Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Distant Memories of Technology
"As I interview my father, Carl R. Baker, he lounges by the dinner table, snacking on a bag of potato chips. He's a peculiar, witty old man, and there is nothing he loves more than talking about his past. As I ask him what types of technological devices he encountered when he was my age, he sits back and takes a long breath. Before I know it, he's asking me to repeat the same question all over again. "I'm sorry, but you know I have a bad memory," he defends. "Let's see... When I was young, I remember listening to classical music on my father's record player and radio system. I also enjoyed driving my car because it was easier and faster to get around town than pedaling on a bicycle." He tells me that he adjusted easily to these technological advancements, unlike his sister who pulled in front of a blaring fire truck in a state of panic. When I ask him about owning a TV, he says "We couldn't have a television in Milton, Pennsylvania. Believe it or not, I lived without a TV! There were a lot of hills that surrounded the town and prevented us from getting a signal."Click here to read more...
Above is an excerpt from my "18 going on 80" interview. After completing my Technology Biography, my next assignment in Dr. Baylen's class was to interview someone 60 or older about their past technology experiences. For this project, I could not think of anyone more perfect than my father, Carl. This may sound unbelievable, but yes, I am 20 years old and my father is 70. As a matter of fact, one of the challenges of conducting this assignment was remaining patient as my father tried to recollect past memories.
Needless to say, I was a "surprise" for my family. As you can see, my father and I are on entirely different wavelengths - he's several generations ahead of me! That is why conducting this assignment was very important to me. Not only did I gather more insight as to how considerably American society has advanced, I was also bestowed the opportunity to converse with my father. As sad as it may sound, I rarely communicate with my father these days due to my preoccupation with school. Being able to speak with him and learn more about my past - my history - will enable me to have pleasant memories of my father when he is gone...
# posted by Catherine @ 11/15/2005 01:59:00 PM 
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Catherine-
I think it's great that the "18 Going 80" project allowed you to communicate with your father, which is usually something that's difficult for you to do. Is it harder for you to talk to him because you are so busy or is it because of the age gap? I hope that you have more opportunities to talk with your father in the future and can remain at least somewhat close to him. I am extremely close to my dad; I am most definitely a "daddy's girl". I talk to him about almost everything. We have a great relationship and I'm very thankful for that because when it gets down to it, family is all you can truly count on. My favorite thing to do with my dad is go to St. Louis Rams football games. We've had season tickets for the past 10 years and we just have the best time together. We're still huge fans and continue to go to games and watch them on TV together. Are there any memorable activities or experiences that you've had with your father that stand out in your mind?
I think it's great that the "18 Going 80" project allowed you to communicate with your father, which is usually something that's difficult for you to do. Is it harder for you to talk to him because you are so busy or is it because of the age gap? I hope that you have more opportunities to talk with your father in the future and can remain at least somewhat close to him. I am extremely close to my dad; I am most definitely a "daddy's girl". I talk to him about almost everything. We have a great relationship and I'm very thankful for that because when it gets down to it, family is all you can truly count on. My favorite thing to do with my dad is go to St. Louis Rams football games. We've had season tickets for the past 10 years and we just have the best time together. We're still huge fans and continue to go to games and watch them on TV together. Are there any memorable activities or experiences that you've had with your father that stand out in your mind?
Everyone:
Thank you for your touching comments and experiences. It is a shame that school and work have kept many of us detached from one of the most important components of our lives: family. Your comments were encouraging for me, and rather than agonize over the time I have lost with my family, I will try to enjoy the experiences I continue to share with them. Amanda’s questions prompted me to recall some funny and memorable experiences with my father. One memory I have is when my father came home from work in the afternoon. My father used to work nights, and by the time he arrived home, he would be tired. Still, I was excited to see him, talking a mile a minute about what I did that day. Understandably, my father would be falling asleep as I tried talking to him, but I would do whatever I could to keep him awake – I even held his eyelids open! It may have been torturous, but my father endured it just so he could spend time with his daughter.
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Thank you for your touching comments and experiences. It is a shame that school and work have kept many of us detached from one of the most important components of our lives: family. Your comments were encouraging for me, and rather than agonize over the time I have lost with my family, I will try to enjoy the experiences I continue to share with them. Amanda’s questions prompted me to recall some funny and memorable experiences with my father. One memory I have is when my father came home from work in the afternoon. My father used to work nights, and by the time he arrived home, he would be tired. Still, I was excited to see him, talking a mile a minute about what I did that day. Understandably, my father would be falling asleep as I tried talking to him, but I would do whatever I could to keep him awake – I even held his eyelids open! It may have been torturous, but my father endured it just so he could spend time with his daughter.
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