It's all about choices these days. Where to go, what to do, what to wear, where to eat, where to sleep. I think its more than just a sign of our times. And Im not exactly sure its really a good thing to have so many choices. In the old days, granny and grandpa had a horse, a buggy, one stove for both cooking and heating, a single good suit and one dress for church. They didnt have any time to waste deciding what to wear everyday. Life was simple back then. Now, the whole world and everything and everyone in it comes with a set of 'options' or 'choices'. Some are good, some are bad, many are simple, and most are un-necessary. When my father had a drugstore, he MADE the presciptions up by hand and ointments as well. He sold medicines, some cosmetics, candy, cards and comics. In our store we sold what most everyone needed at the time. The essentials. He thought back in the 1980's "Wow! Look at this 6-pack of pudding I found at the store! And it comes in THREE different flavors!" He was amazed. If he were around today, he'd be appalled.
He thought it was great to have a little compressor in the car trunk to air-up your tires so you didnt have to hunt around for a station that had free air. He was shocked to see stations charging a quarter (now $.75) for air. Now-a-days in Tokyo Japan, they have what looks like phonebooths all along the streets. But, thats not what they are. They are PURE-AIR-STATIONS. Not for car tires, but for HUMANS! About a dollar gets you 5 minutes of pure oxygen to breathe as you choke and cough your way through the polluted air of Japan's largest city. And water is another thing the old folks just plain took for granted. You had a well, you pulled it up, and you drank it as it came from the ground. No ice. Its a known fact that native Africans and desert dwellers cant drink water cold. They have no refridgerators in the 100+ temps in the jungles and the deserts. They have no choice, and in fact, some have never had a cold drink of anything. Choices based on necessity and provision. No freezers, no ice, no choice! And, they think its funny we must have 'chilled' drinks.
We have bottled water, flavored water, distilled water, spring water, vitamin water, energy water, mineral water, and more. Isn't water just water? Fruit flavored, mountain chilled, filtered and 'enhanced with vitamins and minerals'.
Reminds me of the old story about the Time traveler who was thirsty from traveling from the 1800's thru to the present. They found him dead in front of the water aisle at the local mart. He died of thirst trying to figure out which one to buy! Choices again friends. Regular coffee or de-caf, freeze dried or single pre-packaged. Too many, and its just plain hard to make up your mind, or in fact to stick with just one product for long, without trying out another one. Where is it going? Damned if I know, but the choices seem to be multiplying everyday. Ribbed, lubricated and sensitized condoms, and birth control devices, pills, IUD's, foams, coils and patches. We have hair stylists, hair techs and barbers. It's really confusing out there!
We have party stores, beer and wine shops, liquor stores, family marts, quick-marts, general stores, dollar stores, grocery stores, fruit markets and supermarkets. We have blue jeans and denim, levis and cords, bells, flaired-leg, straight-legged slacks, tapered pants, pleated pants and fatigue pants. We have bras and halters and sports-bras, jockeys' and briefs, socks, ankle dressings, sweaters or pullovers, hoodies or buttonups. There are also caps, hats, scarfs, doo-rags, bandannas and head dressings. And there are gloves, handwarmers and mittens. We have coats and jackets, short sleeved, long sleeved and cutoff shirts, and shoes and tennies, dress, casual, work, climbing, shoes, sandals, flip-flops and boots and slippers. Recently I came to realize that a cut-off blanket with an electrical cord is called a 'warmer'. And even more choices follow. Ground beef, ground sirloin, ground round, ground steak, and ground chuck....isn't it just hamburger anyway? Throw in potatoes, and it gets worse. Idaho, new, red, Yukon Gold, baking, hash browns, fries... American, Cottage and regular(WHAT?). And we have breakfast cereals, bars and drinks. See folks? And, just what I've mentioned here is the tip of the iceburg.
We have regular TV, basic cable, digital cable, TVO, satellite and internet televison. All to be viewed in black and white, color or 64-bit color, on High Definition, plasma or LED screens and monitors, IPODS, and hand-held devices to go along with the DVD players in cars. Must be me, but I get dizy everytime my mother-in-law sends me for Cambell's Gumbo soup. I nearly pass out from the choices. Choices again friends. Its what makes life fun. If you can just commit to one decision and product that is. If you cant, then you are lost in today and tomorrow's world of options. You can get what you want, when you want and where you want to get it from, be it daytime, weekends or the middle of the night. Even on Christmas and Hannuka. The next time you go shopping for anything, anyplace, take a list and be specific about which it is, and if it's on sale or buy-one or two-for-one, marked down, reduced or clearence. And go to the place with the best deals, rebates, give-aways and coupons. I wish life was simple my friends, but it's a crap-shoot. It would be nice if we could leave this Earth when we want, how we want, and where we want...and only if we're damn-good-and-ready to go.
Choices seem to be everywhere and in everyplace and country. Maybe it's not such a bad thing afterall. Right now, Im going shopping for a few things for vacation. I know Ill be standing confused at all the counter displays. Im not sure if Ill go to the corner store, department store, discount store or dollar-store. The list has 6 items. I'll probably get back from the store in about a day and a half. Good thing my list isn't longer.
Peace, Love 'n Light all...till next time.
*Special Thanks: Team Detroit, the Hurricane Shelter, La Grizzy, Sonja Paris, Larry Patterson and Treasure Island Gold, Soulful Detroit and Ralph Teranna, and of course....."Lucky" the Wonder Dog
