the story of a generation
Throughout the generations, civilization’s story has been passed on verbally, carved in stone, and scratched in pen and ink. Sometimes it is the layers of earth that uncover the record; sometimes it is within the covers of a book that the story is found.
But my generation’s story is being recorded in pixels and in posts. We send text messages instead of telegrams. Our pictures are quick cell phone shots that we never print instead of carefully posed portraits that take hours to develop. We record our private thoughts in public, “live” journals instead of diaries protected by lock and key. Our masterpieces are sold in electronic file formats rather than in hardbound books.
And sometimes I wonder: if the Lord tarries, what will be left to show for our generation when it has past? Will our grandchildren have any pictures of us to search for resemblance to their own faces? Will computer crashes and technology changes make our works of art obsolete?
As a friend of Annie Downs once told her, “Just remember, if the internet dies, so does AnnieBlogs. Better make sure Annie Downs has a real life.”
And I ask myself, is what I’m creating here online worth printing and binding for the next generation? Is my generation leaving a legacy that will outlast the internet?
{Inspired by a conversation with Suzanne Kuchynka and her husband, and the Five-Minute Friday prompt “story”. And ironically, I got distracted by a phone call after the third paragraph only to come back and find out that a whole host of internet hosts were down this morning, including mine.}
I was just looking at blog2print yesterday… at the same time as I’m pushing myself to stop procrastinating transferring my journal entry (for the grandkids, you know) of the day after we got engaged to the computer so that it won’t getlost in a fire etc… 😉 all that to say, what an incredibly thought provoking post, and interesting subject!!
PS! I DO think quite a bit of what you write is very worth to print and bind for the next generation! You asked (and I decided it wasn’t rhetorical) 😉
Oh, the dichotomy of loving and hating technology! Love the convenience of my Kindle; miss the feel of “a real book”. And the pictures? Yes, print the pictures. Doing my best to hold on to some analog-and-old-school. Thanks for the reminder
I don’t think the younger generation (my kids) and further down the line will even know what a paper bound book is, nor will they want to read it.
In this day and age their thoughts and interests last as long as the next Tweet or text that comes in.
There will always be history, but the legacy that we leave for the next generation is what memories we have left with the people who carry on after we are gone.
That is something to think about and ironic that it happened today when everyone’s servers were acting kinda crazy…are our words worth passing on?
It was quite ironic, but then, Five Minute Friday’s topic always hits right on what the Lord is talking to me about…
Love these thoughts Gretchen…may we make sure every moment matters! And maybe it’s not a bad idea to yearly print and bind our blogs?? xo
My mom and grandma do just that for mine! My grandma has several 3-ring binders full of my blog posts now, thanks to my mom and sister’s help in printing them. And now, Grandma gets hers printed automatically via an amazing machine custom-made for grandparents called “Presto”. 🙂
But I know there used to be some companies who would take your blog or LiveJournal and print and bind them–I should look them up again… [Edited to add: Blog2Print is one!]
You’re right. Print those digital pics! On the other hand, you’re making memories every time you smile for the camera, every time you bandage a knee, every time you give a hug.
That’s your story– the impact you’ve had on the lives you’ve touched.
Laura Hedgecock
So true. Thank you, Laura.