It is easy to become jaded about how technology has changed our lives and the world in ways that would leave our great-grandparents shocked and amazed.
When we talk about what the future of travel might look like it is in terms that few of them could have imagined.
The people who scraped together enough to travel by boat across the sea to a land they heard was paved in gold didn’t wonder whether man would live in space or think about a 3,000 mile overnight business trip.
But now we think nothing of flying across country and wonder if maybe one day we can wake up in Los Angeles and decide that it might be nice to have lunch or dinner in London on the same day.
Where that was once the province of science fiction and fantasy it now is something that many people expect will happen.
Sure they can’t tell you how, when or where, but they figure it is inevitable. Some relate it how the portable computers we call cellphones are more powerful than the ancient beasts that took took up entire rooms.
It Is A Single Toilet Adventure
We just returned from our single toilet adventure.
Four people in a single hotel room spent five days in New Jersey and somehow we and the Garden State survived our sojourn in the frigid East Coast.
You can blame me for the silly single toilet adventure moniker but when you travel all day long and your 10.5 going on 30 year-old daughter asks how four people will make use of a single toilet you tell her it is time to stop watching television and call it an adventure.
And then your children tell you that your response to many of their comments/questions is to call whatever it is an adventure and you smile because it is true.
When push comes to shove I win many of these arguments because I remind the kids that I had twice as many siblings as they do and limited toilet facilities so this is not something I am unfamiliar with.
They have also heard me talk about the importance of creating experiences and memories so when I tell them that adventures lead to both they nod their heads and smile.
Since I am a smart man I never ask them if the nod and smile are sincere. Sometimes it is better to adopt a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.
Of Complicated Questions & Simple Answers
Friday morning my daughter asked me where my laptop was and I told her I didn’t bring it.
She assumed I must have made arrangements to use a computer at the hotel and or would use my phone to update the blogs and do whatever work I do on the computer.
When I told her I had no intention of doing either she was surprised. I told her not to be and reminded her that I had lived decades of life without a cellphone and without a laptop.
I also mentioned that even though I could picture life without these things I didn’t want to go back to that time but I do like to disconnect.
Every now and then it feels good to turn off the electronic leash and be present in the moment.
“But dad, what if someone needs to reach you?”
“They can leave a message.”
“But what if it is an emergency.”
“They can leave two messages.”
“But what if they really, really, really need to get a hold of you.”
“They can leave three messages.”
Where she sees complications I see simple answers.
Mind you in this situation I knew where my closest relatives would be.
All of my kids, siblings, parents were all in New Jersey for my niece’s Bat Mitzvah.
It didn’t include every single person who is important to me, but there were enough for me to sort of shrug my shoulders.
Besides there were 8 bazillion doctors and lawyers in attendance so I figured we were probably covered.
Did I mention how much fun it is to pretend to be a doctor and tell other docs horror stories about patients and procedures?
It is all sorts of fun and the best part is I didn’t spend 11 years in school learning all this stuff. I just read a few books and made it up and that is part of the joy of being a writer.
Oh and let’s not forget not needing malpractice insurance. Writers don’t get sued by disgruntled patients or family members for malpractice.
Memories, Moments & Experiences
So now that I am back home I can tell you the single toilet adventure was filled with memories, moments and experiences.
I can also tell you getting the chance to revisit my childhood was fun but I didn’t miss banging on the bathroom door begging for who ever was in there to finish because I was tired of doing the dance we all do after we have had 983 ounces of coffee.
Nor did I particularly relish using the restroom in the lobby at 7 AM because every time someone walked in it felt like that 18 degree weather came to visit us in the restroom.
There was much laughter and more joyous moments than words can properly express and I am glad I was disconnected because I might have missed some of those moments if I hadn’t.
And I hope that the kids listened, watched and heard because that is a lesson worth learning.
