Today's thought...quitting, and technology.
We'll start with the low side. Bills are forever hounding me. Looking to see if I could help bring some kind of income into the house, I've published a couple of my books. Going to the reports to see what I had available for a paycheck today, I realized on my website, I have nothing. I have two books published, and no one has purchased them but myself it seems. Well, myself and a few people who have bought them because they're kind of tied to me, so they're obligated...I guess? And maybe this is because I'm on some major cold medicine and tired as everything, but it's just made me wonder. What's the point? Should I quit publishing my works all together? No one reads it. No one buys them. Does anyone care if I publish anything else? And as I read this now I realize it seems like a pity party...but whatever. It's how I feel. Maybe once I get it out there, I'll feel better and get back to it tomorrow. But as for now...I'm really not sure if my writing makes a difference to anyone out there. And if it doesn't, and isn't being enjoyed, then there's not really a point. Is there?
Now for the high side. Talking to my mommy tonight (And most of you that read this...ya'll KNOW how important my mommy is to me), I thought about how much technology has come so far. Let me explain. Fifteen years ago, when I wanted to talk to my mom, and she lived far away, or I was on the road and was far away, I had to call and talk to her over the phone. My mom is deaf. This was no easy task. There were no cell phones. I mean, there were, but she could barely understand me on a land line, and cell phones were big, and bulky and only for the rich. Well, to me anyway. It was an expense we could do without. I mean hell, we had a land line. We'd survived without a cell for thousands of years, what did we need one? My how times have changed. And not just cell phones....My gosh, COMPUTERS!!! Holy crap!
Now, I can bring my mom, INTO MY HOUSE! Straight through the computer or cell phone. Instant messaging has completely revolutionized how we talk. Fifteen years ago, I got to talk to my mom....probably once every two or three days and for five minutes, and nine times out of ten, she didn't get half of what I said. Now, I can get online and IM her, and we can talk all day, with no misinterpretation or misunderstanding. And when internet is down, or we're away from our computers/homes, we can text each other. And not only can we text...we can send pictures!
Again, bringing mom into the house! Mom asked if I was at my computer. I tell her I'm peeling potatoes. She asks what's for dinner. Not thinking a thing of it, I snap a picture of the pot roast in the crock pot, and send it to her. She chimes back with Yumm...and I stop and realize, fifteen years ago, I could have never done that. I wouldn't be able to spend time with my mom every night, even though she's seven hundred miles away, if it wasn't for technology. People gripe about how much technology has taken away from every day things and every day conversations with people. In some points of it, I can understand and see. But I have to disagree with most of it. Because of booms in technology, I can, and DO, talk to my mom, every day. I never miss a day. Be it over a text, or over IM, or even Skype. She can see her granddaughter, instead of watching her grow up in pictures. She can talk to her, and they have several conversations over IM (With me typing of course).
Does technology replace hugs? Not in a million years. Do I still miss my mama? Daily. So does my daughter. She always talks about her Grahmma and Grahmpa and how much she can't wait to see them again. But now...we can see each other, and we can talk daily, and I can send her a pic of a pot roast in the crock pot, and not think twice about it. Now if it can keep up, maybe in a few more years I'll be able to teleport them here for dinner once a week, and visa versa. Asking too much you think?
