Durable Human (2 book series)

Have a Human Holiday

December 19, 2009                      

The snow just keeps on coming.  In front of my house, a lone pair of tire tracks fades with each falling inch. Yet, under the drifts at the end of the driveway, is a plastic bag with today’s Washington Post.  It’s as if it’s 1999, when everyone got the paper and the day couldn’t start unless you devoured those words along with your toast and coffee.  But the bag is skinny now and fewer subscribers are on the street, yet someone still managed to bring my paper in the worst December storm on record.

The front page tells of another endangered habit. People complain about empty mailboxes and no festive cards to make their day.  But others are glad to be done with the tradition.  They love using Facebook because they can send quick, paperless greetings and a steady supply of family snapshots all year long.

I, too, am toying with discarding the card idea. In the few days our grown-up kids were together this summer, no one thought to take a perfect picture.  But we’ll hang in for another year and send a  generic photo.  Whatever goes in the mail, I know I can depend on a slew of hard-working humans to get it where it needs to go.

Amazon depends on humans, too. I never thought much about that until I stumbled on a link to their holiday help-wanted ad.  Amazon hires walk 10 to 15 miles a day and “repetitively lift, bend, stoop and squat”.  I suddenly realized, when I order on Amazon, a great effort will be made on my behalf – not by robots or machines –  but by living, breathing people.

I had an ache of thanks just then, for all those durable humans—striding miles to schlep my selections; driving through the snowy dawn; hoping they’ll be there next year to haul my self-styled greetings.

So, for the holidays still before us, let’s remember the unsung heroes of the Internet age.  And, when we finally have a few precious moments with the people we know and love, let’s stand down our digital devices so we don’t end up like this Facebook message:

“Pre-Thanksgiving dinner w/the Martins at a Mexican restaurant:  sister on Blackberry with friends. Brother on Blackberry with Asian office. Sister in law on Blackberry with Washington D.C. Me on Blackberry checking emails and texts. Niece reading Vampire book. Meanwhile, Dad is eating chips and salsa, wondering what happened to his dinner companions…”

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yes, we all owe thanks to those who help. At the end of the day, it is all about the human input.
Happy holidays!

Kathy Huff

In starting a new business I find myself doing everything, including manning my tent at the Farmer Market in the snow. I wasn’t thrilled about this, but I did want to be outside more so I embraced the challenge. Who knew it would give me one of the most beautiful and cherish memories.
When it snowed Dec 7 with big, huge, soft flakes slowly floating down, I was under my tent looking out. It was like being in the middle of a winter snow glob looking out, so picturist and peaceful. When people (loyal customers) at the market came by, I pulled them under the tent, turned them around and said look, don’t you feel like you’re inside a snow globe! They actually tood a moment and gasp. I can’t describe the feeling it gave us, except at these moments there was peace on earth and all without a digital devise. Cheers.
Cheers,
Kathy

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