People these days

People these days
First wrote 30 January 2012




   It was commented this morning that who smokes a pipe anymore? I thought, wait I do, and so did some of the greatest minds in history. That took me to the question of where are today’s “great minds” and what do we consider as such? Are they the people that make a lot of money, or are they the ones who create what the masses think they want? Right now they want the gadgets that allow them to socialize without real contact. While I myself enjoy life away from big crowds and such, the younger generation is losing the most basic form of communication, speech. While writing is also good, it wasn’t long ago that the lower classes couldn’t read. Today proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar, has taken a back seat to speed and ease of use. That brings me back to the original question, who smokes a pipe anymore? I would have to say that we are the ones who refuse to let go of time-honored tradition, and replace it with speed and ease of use. I find it a time to slow down, my mind is racing with thoughts constantly, most of which I can never grasp, does this make any sense? I think as a civilization we also need to slow down, enjoy all of the wonderful natural things life has to offer, enjoy some tradition, and not take the quick and easy way.
  I like the fact that I have a connection to some of the great minds in history, no matter how small it is. I am writing on paper, with a pen made more than 60 years ago, and in a form that is no longer being stressed in most schools, all without the help of today’s technology. Today's technology is nice, and I do use it, I could still live without most of it. Some people watch television and watch movies, I listen to radio and read books, does that make me nostalgic, or eccentric? Like someone said, “Life is a journey, not a destination” I want to sit back, slow down, and enjoy my pipe, my classical music, my books, and small connection to the past, and the great-minded pipe smokers. Regardless of my intelligence, or my influence toward others, I am going to enjoy what I like, because I cant take it with me.