The Latest Doohickies

This week, I've been hanging out with the nieces. The long-distance one flew in with my mom on Monday, the local one and I cruised down to the airport to pick them up. Once the luggage was packed into the trunk, the two of them piled into the back seat along with all their gadgets. Between the two of them, they have two video iPods, two laptops, one Razr cellphone (with texting and photo capabilities) and a digital camera. And two pairs of ear buds, though they usually share one pair while listening to one iPod. Their antiquated relatives rely on them to fix (please, skip the explanation and just make it work) the functions and programming issues for tv and cable remotes, DVD players, cell phones and other assorted electronic / digital / computer equipment.

I am no Luddite, but I am reluctant to adopt new technology. While I love my Apple computer and swear by my Palm Pilot, in most other arenas I've been dragged into the 21st century. I am camera-less, got my only cellphone the Christmas before last, and my iPod last Christmas. Owning multiple copies of the same album or song, only in different formats --LP, cassette,
CD-- I could not see the point of converting to digital simply because it was the latest thing. But when the local niece introduced me to iTunes (and more specifically her impressive playlist), I found a way to create my ideal, expandable music collection. To achieve it, I had to upgrade my operating system, add a whole lot of memory, and master a ton of information that I'm still digesting -- but I feel the magic!!

While the original plan for this week was to visit a few local colleges, get cracking on The Interpreter of Maladies and maybe catch a few museum exhibits, we have fallen far, far short of our goals. The long-distance niece spends hours every day on the phone and on Facebook; the local niece loves internet-surfing and IM-ing. And YouTube -- did you know you can watch tv shows from other countries on YouTube (e.g. Next Top Model with British accents)? It's amazing how much I don't know. And how much has changed. But, what would be the point of telling the whiz kids that my parents suffered through back-to-back adolescences with only one family telephone number? Or that there were probably twenty tv channels total, VHF and UHF combined? Already I get the rolled eyes and talk to the hand -- why give them more ammunition?

But some things don't change. Today, we did not tour the Cal campus, but we did some fabulous back to school shopping on Bancroft and Telegraph. Do you remember the excitement of picking out your own clothes for school, with your own money? Well, the money your parents gave you to escape the sulkiness and tantrums that were sure to accompany any shopping you did together. I had forgotten it, until I watched the two beauties wandering around Urban Outfitters -- from the rows of tank tops and camisoles to the stacks of t-shirts and cords to the sale racks -- in a state of bliss. So many colors! So many possibilities! So many outfits to swap with friends! It reminded me how bright and shiny the upcoming school year is at that age, and how exhilarating it is to make your first independent decisions. You could show your mom your purchases, but wouldn't you rather hide those bags in the closet until your best friend arrived?

Yesterday, we trekked to Japantown (a ritual) and found the usual treasures at our favorite stationery store -- notebooks, pens, colored leads for mechanical pencils, magnets, folders. So, they've made out like bandits -- smart, adorable bandits.

Last night, on the CNET news website, I read an article (posted by Stefanie Nelson on 8/15) stating that a larger percentage of the class of 2011 will come to college with gadgets than had the Class of 2008. Statistically, not so surprising -- but those gadgets? They were all those I catalogued at the top of the page. And the nieces? Currently they're in middle school and high school. What will they need to be technologically savvy for college?

And what technological breakthroughs will I be trying to master without their assistance??