Being the age that I am, I have a faint memory of life without the luxury of computers and internet and cell phones. I spent high school using a typewriter, big text books, reference books, and imagination. I spent college in the library, signing out huge stacks of 1,000 page books and scanning them as fast and thoroughly as I possibly could to find a good piece of information or a quotable quote on a subject. I owned an atlas and a map of the city where I lived. I had no cell phone, no facebook or myspace page, and so I was reachable only by phone if I happened to be at home. If I wanted a coupon, I bought a Sunday paper. If I wanted directions, I stopped at a gas station and asked someone, if I wanted to find the best place to eat, I relied on word of mouth or I took a chance. I used a big, wall calendar to remember things like appointments and people's birthdays. I kept a journal in spiral notebooks when I was broke or cutesy decorative diaries when I had the money to invest. (Which, besides the writer's cramp, was far superior since my journal of five years on the computer was recently lost). I owned a big collection of CD's, and yes, a few cassette tapes as well. I was forced to purchase the bad songs with the good if I wanted music. I frequented places like Blockbuster Video and paid many late fees for not remembering to return the movie in time. If I wanted a dress, I had to go to the mall or wherever to look around until I found what I had envisioned. When my car made a peculiar noise, I took it into the shop and gave my best impression of the sound (yes, with my mouth), rather than typing "Chevy Blazer engine sounds like a pig snoring" and getting the exact diagnosis to pop up.
Yeah, so there I go, off on a Generation Y version of "walking to school uphill both ways". But, I don't mean it to sound that way at all. I knew nothing different at the time. I, along with most people around me, was perfectly content with the lack of technology and convenience because it did not seem like a need was there when I didn't know there was another alternative.
Now that I do know better, though, it is hard to imagine ever going back. It took me until I was 19 to admit I might find a cell phone useful. Mark and I, engaged at the time, swallowed our pride (yes, we were proud that we had gone so long without, unlike all the yuppies who thought themselves too important and popular to wait on a phone call until they got home) and we got phones. After only a short time, I was as hooked on the convenience as anybody. We went without internet for a couple years of our marriage, but occasionally visited libraries and friends' houses to have that access. As soon as it was in our home, we both knew it would be hard not to make up for lost time. It is addictive for sure.
There are so many things that still fascinate me about the internet. I can't believe I can do a job from home- never have anything in writing. It amazes me that ANY project we need help on, ANY symptom of sickness, ANY recipe, ANY piece of meaningless information is at our fingertips. It's truly incredible and I am glad I tasted life without it so I can be aware of how easy it's made things.
At the same time, I don't want it to make me lazy and boring. I recognized the other day at the library that I don't really even know how to find a book anymore. I still kinda like calling up my dad and asking him how to do something, instead of relying on feedback from strangers on the web. I still think the trial and error of things is valuable, and I still believe we should all maintain some level of imagination or we will be complete duds.