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Don't Focus on the Digital

Savannah
Nov 30, 2015
3 min read

Technology is such a wonderful thing. Just thinking about how far we've come in the past 10 years alone blows my mind. We all carry the power to look up anything, travel anywhere, or watch anything on a tiny device that fits in our pockets. I remember when we got our first cordless phone. That's right, I could talk on the phone from ANY room in the house!

But, have you ever thought about how dependent we are on technology? I don't even know my husbands cell phone number. It's saved in my cell, why should I memorize it? If you're anything like me, you've come up with a thousand scenarios where I need to call him, but I don't have my cell phone. Does that panic you a bit? But Savannah, what if this, what if that. I know, I know!

Here's a story for you- when I was in elementary school, my parents bought a digital camera. It had to be around the time digital cameras became the hot item. They were so excited. They took a ton of pictures of everything. I remember the camera, I remember "cheesing" so they could take a picture, I even remember when they would let me take pictures. What I don't remember is a single photograph that was taken with that camera. We would download them onto the computer, ooh and aah over them, pick out our favorites, and walk away. Then, one day, the computer wouldn't turn on. Blue screen of death. My dad worked for hours to get that thing running, and nothing. When we moved in 2001, that computer tower made the trip across town. It's dusty and in the back corner of some room to this very day. We can't throw it out because of all of the pictures that are on it. So we are just left to stare at an used to be white computer tower with big red "COMPAQ" on the front. I don't even want to try and imagine what we lost. How many Christmases with loved ones that are no longer here? How many kisses from favorite pets? How many toothless grins from younger versions of my sister and myself?

These are the limits of the times we live in. Technology changes so fast, our memories can be gone in an instant. Digital copies are great- I love love love sharing my son with my family and friends that live all over the country. But that's all they should be, digital copies. We shouldn't put all our trust in electronics. They overheat, get dropped, and just straight up fail. And please do not trust a company's online server to preserve your memories. So many scenarios running through my head. I haven't even mentioned file corruption or viruses! It is so much easier to hold onto something forever if you can hold in your hand. Think about how much more enjoyment you will get out of a huge image on your wall. Hung where you can see it everyday. Not hidden in a folder on your computer. And that's what you'll be passing onto your grandchildren. Not a disc that they'll have to run to the antique store to view the data on it- hoping it still works.

I would like to share with you some images my family cherishes. My great grandparents, my grandparents at the Senior Prom, and the cutest little girl you ever did see ;). I have no doubt in my mind, if any of these photographers would have just handed over a disc, I would not be able to share these with you today.