An old man's lament

Back in the "good old days" I could not envision being the "old fogey"! All of a sudden there it is...the oldest kid on the block is you! Don't look back, they may be gaining.

These "look back" pieces seem to be exercises in futility. Like tilting at windmills without a lance. Certainly much has changed over the years, but there remains one central question. Do you want to go back? One quick reaction is to think back on all the great, tender and heartwarming memories of the past and respond "Hell yes!" I differ, my preference is to try and look forward to new moments while still reflecting on past joys. A second chance for me would most likely mean duplicating past errors of judgement or perhaps worse.

No question there are memories from the past that I miss. Mostly they are centered around people that have come and gone from my life too quickly. 

In our mad scramble to grab "the brass ring" I wish some small vestiges of courtesy, civility and etiquette had remained alive. It's common enough to hear someone complaining of being 'dissed, much more strange that I would agree...much stranger!

Were I to say the name Emily Post to someone today, my expectation would be along these lines; "didn't she make cereal? Post toasties?" Wrong. She simply had a guide of how to show respect and how to get along with those around you. Little things we could all do to show our care, concern and respect to our fellow man. Nothing bizarre, just look someone in the eye when you talk to them. Respond, verbally. So many things that are prevalent in today's society are pure and simply rude. Pick up the phone and call. Send the required thank yous. Visit your elders. There's a natural progression on the last one. Sooner or later you will be the elder wondering what happened. Damn the devices...you may be, oh so important, but the person you are with is at least equally so. 

Not having time or forgetting is not an acceptable excuse because that thing you are carrying with you has all the memory you lack and is able to schedule your time to the second. 

Interpersonal communication skills are a "face to face" concept...not, fingers on a keyboard one. Disbelieve? Try dancing with someone on your "smart" phone. Come to think of it "texting' may be useful in lowering the birthrate, since multi-tasking may be lost.

Maybe it's only that we went from an "I Like Ike" slogan to the "me" generation without stopping to pause at "Go", that causes me to ponder this loss. However I sure consider it a loss and a sad one at that. Losing touch through natural events or causes is sad, but through neglect...tragic.

Chat now seems to mean the same as "let your fingers do the walking" and talk is simply another button to depress. What I really want is, "can you hear me now!"