I Was Thinking . . . We Never Heard That

   “I can’t find my phone.” If you haven’t said that yourself, somebody in your household probably has. It is a phrase fraught with anxiety since these modern marvels of communication have become so much more. Our connection has become so strong that to be without them for any extended period makes us very uneasy. 

Yet growing up, it was never a phrase I heard or uttered. The phone was where it always was, secured permanently to the wall or on a table attached to the wall with a cord. But there are a lot of phrases common now that weren’t when I grew up. Just more evidence of my advancing years.   

For eons, people have always been on a quest to find answers. If you couldn’t find someone who knew the information or could show you how to do something, you were usually told to “look it up.” This meant some type of research usually involving a library and probably a dictionary or encyclopedia or another type of reference book or manual. But that was then, and this is now. Today someone will probably suggest, “Google It” or just ask Siri, or  recommend you watch a “You Tube video” to obtain the desired piece of knowledge or know how you need. Google, Siri, or You Tube were terms that didn’t exist in my growing up world.  

In our techno infused world, we have all kinds of gadgets at our fingertips to provide knowledge, entertain us or help us to communicate. We have phones with an array of functions, electronic tablets, lap top computers, Kindles or Nooks, and an assortment of gaming devices that all have one thing in common, they need to be plugged in. 

“I’m almost out of power” now is an expression of anguish since it means our device is about to “die” unless we can rejuvenate it with a fresh supply of electricity. Now, before we go any place, we need to be sure we have the right plug-in cord for the car or a wall outlet to keep feeding life to our devices. In the not too distant future, this may also apply to our cars and trucks. To previous generations, being out of power could mean your car was about out of gas, the flashlight battery was fading, or you were simply tired out from a long day’s work.

“I’ll give you a call” was once a phrase used to let someone know you intended to communicate with them at a later time. But this meant you actually dialed a number and expected to “talk” to the person on the other end of the line. But for many people, that type of direct interaction is considered passe´. Now we are instructed to “text me” or “message me” or “drop me an e-mail.” That way I can decide when and even if, I want to view the communication and it also allows me to respond when I want to and not be forced to interact on a personal one on one basis. Besides, I can always say I never got it or it must have been lost in cyberspace.  

If you notice a friend has something new and inquire where they obtained it, the answer is often, “I got it on Amazon.” Before 1995, that phase would have baffled most people. You didn’t get anything on Amazon, it was either the second longest river in the world or the definition of mythological warrior women. 

If you purchased something it was probably at Woolworths, K-Mart, Gambles, Montgomery Wards, Penney’s, or Sears and Roebuck. You went there, selected the item, paid for it, and hauled it home yourself. Some of those retailers did have catalogs and could have things sent directly to you, but there was always a brick-and-mortar location associated with the company name. Amazon now with their distinctive symbol is just a few computer strokes away and it can be at your doorstep within days if not hours.  

When I was a child, I never asked to “see the picture” right after someone had snapped a photo. I realized it would be some time before all the steps would be completed to actually create a picture. Just another phrase that was never heard way back when.

Did You Ever Wonder? -  If Barbie was so popular, why did you have to buy her friends?