Things that remind us that we're growing old

     Didn't know what to name this blog, but I guess the growing old thing works, or should I say fits!  I was thinking of Christmas cards today, we have ours done just waiting on mega dollars in stamps.  I'm really not expecting as many this year and it seems for the past few years the number is decreasing, augmented only by those you receive after someone receives yours.  It's the internet, technology, cyber cards, e-cards, face book photo cards, cards you can't decorate with as most households of the past did.  I remember taping cards up, over and down the large double sliding doors from the parlor to the living room of our first home, and the number of cards increasing as the years went by.  In recent years it's been a "Christmas card basket" a nicely decorated sleigh type basket set out for everyone to see, and cards stacked there in.  I still enjoy doing Christmas cards and for sometime now we've adopted a Christmas letter mailed along with our cards.  The Christmas letter is in our mind a nice touch since we live so far from family, we started doing that oh ten, twelve years ago.  Beverly's brother Mark had been doing one and we thought it would be a nice touch too!
     So called smart phones, tablets, iPads, etc. have changed lives, the lives of those that rely upon them for everything.  Yes, I use an iPad, as a matter of fact I'm typing this on mine with one finger right, but have yet to give in to the "smart phone."  Getting old.....yes, but when your family comes over and everyone sits with heads down looking into those phones the size of iPads, or when you get in the car to go somewhere and the passenger or passengers turn to them before you've gone even a mile........borders on rude in this old farts opinion.  I still believe in talking to someone when using a phone, I watch family and friends texting back and forth for minutes upon minutes and longer when a 30 second phone call could accomplish the same thing........what's with that?  Now we have talk to text, you need not even type but it's still taking up more time than a phone call, what if you're misunderstood by you phone?  From early phones to party lines to dial, to touch tone and now "Beam me up Scotty" holy shit I miss the old days in so many ways.
     From Christmas greeting cards to over the top technology, I guess in some ways the simple life was at times better, better for family, friends and that closeness through simple conversation face to face.  In some ways I wish the last couple of generations could have enjoyed the slowed downed version of life, but I guess an e-card greeting is better than no greeting at all.  As you grow older you may miss the old days, each of us have our old days and one you'll miss yours then you might start considering yourself as "growing old."  Family counts.....stay close.