Today Dad turns ninety-five. He’s seen a lot of change during those years. It wasn’t always for the best, either.

The “Old” Days

Dad often talks about visiting his grandparents’ Tennessee farm as a child. He went most summers. He and his cousins played various games, swam in the nearby river, and listened to the adults tell stories in the evening. At home in Texas, he had chores, school, and sports. About the only time he stopped moving—and was good, some would say—was when he was sleeping. It was a different time, to say the least.

Technology – The Good

Over the last nine-five years, technology has exploded in every phase of life. Advancements in travel and communications have changed the way we live, almost as much as the arrival of city water, sewer, and electricity. Traveling to other states and countries has never been easier. And communicating with family and friends through phone and video calls makes today’s communications the next best thing to being there.

Technology – The Bad

While all this technology makes our lives easier, it often comes with a price. In the case of electronics—especially cell phones—that price is addiction and a new kind of isolation.

In the past, families gathered around the table for meals and discussion of the day’s events. Today, even if a family sits down together for a meal, their phones come with them. In-person discussions are lost as everyone works their phones, answering texts and emails; playing electronic games; or checking Facebook, Tik Tok, or Twitter. Even trips to the bathroom aren’t off limits to this phone addiction. People just seem to prefer their phones to other humans. In-person visits, like neighbors dropping in for a cup of coffee and a chat, are getting rarer every day as we voluntarily isolate ourselves in this electronic bubble.

Temporarily Unplug

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should abandon technology. I love my phone just as much as the next person. Phone and video calls are wonderful, especially when distance is involved. But nothing can replace seeing a friend or family member in person and sharing a meal, a hug, and a conversation. Just make sure to set aside your phone when you do it. I promise the world won’t end before you get it back.

Bonus

Dad wasn’t the only new thing in 1927. Did you know…

 

• “Talkie movies”—movies with sound—made their debut with the American musical film The Jazz Singer. It signaled the end of the silent film era.
• Other 1927 inventions included: selective jukebox, electrical television system, Technicolor, garbage disposal, aerosol can, pressure washer, and automatic commercial bread slicing machine.
• Communications across the Atlantic Ocean improved with the first transatlantic telephone call between New York City, London, and Paris.
• Pan American Airways was formed.
• Charles Lindbergh made the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic, flying from New York City to Paris in his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis.
• After manufacturing 15 million Model T cars, the Ford Motor Company ceased its production and revealed their new Model A. It came in seven different body types, four different colors, and ranged in price from $500-$1,200.