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On The Wall

 My sister and I are a year apart.  Now we live about 20 minutes away from each other.  That hasn't been the case for over 50 years.  After a childhood at home with our parents, we went our separate ways when she got married at age 19, and I went to college.  

As children, we were very close.  I actually have an ancient memory of us in separate cribs in the same room.  Most of our childhood together we were in separate bedrooms.  Mine was what would be called a den, and she occupied a small bedroom.  Growing up, we would knock on the wall separating our rooms.  We'd communicate things like are you going to get up now? Do you want to play? and Are you going to go back to sleep.  They were simple knocking patterns.  We even incorporated part of the theme from the TV show Dragnet to indicate, "Go away, I'm not interested."  



All that died out as we matured from 5 year olds to kids about 9 or 10.  Today, however, when I use a smart phone to shoot her a text, I'm reminded of our early communication technique.  It's one way to reflect on the progress of human communication.  That little device enables so much.

25 years ago, I used to fantasize about having the ability to watch either  a baseball game, the Kentucky Derby, or a big college football game on a portable small screen.  That, of course is possible now.  Instead of putting on a favorite record album when I first get up in the morning, I can now, thanks to the magic of Bluetooth, listen to my favorite bluesman or popular music artist at the touch of a fingertip.  Definitely very cool.  But...

There is a down side.  It's too easy to become addicted to all the thresholds you cross with a smart phone.  People ask you something, not knowing you are enraptured by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells at the moment, and all you can do is respond, "WHAT?"  

I suppose we could look on the bright side and say that we might be challenged to work on some real self control.  That can't be bad, right?  

There is no more knocking on the wall for us.  Just writing on the wall.

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