2011

2011

Just the other day we were thinking about 2011, weren't we supposed to be living in space and driving cars that fly by now?  When I was little I loved to watch the Jetsons cartoon on TV.  This space age family seemed to have it all.  All Jane had to do was call for her robot and suddenly dinner would appear, or George would call for the dog and suddenly the newspaper would appear.  They could jet from place to place without ever having to pay more than $3.00 for a tank of gas and from my vantage point, life seemed easy.  Well 2011 is here, and life isn't always easy but when I really stop and think about it, I have to wonder if I would really want it any different.  I would miss the experience of making a pie with Tess, if we had a robot to do it for us.  I would miss those frantic moments in the kitchen, when all hands are on deck and we're pulling dinner together before we head out the door.  I'd miss those moments in the car driving from one activity to the next when some of the best conversations are possible.  I heard someone use the term "windshield time" this past week and I was reminded that I am thankful for those windshield moments with my husband and kids.  So what do I appreciate that is "technology driven" in 2011?  I love the times when I check my facebook and there is a note from my daughter just reminding me that she loves me.  I loved the afternoon this week, in the cafe at Barnes and Noble with my daughter, her playing on the computer, me reading on my Nook.  I love the sound of electric guitars from the basement.  I love watching a football game on a big screen TV.  I love seeing one of the boys so intense in a video game that the world around him is momentarily forgotten.  So, here's to 2011, I'm not driving a space ship, I'm not calling up a robot, but I'm sharing my life, a little at a time, using some amazing technology that can serve the purpose of drawing us closer to people we see everyday or people we haven't seen for years.  I'm thinking by 2020-the Jetson's life may be here but we'll all be longing for the "good old days"!  Happy New Year