Giving thanks.

An ongoing project around here in the old Fortress of Solitude (as it is referred to by some) is the clean, contain, clear out and repair. I keep coming across these things, some of which will be sold, some of which are going to charity and it is akin to a walk down through the annals of memory.

One of the treasures I came across is pictured above, the old dial phone. The thing is like a brick, it weighs a ton but amazingly enough it still works. I tested it out and made a few calls on it without a problem at all. It’s a testament to something we’ve lost in our culture. Here is a phone that is over three decades old and it still works, it still does the job it was designed to do and it does it well.

I had been reading awhile back about different business philosophies, one of which is built-in or planned obsolescence. It strikes me one of the most dysfunctional things about our current economy is holding to the tenant of planned obsolescence. Growing up. a pillar of business was ‘American Craftsmanship’ but the concept is the antithesis of Planned Obsolescence. You look at what happened to American automakers and you can’t help but wonder if they choose the wrong horse.

Back to the phone though...

Using it was really interesting. It was interesting because dialing a number takes a bit longer than punching a number into a keypad and there is something entirely welcoming about dialing a number again. It allows you to embracing the pause between the thought of calling someone and actually getting connected to them. It slows life down just enough.

Also, wouldn’t it be much nicer than to just dial than to have to press ‘one’ or whatever digit only to be presented with an ever growing litany of options via a prerecorded voice?

So today, I am giving thanks for the reminder of the wonderful treat that is slowing down. Holidays are good for pausing, giving us a break in the week and allowing us to break the routine. Here’s hoping everyone enjoys that break.