Several years ago one of my daughters came home with a class project that involved her grandfather. She had to call him to discuss technology and what has happened in the world since he was born. I was amazed at his list; to see what had changed in his lifetime was humbling. One of the things he was most impressed with was the advent of the computer and its contribution to word processing.
I made my own list of what had changed in my lifetime. I no longer needed my record player. My beloved vinyl records became obsolete and would remain isolated from my life until I played them for my preteen daughters. I would have to start a whole new music collection in the form of Cd's. Gone was my eight track and cassette player. Welcome to DVD's and instant musical gratification in the form of MP3 players.
Aside from my music transformation, I am absolutely most impressed with the Internet and....fax machines. I can instantly access a world of information, talk with my friends and associates via email and fax a document through a phone line anywhere on the planet. This is impressive stuff! The instant electronic technology that we have has opened up something else though. It has brought people together that under normal circumstances would never have met.
Friends unknown. I have met some wonderful people online who I consider to be my friends. We have met via email because of business dealings or through postings on blogs. We have gotten to know each other. We have shared stories that further the bond we have past any pen pal stage. I now have new friends in Washington, California and New York that I never would have met without the Internet. They are my friends, unknown.
So now I am back to making a new list. A list that addresses what I would like to do before I die. Places I would like to see, adventures I would like to take, and, friends I would like to meet. How fortunate I am to have the friends I know and to wish to meet those I have never seen. This is very cool.
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