Arrrgh!!!

I was thinking about the proliferation of creature comforts during the second half of the 20th century. The list is incredibly long now, due mostly to the strides technology has made.

TV and radio were around before 1950, but I think we've just about reached the point where every household has one of each. Okay, maybe not EVERY…but most. TV went from black and white to color, and radio went to stereo sound. The original equipment was furniture size, and shifted to portable so you would never have to be without: Boom boxes, Walkman, Watchman, Disk players. Then we needed equipment to save what we saw and heard. Cassette tapes, Beta, VHS, CDs and DVDs, and floppy disks, emerged, each form smaller than the previous one, so that you never had to be without.

In the kitchen, microwaves and food processors became commonplace. Under cabinet lighting, under cabinet radios, under cabinet can openers, and under cabinet you-name-its, showed up.

Improvements have occurred throughout the house. Many people own electric washers and dryers, trash compactors, kitchen disposals and automatic coffeemakers. We have whirlpools and exercise rooms and saunas in some houses. We have showerheads that pulse, and devices to keep us from getting scorched by the water when the kids flush. There are curling irons, blow driers, and electric tooth brushes, electric blankets and electric BEDS!

In the home office we have typewriters with memory, computers with word processors, copiers, and electric pencil sharpeners. My phone takes messages and talks to callers. We have scanners and faxes and printers. My father’s beautiful slide rule became obsolete as calculators took over the schoolroom and then the world.

We are so addicted to being in contact that a HUGE number of us have cell phone, with voice mail and a built in phone book. Mine might make waffles; I haven’t checked.

Our clothes are created with permanent press to make care easier, and the biologists have developed ways to create colored cotton, so the fiber doesn’t have to be dyed. Some fibers are made with nanotechnology to discourage stains, and micro fibers to enhance fit and wear.

We have riding lawn mowers, automatic door locks/openers for our cars, lighting that goes on as the sun sets, sprinklers that start and stop on timers and digital cameras. Kids have an endless array of electronic games. We have windows that keep the Ultraviolet rays out, and air conditioning to keep the entire house cool. We even have electronic fences to keep the dog from straying.

And with all that, some of my favorite things are really very simple. I’m delighted to have an attached garage so that I can get out of the car and stay dry. I love the refrigerator that makes ice for me, and is frost free. The microwave gives me my first morning cup of tea in two minutes, and my family thanks GOD for that. And, the log lighter in the fireplace is wonderful. I know a lot of people go for fake fires, but I just need a little help getting my fire started.

I could live without my creature comforts, but they sure make life nice. What would you hate to give up?