In the age of explosive technology and ever changing times, I find myself wishing for a moment when everything wasn’t so advanced all the time. A time when some things we actually had to do for ourselves, wanted to do ourselves just for the mere pleasure of it rather than convenience. This is not to say that I don’t like electricity or hi def TV’s or advances in medicine. Many modern conveniences, I am quite happy with. I am thrilled about the invention of the computer and the steps it’s taken to make all of our lives easier, the iPod for which I love, when I walk or run and the video game systems that keep my child occupied for hours when I no longer have the wherewithal to speak in complete sentences. But the one gizmo or gadget that I cannot comprehend is the Kindle. I admit that I bought my kid a Kindle Fire for Christmas but don’t be mistaken. It was not so he could have a closer relationship with the fundamental joy of reading. No, no, that would have been the plain ole Kindle. The Kindle Fire was wanted/needed/desired more than life itself merely to fry some more brain cells; to surf the internet and download mindless apps (which have subsequently shown up as charges on my bank statement) and play yet more video games (which have also shown up as charges on my bank statement). Of course this is coming from a girl that grew up playing Pong (Yes, that one…Atari Pong). Excuse me for a moment while I get sidetracked...
Pong, for those of you who are too old or too young to remember was a two-dimensional tennis match of sorts. The little ball (which was ironically the shape of a square) would volley back and forth between two rectangles which were known as “paddles”. The object was to keep up with the ever increasing speed of the tennis ball square shaped thingy. You could play with 2 people (not hundreds of people as my son does on Xbox live) or you could simply play against the machine. But the fun part about Pong was that you COULD NEVER WIN against the machine! Ever! I could hardly ever win against my brothers, let alone something as savvy as a “computer” video game. It was incomprehensible. Today, my kid uses the internet, cheat codes, (for which they actually have cheat code books…that you can purchase for a nominal price), etc…to beat whatever game he is addicted to at the time. Now I ask you….what fun is that? The fun for me was always in the challenge of trying desperately wanting to win but knowing you never would. When I became so frustrated with losing, I simply stop playing. But inevitably I would take on the challenge yet again knowing full well, I wouldn’t win this time either. Maybe I am too old and I just don’t get it. Some things will always escape me.
Okay, now I’m back…
The point of my story is the Kindle and my reason for never wanting it. My reason is very simple. I just love books too much! I love the feel and smell of books, especially an old book you find somewhere deep in the back of your local library. Nothing makes me happier than a leather-bound book with a spine that has seen better days. It means it has been somewhere, told its story a thousand times. It was loved and shared and appreciated. I browse through an old book, sniffing each page, feeling the sheets between my fingers. Whenever I go to NYC, I try to visit the New York City Library. I walk through this historic landmark and I am in awe. Slowly, I take it all in, wandering through the stacks, visiting each floor of the library. There are rows and rows of long, shelves that seem to go on forever. It holds hundreds of thousands of stories and adventures. In my opinion, it is one of the most amazing and beautiful libraries in the world. (Course I haven’t really been to many places in the world) But as I have mentioned in past blogs, I am a collector of books. Or rather, I will not throw out, give away or donate my books. I am obsessed with books. I will, however LEND a book out but it must be returned within a reasonable length of time or there will be a bounty placed upon their head. Books are very personal to me, special even and I’m not sure why. The truth is, I don’t really care why I have this love of books. I just do. I surround myself with books, paperback, hardcover, old, new, I don’t really care. So, the idea of reading a book on a 6” screen that I just downloaded from the internet is far too foreign to me. I like to go to the bookstores, the libraries and the yard sales to see what treasures I can unearth. Nothing against you Kindle users. Honest. Download away! But for now, I will stick with my good old fashioned, book! I suppose there could be worse things, right?
