Children these days just have no idea what they are missing out on. I have never been so thankful to have grown up in a place that was not dependent on electronics or the internet. It is scary watching little kids swipe books because they think they are supposed to be on a touch screen, or to watch little kids navigate through an iPhone better than my grandma.
So here are a few things I am thankful that I grew up with:
1. Knowing what a dial up tone sounds like. The-oh-so-familiar screeching sound of the computer.
2. Knowing what it's like to try to use the house phone, and not being able to because someone is on the internet.
3. Hearing the busy tone sound when you call someone's house, and the line was busy. “Beep. Beep. Beep."
4. Still knowing the home phone number of my best friend from grade school.
5. Finding pure happiness in a brand new box of crayons or markers.
6. Feeling that the absolute best thing that could ever happen was parachute day in P.E. Or those little square scooters.
7. Feeling the absolute worst thing in the world was the stupid pacer test. “The Pacer test will begin in 20 seconds. Line up at the start.".
8. Junie B. Jones, Goosebumps, The Bernstien Bears, The Babysitters Club, Beezus and Ramona. 'Nuff said.
9. Knowing that there was nothing that the mouse could want more when you gave it a cookie, not an iphone.
10. When it was the day of the book fair, and if anything, at least you bought an eraser.
11. Watching countless movies on VHS tapes, and repeatedly seeing the “coming soon to own on video and DVD", and FBI copyright warning screens.
12. Having to learn the intricate craft of making a paper bag book cover.
13. Not having a touch screen phone until after getting a Razr, and a Chocolate.
14. Insisting that the built in bra in my cami was enough to hide the fact that I needed a real bra.
15. The fact that my aim screen name was iluvtigger and my email was toocool4u.
16. Using Hitclips before ever looking at an ipod. Then finally getting a generation 1 ipod, and remembering how big it was.
17. Every single amazingly hand-crafted Disney Channel Original Movie.
18. Learning math on math blaster, and learning to type without looking, with that squish orange keyboard cover.
19. Taking trips to Blockbuster to pick out movies. And Having that be one of the best parts of the sleepover.
20. Learning to cook with an Easy Bake Oven.
21. Having myself cloned in the form of an American Girl Doll.
22. Only being able to listen to 12 tracks on a CD.
23. That I was petrified from ever singing again because I caught my mom talking about me singing the Shrek soundtrack on my CD player with my headphones on.
24. Oddly being satisfied with playing Spyro, Freddi Fish, Pajama Sam, Catz, and Crash Bandicoot.
25. And that MASH did successfully predict my future. I am in fact living in a shack, married to a hobo, with 15 kids, with $20 to my name, driving a rock with a pet snail, and I am a stripper.