Today is it, the last day of 2017. The funny thing about time that most of us take it for granted. Each and every moment we experience is gone in an instant never to return again. Right now, the past few seconds it took you to read this, is now part of history. Time never stops. Most of us don’t value time until we know we have little to none left. Then of course, every second counts. So, once again, cherish each moment of each hour of each day. To put it in perspective, if you live until you’re 80 years old, that’s 29,200 days. Doesn’t seem like a whole lot now does it. Ok, back to the point, tomorrow is 2018.
Looking back, when we were kids, let’s say for most of us in the 1960’s or 70’s, the year 2000 seemed like some far away time in the future when there would be flying cars and more. In many ways, we’ve evolved even further, and one could argue whether or not life is better or worse. Sure we have many modern conveniences like cell phones (we hate them) the internet, (good and bad) and things like microwaves and more. But if we look back, at least for us, we miss the days of less technology and more human interaction. When was the last time you wrote a letter rather than an email? When did you last go somewhere not connected to the grid, meaning when did you leave your cell phone at home turned off? Most of us don’t even write checks anymore. The point is, we’ve drifted so far from a way of life we all grew up with to one of seeing each other as an image or person that is formed by who it says we are on social media or by what numbers or statistics on some chart say about us. When I was a kid, our dad, who was a banker, would give loans to men based on who they were as a person. He would talk to them and look them in the eye and decide on his own whether or not he thought they were trustworthy. Today it matters not who you are as a person but only what numerous files stored on mega computers say you are. Trust me, this will not end well. Yesterday our govt said they will now scan the face of every citizen who enters the Country. Of course this is all for our own protection. I’ll wind down now but it’s sad to us that our kids haven’t grown up learning to amuse themselves by using their imagination playing outside rather than being sucked into some game and endless screen time on one of the many devices surrounding their lives. Cell phones, computers, video games and more are everywhere. A friend of ours in Denver told me yesterday how he just stopped paying for the cell phones of his 17 and 19 year old boys. Of course this didn’t go well but he said he doesn’t care. He’s sticking to it. We’re that close to doing the same here as the boys phones are attached to their bodies like some new appendage. On top of not experiencing life around you by having your head buried in a screen, every day you read about how radiation or something to do with electronics is bad for you. It’s sort of like smoking. In the 50’s no one knew it was bad for you but decades later we come to find out it causes cancer. I suspect some day they too will say the same about cell phones, and weed and the other so called modern advances and conveniences that are supposed to make our lives better. We’re so quick to embrace any new technological advancement that we ignore the long term consequences of our discoveries. I’ll move on now but the point of all this is, stop and literally smell the roses, take in a sunrise or sunset, read a book, take a walk, walk across the street and talk to a neighbor instead of calling them, mail a letter through the post office, in other words, experience life! When young I asked dad why he read so many books and why he would always read the book before going to see the movie and he told me, “because my own imagination is so much better than what any other mans is that made the movie”. Now movies are great but you get the point. We can’t go back in time so let’s at least try to remember and embrace the good things about our past. I for one think life would be better or at least more balanced. Who knows, the way the World is going someday we many all be living that way anyhow not by choice, hmmm. (sorry for the rant, ha)
Ok, yesterday Lori and I headed down to Denver so she could get her hair done. I dropped her about 11:15 and ran some errands until she was done at 1:30. Then we headed home in a bit of traffic with Ty’s friend Jack who we picked up to come spend a few days with us. Meanwhile the boys hit the slopes. Around 4 we pulled in and much to our surprise, the boys cleaned up the house. We unloaded our groceries and I started some laundry and then we settled in and watched some tv. Guess I should have been outside using my imagination, ha!
Today we’re headed to the gym and then will try to clean the garage and consolidate some of the stuff we have piled around here. Tonight I’m sure we’ll be asleep by 10 but we’ll see. We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years Eve and a healthy and prosperous 2018. God Bless you all the enjoy the last day of 2017 as soon it’ll be gone forever!