Stuff - I'm aging myself.

I was surfing through some of the blogs that I read regularly and hit Stephanie's over at Momma's Soapbox concerning clutter and yard sales.  I started thinking about how obsessed we are, particularly Americans, about "stuff."  So much so that the late, great comedian George Carlin did a whole bit on it.  I can't remember all of it, but there was something about buying a bigger house so that there is enough room for all of our "stuff" and now there is a whole industry based on storage items for our "stuff."  I think I'll have to "you tube" it.  I recall it being very funny.  But all this got me thinking....you guessed it....about "stuff."

When do we become so materialistic?  At what age does it start? When do we determine that we must have this "stuff?"  A hundred years ago, it wasn't uncommon for a woman to only have a couple of "serviceable" skirts and blouses and men only have a suit or two.  Now we have walk in closets full of clothes - Yes, I'm guilty. And technology has blessed us with all kinds of "things" we think we need. Here are a few items that some people can't seem to live without -  This is where I'm aging myself

1. Cell Phones.  This is a tricky one.  We got our first cell phone back in 1993 when I was pregnant with Number One Son.

 It was huge....the phone and my belly.  It was in a bag - the phone - and required a special antennae be added to the car. Look familiar?  We got the phone because Car Guy was paranoid as all get out that I'd go into labor while driving the car.  That didn't happen, but he was being sweet and concerned, so no complaints.  Now, we don't have phones.  We have hand held multi-media entertainment centers.  You can talk, text, email and surf all on this little thing that you hold in your hand.  Home phones have become obsolete.  Is this really necessary? I remember when I was growing up I shared a phone with ~gasp~ the whole family!  What?!?  Craziness, I know.  I didn't get my own phone until I was in college.  And here's another shocker....I had a job and I paid for it with my own money.  Here's even more craziness....Number One Son, who will be 17 in November,  didn't get a cell phone until this past summer.  The ONLY reason why he got one  was because he was flying by himself to Oklahoma to visit his Aunt and Uncle and he had an hour and a half lay over at the Dallas Fort Worth airport.  Guess what - he got a phone.  No internet, no texting, no email.....just a phone to make calls on.  We are so out dated....Number Two Son still uses the phone at the house.

2. Computers.  We have two.  A desk top and a lap top.  We didn't get the lap top until this year.  It was a gift to Number One Son from his Grandma SuSu.  Since he's a junior in High School, she felt he needed one for school and to take to college with him.  I agree.  Between The Boys and Car Guy, there was constant conflict over who got to use the computer for homework, etc and when.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love computers.  I love surfing the net.  I love reading all the blogs out there.  I love making new friends.  I love reconnecting with old friends and I love all the cool things that are right at our finger tips.  I love that it's made my life easier.  I went from a paper pusher to a button pusher. 

Remember typewriters? Insert paper and type as you go.  If you were lucky it had a correcting ribbon on it.  I remember typing term papers on them. Footnotes were hateful things.  Getting the paper properly lined up only to have it slide out of whack. Now, just click on footer and type away...perfectly spaced and formatted.   So in that respect, it's wonderful.  However, how much time do we spend in front of the computer when we should be "doing other things."  Like actually talking with someone face to face. Visiting with our friends and neighbors in each other's homes, sitting down together over a meal instead of "chatting" on the computer.  And have you noticed, with the computer, came the rise in childhood obesity?  Our family pediatrician actually told me it was wonderful to see to healthy thin boys with more muscle than fat.  I'd like to claim I'm a super mom and totally restrict their time on computer/video games - and I do to some extent - but part of their physique is good genes. 

All this being said, without computers, I wouldn't have my current job either...so I guess I kind of do need this one.

3. Television.  I honestly can do without this one.  Car Guy, not so much. He lived alone from the age of 18 until 30.  It was his room mate - background noise - and I understand to a point, but I can do without it.  The Boys think it's so funny that we didn't get a color TV until I was in 1st or 2nd grade.  We didn't get cable TV until I was in High School.  For the longest time, I was the TV remote....



"Sweetpea?"
"Yes Daddy"
"Please put the TV on Channel 2."
"Yes Daddy."
"Sweetpea?"
"Yes Daddy"
"Please put the TV on Channel 8."
"Yes Daddy."



I've often said that I would happily move to the mountains and live in the middle of nowhere without these things.  Car Guy and The Boys think I'm nuts...The Boys more so than Car Guy.  He's starting to appreciate simpler things now.....there's hope for him yet.  By the way,  when I was a child, I walked 5 miles to school, in the snow, up hill, both ways......didn't we all? He He!