Where are the flying cars . . . I was promised flying cars

Where are the flying cars . . . I was promised flying cars

I've heard that line somewhere where someone is saying the technological advances we have in life here in 2008 are far different from what we thought they might be back in 1988.

I just saw an IBM commercial with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates that touches on the future that continues this same imaginative look at the future. It's pretty funny.

Anyway, my point to day ist this: Back in 1988, if we could have looked at ourselves here at 2008, what would our response be? Sure, it's mindboggling all the technological advances we have made. But would we also laugh or cry at some of the side effects?

I'm 37 - not too old and not too young. But I feel like an old-timer when I think about some of the little day-t0-day things I see as a result of our technology. Oma used to say "The world's a different place." How true.

I remember when cell phones started to become prominent. I was always somewhat offended when guests would come to visit - for dinner, perhaps. Their cell phone would ring, and they would carry on a 10-minute conversation with this person that had called. If it were an emergency, that's fine. But I always thought (and still think) -- Wait, you are here to visit me for the evening. How rude to ignore the people who have invited you and to carry on this conversation with this other person in this guest's home.

Of course, cell phones have taken over. Do you remember this scenario happening 15 years ago. You see some down the hall or down the street waving at you. A bit surprised, you wave back only to realize that person was actually waving at someone 50 feet behind you. Today's scenario: someone strikes up some sort of conversation with you. Perhaps it's a stranger. This happened to me on a shuttle going from the parking lot to the airport. I respond back, only to realize this person is talking on a hands-free phone.

Digital cameras. Sure, they are great. But I was just watching a Cubs game on TV. They showed some fans doing this: They take a picture of someone next to them and then immediately show them the picture. "Look - this is what you looked like 5 seconds ago when I took this picture - isn't that hilarious?"

What have we turned in to?

While we are connecting with people around the globe (I was so excited when I read my first comment on this blog from some stranger who acknowledged that he too played a card game called nerts. I thought it was cool that someone other than a friend or relative of mine stumbled across my blog). But while we are connecting with people around the globe, we are not connecting with people in our towns, streets, and neighborhoods.

There is a great book called Bowling Alone, which I read a couple years ago. It's an impressive piece of non-fiction that shows how people are less connected than they were years ago. One early cause is the introduction of the television, but it has just spiraled from there. People are on the cell phone while they check out at the grocery store. I was at Subway ordering for my kids. I had to discuss various menu options with them. As I did that (it only took 1 minute - tops) the kid behind the register was texting on his cell. School administrators are so busy on their blackberries they don't interact with students and staff as much as they should. Teachers in graduate classes are on their laptops while the instructor is teaching. Multitasking or just not showing common courtesies to others? But it's more than just common courtesies. We are just not engaged with others as much as we should be.

Of course, I'm as guilty as anybody. I have the TV on too much. I am blogging when I could be talking to my wife more about her day. (I do like this blogging thing. I"ve kept a journal for 15 years -- off and on - sometimes only 4-5 entries per year.) I don't hide my journal. It's on my bookshelf, but this blogging is faster - I type faster than I write, and I can share it with others. I love reading my brother Joel's blog.

But again, think back to 1988. Pretend we live in 1988 and we are glimpsing at life in 2008. We see kids walking home from school sharing headphones (IPOD) - each with one part of the headpiece in his or her ear. Teachers have these fancy Jeopardy games on their laptop and Epson projectors, but the clues are not very creative at all. I've heard the clues they give as I walk past their rooms in the hall, and it they are not nearly as cool as the 150 different categories my dad collected for his German classes for his German class Jeopardy. He wrote many, and students wrote many of the clues, and he passed them on to me when he retired. Thanks, Papa.

My point - put that blackberry, cell phone, text messaging, laptop down. Engage in life. Talk to your neighbor. Join a group. I need to keep reminding myself of some of those same things. Of course, I've never downloaded a song or received or sent a text message. But even in my 1988 world, I need to shut off the TV, turn off the car radio. Silence is a good thing.

And please, parents at the park with your kids. Shut the cell phone off. You are at the park. Either play with your kids, or enjoy watching them. They'll be grown up way too soon.

Visiting relatives

As a kid and as and adult, one of my favorite things has always been visiting relatives. You hear stories about how some people either dread having to spend time with their relatives or how people just feel it's an obligation they must meet - spending time with their relatives on specific occasions and holidays. But it is something that I look forward to and something that I reflect back on. I'm always counting the weeks until I get to see my relatives again.

As a kid, I loved seeing the cousins (John, Phil, and Paul). We would play sports from dawn until dusk - only taking breaks to eat quick meals. I loved going to basketball camp at UND with cousin John. Having Cousin Todd come and visit for the weekend from Chicago. Going fishing with Uncle Jerry, Cousin Dewey, and Cousin David. Spending time at Uncle Jerry's cabin. Playing Nerts with Cousin Michelle. Seeing Grandpa (Martin) cry as we left after a week's visit. Playing Whist with Grandma and Grandpa. Playing Farkle, Uno and Shang-Hi with Oma and Opa. Going for walks with Opa collecting aluminim cans along the way.

My memories with relatives aren't about visiting exotic travel destinations or about having the newest toys to play or anything like that. It's just that I genuinely enjoyed spending time with them.

Life goes on. I've lost some of those relatives -- all of which I'll never forget.
I'll never forget Cousin Dewey helping the cousins and me tape our first ever Seeger-Kvidt show.
I'll never forget Grandma and Grandpa's tiny house. The house never felt tiny to me as a kid. I just remember the smells and tastes of the homemade donuts, lefse, lutefisk, etc. The games of croquet and Whist. Every Christmas in Twin Valley -- that was the highlight of every year being with Grandma and Grandpa and the uncles, aunts, and cousins.
I'll never forget Oma and Opa. I'm so glad Jen got to know Oma. Golfing with Opa. Listening to Oma and Opa's stories. Watching Wheel of Fortune with them.
I'll never forget Uncle Dave. He came to visit me in Waverly once or twice while I was at college. He was in town for the horse auction, and we ate at the Country Kitchen in town. What a fascinating guy to sit and talk to.

New relatives have entered my life. Of course, our three cool kids. Joel married Brooke. I hardly knew Brooke 6 years ago, although they had been dating for a couple years. But it was great having them here in Omaha. Our late-night relay race/obstacle course events -- usually a drink or two involved. Our kids are just totally in love with Grandma Hope, Opa, Joel, Brooke, and Andy. Andy continues to create great games for our kids that they always talk about.

Jen's side of the family. At first it took me a while to really feel close to this whole new side of the family.
I hadn't known them all my life, and it always takes me a while to feel comfortable with new people.

But they have definitely become relatives that I look forward to spending time with, as well. We love spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa's in Bellevue on occasional weekends. Judy, Michael, Barbara, Dennis, and Jane have also been so kind to travel all this way to Omaha from the East Coast for baptisms so that we've seen them fairly regularly, and it's just awesome to see them.

I'd also include our baptismal sponsors among our relatives. Nate, Becky, Allison, and Andrew remain life-long friends from college. Now Dayna and Bastian have joined our family by being sponsors for Claire.

I guess what I"m trying to say is -- thank you to all my relatives. You all mean the world to me. If I don't make to Australia or London or California, or Washington D.C. it would be OK. My Grandpa Martin served in WWI, but I don't think he traveled very much outside of MN/ND except for during the war -- I'll have to ask my mom about that. But he always seemed like the most genuinely, content, happy, gracious person I can ever remember. He died when he was about 15, so I don't have that many years of memories with him. But he seemed so genuinely grateful for his family, his life, and his faith in Christ. He remains my role-model today -- to keep treasuring each day of life. It's OK to cry -- he also showed me.