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Today's Technology - How Did We Get Here?

By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

Real Estate Broker/Owner with M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. BK629999

October 22, 2008 05:46 AM

In the mornings I wake up, grab my cup of tea and check my office messages, my home messages, my voice mail, my fax machine, my text messages, my e mail and my instant messages. I check for comments on the 3 blogs that I write, and then I proceed on to the REALTOR Social Networking Sites that I am a member of.

And I wonder, HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Now, I’m probably dating myself here, but as a kid we didn’t have computers. We didn’t have cell phones, or CD’s or DVD’s or portable DVD players, or I pods, or I phones, or all the new fangled gadgets we have today.

I remember old fashioned, plug in the wall cord telephones, and no answering machines. If you weren't home when the phone rang, then you just weren't home!

We had 8 track and cassette tapes that we played in our tape and cassette players. I used to collect 33 rpm and 45 rpm records to play on our record players. (I still have some up in my attic.) I do remember as I got older getting a big bulky walkman that I could use outside. I thought it was really cool.

“Wow, Mom, how did you survive without a cell phone and computer?” my younger daughter, Sam asked. “That must have been terrible!”

Hmmm. "No, actually we didn’t know the difference. Back then it was a how did we get here more peaceful, quieter time," I responded.

“So, without cell phones and computers that means you didn’t have voice mail, or text messaging, or instant messaging or e mail?”

I smiled, “that’s right.”

how did we get here “Oh, my gosh, how did you keep in touch with your friends?” she was baffled.

That’s funny, I thought, I don’t ever remember it being a problem. “I actually got to see my friends. I saw them in school everyday, and then we played outside after school, unlike you guys do today.”

“Oh, I would hate growing in your day,” Sam responded, as she walked away with a perplexed look on her face. I just smiled.

I love what I do for a living, but sometimes, just for a split second, how did we get here I long for the simpler times… then I am snapped back into reality by the sound of my cell phone ringing and my email notification indicator beeping. Sorry, I’ve got to run…

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James Engel

Keller Williams Realty Beverly Hills - Beverly Hills, CA

KW Beverly Hills

The good old days when telex, was the main way of communication and you had to make sure the strips were not bent. From those old fax machines for when you needed a document a year old it was already wiped out and blank to the 8 track tape those were the good old days.

Oct 22, 2008 05:59 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Tammy, WOW! You were luckier than I was! I didn't have one of those! I wish I had been your neighborhood friend growing up. Today, I think there is too much internet, texting and instant messaging for our teenagers. I hate it! If they want to talk to their friends, they should be on the phone, not on a computer, not really knowing who they are talking to! Scary stuff these days. You just pulled that picture out to make me jealous, didn't you? (LOL) Growing up we didn't have any of the new fangled toys that the neighbor kids did. Thanks for sharing!

Oct 22, 2008 06:00 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Vickie, I enjoy many aspects of technology today, however I, too, hate to feel guilty when I am unable to respond to emails in the evening. It is sometimes a double edged sword. Thanks!

Oct 22, 2008 06:02 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi James, Oh boy, I hate to say, I don't remember the telex, and making sure the strips weren't bent...hmmm...I do remember the fax machines with the paper in which the ink would fade within a short period of time. That was awful. You'd wind up with a file full of half blank pages! I loved so many aspects of the good old days also! I also had 8 track and cassette tapes. I loved them and 33rpm and 45 rpm albums.

Oct 22, 2008 06:05 AM

John Mulkey

TheHousingGuru.com - Waleska, GA

Housing Guru

I remember hi-tech. It was my first pocket calculator which could add, subtract, multiply and divide. I paid $50 for it on sale. Now they're a dollar and can do much more. Then there was my pager .....

Oct 22, 2008 06:09 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi John, A pocket calculator for $50, that sells for $1 today. Incredible! You are the second to mention pagers. I forgot about them. My husband had one. He works outdoors. I had to page him, and he would have to leave the job site to find a pay phone to call me, It was awful! But, you gotta long for the good ole days!

Oct 22, 2008 06:23 AM

Leslie Prest

Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ

Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

I wouldn't give up my computer or my palm, but I could DEFINATELY live w/o cell phones!

Oct 22, 2008 07:17 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Leslie, Today I have to admit that I couldn't live without my computer and my email. However, occasionally on a weekend I would like to leave my cell phone sitting home on the kitchen table, while out spending a day with my family. Take care!

Oct 22, 2008 07:21 AM

Nancy Larson

I am a licensed referral agent in NJ - Hutchinson Island, FL

I remember those days all too well. Phones with party lines too boot. Life was simple...Mom was home when we came home from school with home made snacks on the table...those where the days.

Oct 22, 2008 08:15 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hey Nancy, How are you today? It's nice to take a moment to stroll down memory lane, isn't it? Thanks for taking the stroll with me. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Oct 22, 2008 08:19 AM

Fred Chamberlin

Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA - Oak Harbor, WA

Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant

Sandy, some things are better now. I am old enough that I remember when we finally got an indoor toilet. Now, let me tell you, splinters in the behind is not a fond memory. Thanks for the reminder of what we have and what we have lost.

Oct 22, 2008 08:42 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Fred, You absolutely CRACK ME UP! I am not that old, so I don't remember that. Not sure I would want to remember splinters in the butt! Ouch! Too funny! I think that we have the fond memories of a quieter, slower, simpler time. But, perhaps is that because we were kids back then? Thanks Fred for the laughs!

Oct 22, 2008 11:00 AM

Connie Harvey

Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN

Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Sandy, I could have written that myself. Exactly word for word!!! Now the peace I get is when I visit my aunt on her farm outside of a small town in Southern Tennessee. My cell phone doesn't work there so there are no interuptions as we sit and rock and talk. It's 70 minutes from here. About half way home the cell kicks in w/all the calls and text messages I've missed.

Oct 22, 2008 11:07 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Connie, Funny,isn't it? I would enjoy visiting my aunt on a farm in Southern Tennessee. That sounds like a perfect way to spend a peaceful Sunday! I wish I were there. You have to send me some pictures the next time that you go. Thanks for sharing!

Oct 22, 2008 11:13 AM

Zane Fikany Connie Hettinga

Steinborn GMAC - Las Cruces, NM

We have made ourselves available 24 -7. it would be nice to work some normal hours!

Oct 22, 2008 11:22 AM

Carl Stars

Sutton Group About Town Realty - Burlington, ON

I found reading your post relaxing.... on the way home today I had a fantasy about throwing my cell phone in the river.... oh yeah I will need it soon !! Yep theres no turing back now , and im sure if it were 70 years ago someone would long for simpler times ! it is human nature to look back, please look forward only, you will have lots of time to look back when you are in the rocking chair !!! Which is a long time from now !! Have a great night

Oct 22, 2008 11:22 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Zane, You are correct, We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And that is what customers have come to expect. I agree, normal hours are good sometimes. Thanks for the feedback and take care!

Oct 22, 2008 12:16 PM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Carl, Your comment made me laugh! The part about having a fantasy about throwing your cell phone in the river. How did you know that I have the same one too? You are right, that we must move forward. When life is chaotic and all of life is screaming at us, I just for a split second find myself regressing to a more peaceful quieter time...then reality sets back in and slaps me in the face. Thanks for the laugh! Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Oct 22, 2008 12:19 PM

Rich Mielke

REMAX Results, Frederick MD - Frederick, MD

REALTOR, Frederick Maryland Real Estate

A few years ago, we went to visit an aunt that lives in eastern Tennessee. The funniest part of the visit was whenever her phone would ring, they would all run and look at the caller id box to see who it is calling them. Then she would answer the phone and sweetly say, "Hello. Who is this?" Ah, technology.

Oct 23, 2008 02:28 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Rich, Too funny, caller ID, I forgot about that in my post also. Funny that she would answer the phone, who is this, if sometimes she already knew. You gotta love it! Thanks Rich for sharing!

Oct 23, 2008 03:09 AM