The Ironic LIFE

Street lamp lighters, window glaziers, television repairmen, antenna installers, and encyclopedia salespersons are positions that basically no longer exist in our society. Almost completely gone are the days of milk delivery, local butcher stores, full service gas stations, cloth diaper delivery and movie rental stores. 

And what about new cars with carburetors, or percolated coffee pots, leaded gas and paint, card catalog cabinets, and asbestos siding? We more seasoned folks remember vinyl records, eight track, VHS and cassette tapes, and the good ol' floppy disk.

Truthfully, this is just the tip of the iceberg. If an exhaustive list of demised services and items were tallied, it could be several pages and that's just since the 1960's.

The demise of some items is a good thing. Like leaded paint and gas or asbestos siding.

Some items I miss like strolling through aisles of possible movie choices in a video store.

And some items have been re-purposed like the card catalog that now catalogs envelopes of seeds.  

Do you ever wonder what your great grandparents would say about these changes? Or their thoughts on a big box store which carries millions of items from needles to anchovies?  Or about drive through food, banking, and prescriptions? I wonder if they could comprehend the speed of cooking in a microwave or the unlimited resources and information available on the internet.

But that's LIFE. It's always changing and growing more advanced.

I'm not complaining. I like most change. Sometimes, I do wish it would slow just a bit. Especially in the technology sector. I'm still gratefully using Windows 7 and don't look forward to the day I have to upgrade and start the learning curve all over again.

As much as LIFE has changed, it's stayed the same.

We still have four seasons. Twenty-four hours a day. Blue skies and green grass. Storms that come and go. Waves beating along the shore. Birds flying. And babies being born.

Change is inevitable and yet, some of LIFE is consistent and constant. Growing and maintaining at the same time. Like night and day follow one another 

consistently, yet both offer change of illumination.

Why is this important?

Because there's hope in having some areas maintain as the world continues to change around us. Like LIFE is purring its rhythmic sound while simultaneously the roar of the change-train speeds by. Ironic, right?

Let's remember to be aware and celebrate the every-day-ness of LIFE as we embrace change.

Isn't LIFE really all about balance? Work and play. Rest and exercise. Grief and gratitude. Kale and cookies.

Let's make the most of every moment by choosing wisely. After all, we're really just along for the ride in this journey called LIFE.

How do you handle change? What's the greatest piece of change your great grandparents would celebrate or find objectionable? Please share.

Tammy Van Gils is a writer, blogger, and co-owner of S & N Paint Contractors, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International. In the Richmond area, she is a member of The Christian Writers Hub and Word Weavers Richmond. Visit her Facebook Page, Pinterest and Twitter @Tammyvangils.