When technology defines our age

Talking nonsense with my sister this morning, we concluded once more that you can determine someone's age according to the technology he or she has seen being born. As hardcore as it may sound, to me it’s absolutely true. Let's face it...100 years ago the technology revolution had just started. Few illuminated ones could foreseen where it would take us. I remember thinking that in the year 2000 we would be floating around in space suits, driving un-gravity cars and communicating with each other with telepathy. Imagine my disappointment when Y2K arrived missing all this sci-fi props.

Allow me to explain that our age can be defined by day to day, entertainment, accessible to "all" technology. The one that is suposed to make our lives easier and funnier, sort to speak. More so, make us happy XD...surely at least a bit less grumpy ;). We owe plenty to this advances, let me bring to the table a few world wide renounced little ones:

• Electric stairs.
• W.C.
• Refrigerator.
• Washing machine.

Well well, I've been never much afraid of admitting my age (not like I've lived that long anyways...23 years) but lately, as my little siblings turn 20 solid years, I can't elude noticing time passing by, as fourteener as I might feel. This year after their birthday, I've been contemplating the sings of time around me and in me. For instance, I'm allowed in any club in any country I've been in, I can legally drink "with moderation"...Those are some the privileges of age in a young cub as me.

Thinking about my age and reviewing with my sister; we named a long list of little inventions that we've seen been born. Allow me to add that having lived 22 years in a Latin America country, there's a delay in between techno being born, and techno being introduced to my existence. We will for the sake of this dissertation, assume that my reference is the one of the techno been born.

To be the first to throw the rock, here I go:

• Desktop (as in available to general public).
• Nintendo (far from being the Wii, it was definitely a step in the right direction. And may I applaud the creators of the wii wireless technology for their knowledge of the user...or, weren't we all pulling on the little controller thingie to make Mario jump higher and further?)
• Mobiles (yup, my dad had one of those brick ugly ones)
• CDs (May I comment I used to record songs from the radio into a cassette XD yup! I was literally a mix tape girl)
• DVDs (Well, my little cousin has seen this being born, so...XD)

Not being this the entire list, I want to comment on those little thingies I've seen die:

• Betamax (I even had Cinderella, Peter Pan and Fantasia on it)
• Atari (Contrary to the new reuse the fashion of vintage technology is bringing, I used it in the time it was released)
• LPs (my dad still owns a collection!)

Not to bore you all with my reminiscence, I invite you once more to give me your share of gadgets you've seen born and die...come on...you can't be THAT old ;)

Beginings of a trilogy: Past-Present-Future

The other day on my way home from the movies, I noticed once more a phenomenon I particulary pay attention to when it occurs: The projection of my own shadow on the floor, this time in 3 dimentions. The central one was the darkest, the "real" one, which I will accept as the present. The second one on my left, was the closest to the middle one, to the present. This one was the past, slightly lighter. The thrid one, the one on my right pointing diagonaly to the east, is the future.

They walked with me, were my companions on the 5 minutes path I have between the movie theater and my room. It was midnight, cold and foggy and since no one was around, I was feeling perfectly alone. Contrary to my natural behavior, that day I walked looking at the ground and analyzing the possible meanings of my 3 shadows. None of them alone were me, but all of them together were. Just siluets, drawn by street lamps, that allow me to wonder beyond the pavement.

The past: seems so recent right there behind me, represents the promise of all you could get through. Your repertory of experiences, everything life has told you-or tried to. The present: intense, overwhelming, booked. The wheel of a roller coaster that keeps you spining time and time again, barely giving you a spare moment to put your feet on the ground. The future: All that you expect your life to be, the hoped conclusion to all your efforts, the safe rocking chair in the porche, or hammock in the beach.

After admiring the posibilities of my shadows I wondered who of them was me. None. But had I to choose, which one would I pick? If I had to decide from who I was 5 years ago, who am I now, and who will I be 5 years from now...which one would it be? The answer to this question could tell a lot about me.

• If I choose who I was 5 years ago, means I lost something in the way that I cant gain back, or maybe that I enjoyed that time better than this? Leaves little hope to the present.
  
• If I choose now, sounds promising. Who is happy now is sure to have fun?
  
• If I choose 5 years from now, with the considerable fear of not knowing what will go on, means Im on my way to something better? or is it that I havent acomplished all I want just yet?...this last option, have to say, sounds like my current mood.

For now I decide not to choose...Ill be the one admiring the 3 shadows. What about you?