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The automatic washing machine has changed our world in several ways. When the laundry was done down at the river, it was a time for women to share each others problems and get a little free advise from their elders helping to form a strong bond. In contrast we now pay shrinks who seem to care more about the bottom line than abou7t bonds and community and our communities are weaker for it. The community wisdom these women shared is all but gone now as we have fewer natural settings for this to take place.
ReplyDeleteThe invention of the washing machine also made it so easy and convenient that even the youngest could now help with this chore. Have young children learn responsibility at a young age may sound like good news until you consider the neighborhood wash woman who is now out of a job. Sure their is social security for her now but by giving her money she did not earn we have stolen her dignity and that too will trickle down to the younger generations.
ReplyDeleteBut you mat say we have created new jobs making washing machines and training men to fix them. With automation not all that many jobs have been created. I would also like to bring to your mind the commercial about the Maytag repair man trying to find something to do because he doesn’t really have a job with us being a “throw it away” society.
ReplyDeleteWe have gone from a we society to a me society, due partly to the invention of the automobile. Communities were more isolated from each other but in exchange were tighter with in them selves; loneliness was a problem of choice for the most part. The city parks were full of people and opportunities to meet new people. It wasn’t unusual to say hello to a stranger on the street while walking around to do errands. Since the automobile has become more of a necessity we have become a more isolated group of people. Parks are nearly always empty now. If you do find someone there they regard you with suspicion if you appear to be too friendly; so, the art of conversation is dying and random conversations with a stranger have become random acts of violence.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when I first started cosmetology school that I had high hopes and low expectations of myself. I expected to put in a lot of hard hours studying to be able to pull off a C, because I had not done well in school as a child. I was also a lot more willing to put in the hours needed. I didn’t get the C I expected, instead I got an A. I thought that was mighty nice and I was pleased the studying paid off. I never told the instructor that I expected a C. the first time I passed a test with other than an A she, thinking I was a perfectionist that would be upset with anything other than an A, tried to break it to me gentle. It nearly scared me to death; I thought I had flunked it. Relief swept over me like a wave when I finally got her to tell me the bad news. We had a good laugh together as I told her all I really expected out of myself was a C; B’s are not the end of the world. Since then I have come to expect more out of myself. I would still accept a C.
ReplyDeleteMy son asked me the other day if I could spend some time with my granddaughter teaching her colors, counting, and the other things a child needs to know before school now. As he dropped her off he casually asked what we would be doing that day. I told him we would put in the day planting flowers. “I thought you were going to teach Aurora colors and counting and stuff?” he asked quite puzzled. As we planted the flowers before she put the bulb in the ground Aurora had to look at the picture and tell me what color the flower would be and if it would compliment or contrast with the flower right next to it. We counted the labels, the bulbs, and the holes. We counted the inches between the bulbs. The last thing I taught her that day was patience. Flowers don’t grow in a day. She is coming back this week to count the sprouts and when the flowers bloom we will practice our colors again and count how many of each there are.
ReplyDeleteWe need a community garden here in el Dorado. It would be a place for young and old alike to get outside and get some fresh air and exercise. Digging and turning over the earth builds muscle and gives you a better nights rest. Sunshine gives us vitamin D for strong bones. It would be a great way to teach our young about conservation and recycling. We don’t want to end up like wall-e. We can cut the amount of trash in the landfill by growing our own vegetables. It will give children a harmless way to learn how to make good decisions by deciding where to plant and what to plant.
ReplyDelete