said...

Central heating... visiting from the Hump Day Hook Up... and really appreciating my furnace today.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Ha! We still have a land line, but we once were in a building where they had pay phones. I had to explain to my girls what they were. They couldn't understand what people wouldn't just use their cell phones!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Oh, maps are a good one! I'm pretty sure my kids wouldn't even know how to use a paper map!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yes! Yes I agree that not knowing about the ashtray is a great thing!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Don't worry - it made me feel old, too!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Ah yes - central heating and air-conditioning! Thanks goodness for those!

Ashley Linder said...

I love that pic that has been posted on fb that shows all the technological devices that are now conveniently located just in our phone. Crazy!! And yes insane to think of what the future holds and what our kids will be reminiscing.

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