Progress

When I tell my children how different life was when I was a kid, they marvel at the hardships. How is it possible that we managed with just a handful of channels? I try explaining that you knew you had stayed up too late when the Star-Spangled Banner was played and then the screen was filled with noisy “snow” until the start of the next day. They cannot really imagine what it was like without hundreds of television channels available every hour of every day. And though there has been much progress in my almost thirty-nine and a half years, it simply does not compare to the technological advances of the past ninety-nine years.

In 1911, aviation was at its infancy. The first airplane to land on a ship was piloted by Eugene Ely, the first official air mail was delivered, and the first non-stop London-Paris flight was completed. It took another three decades before the airline industry really took shape and it was still some time before commercial aviation became commonplace.

Tremendous advances in the automotive industry took place in 1911. Charles Kettering patented the electric starter. Good news as it eliminated the need to crank up the old Model-T before taking a spin. Speaking of which, Chevrolet appeared on the scene that year, giving Ford a run for his money.

Fashion has changed. So has music and the arts. Every single aspect of life has been propelled forward at what now must seem like an alarming speed.

PC’s grandmother been observing all of these changes for the past ninety-nine years. Today, we celebrated with her…and wished her ad meah v’esrim.

Happy Birthday, Mom-Mom. May we celebrate with you for another twenty-one!