“I Can’t Live Without My (Fill In The Blank)”

Now, I don’t like to talk crap on people, but seriously, today I heard this woman in the Subway line say she couldn’t live without her stupid blackberry (or “crack berry” as it called in some circles. Look it up on urbandictionary.com if you don’t believe me. [side note: I rarely lie {knowingly, of course}]) and that she had a meltdown last night when it ran out of juice while she was out partying. Is she freaking serious … really?

Lady, you mean to say that you can’t live w/out an inanimate object?  So, what did you do 10 years ago?  Were you alive back then (she was like 40+, so I’m guessing yes)? Sure you were!  I just don’t know about people like this … the fact that we’re so attached to these things in our lives just conjures up images of the book 1984, and it simply pisses me off because that’s where we are heading, if we’re not careful.  Don’t get me wrong, a cell phone can in fact come in handy when you need to get in contact with someone, ever since they got rid of all the payphones on the street (I smell conspiracy) but don’t think for a second that I would in a million years consider it a necessity that I can’t live without.

It makes me extremely sad to see all these sheepish people like this woman in front of me almost bragging about something they just can’t live without.  Yea, I know … we live in a capitalistic society where money is the means of acquiring a lot of unnecessary goods that make our lives somewhat enjoyable… but there are also, at the same time, a lot of things that should be replacing those silly devices, which money can never buy (good examples: friends, family, love). You do get the point right (I sure the hell hope so)?

I get the other side of the coin, as well (I’m just not buying into it): different households have different needs, based on factors such as the number, and age, of their children still living with them, and the cost of living their area. However, my list of things I need in life includes my wife, my seriously kick ass family, books (which are free, or almost free, if you know where to look. I’m a writer, so I need such things), some form of nature (note: the Atlantic Ocean is right down the road from me), a bicycle to exercise with (any old bike will do) and fresh water to relax in (we have a pool at our condo), and did I mention music. I love music (but I don’t like buying music … there’s a big difference).

Life in this 21st century has become so hectic that we’ve all convinced ourselves that we absolutely must have all kinds of the latest gadgets and services that “make life easier” (note: we really don’t … they just make us lazier, most of the times) for which we pay a mind-boggling amount of money on access, download, activation, subscription and usage fees.

Now, here’s a serious question: does call forwarding “make life easier?” Really? Does your Internet-enabled, supersonic cell phone/pager/communicating device need to be attached to your body 24/7? I’m going to let you in on a little secret, if you said yes … the answer is NO, to both questions! Another thing: I’d actually like to see a congressional inquiry into the hidden fees that are unknowingly added up in addition to those things which you DID sign up for — the ones that cost “just $9.95 a month!” (remember those great “get ‘em in the door” prices? Yea, we all do … too bad none of us are paying that little each month)! Bet there’d be some corporate heads rolling if this country’s leaders actually gave a s@#t about its constituents!

So why don’t you, from this day forth, figure out which things in life you really can live without, and then live without them. At the very least, it’ll keep you from crying out that you never have enough money, or from having a meltdown like this imbecile did (she actually said that with a serious face … LOL. So sad)! Later, dude!