The afternoon heat in the deep South drove us to the front porch where there was occasionally a breeze flickering through the leaves of the trees around us.

My sister and I worked on the crocheting that our Mother was teaching us while she told us stories of her childhood.  These were not life shattering stories but tales of everyday life about the the challenges and rewards of another era.  Without realizing it, we were learning the history of our area and of our family, the rules of relationships, and the appreciation for those who had survived without the technology and benefits of our generation.

My own daughters occasionally asked questions about my childhood and I relayed tales of growing up in the 40’s and 50’s.  But the time available to spend with this seemingly wasteful past time was much less than when I was a child.  There were friends to enjoy, TV programs to consume, homework to be done and all the other benefits that their generation offered.

As iphones and all the other gadgets of today’s world consume more and more of our children’s time, I wonder how much time the children of today spend learning from previous generations.  I suspect it is minuscule.

The history of my mother’s generation taught me how to live life.

The children of today don’t feel that they need to learn from the past while there are so many technological advancements to learn from today.

I learned about life on the front porch of my Florida home.

Sure, there is no question that new technology makes things so much easier.  Cell phones eliminated the need for pagers which eliminated the need for always being in the office when the phone rings.  Advancing computers and software eliminated the need for the use of  wax and layout sheets when I created my first statewide publication for print.  Even print publications are decreasing in size or disappearing entirely.

The latest technology called AI is sweeping the Internet as it makes many technical and written jobs easier and faster.

Learning takes many forms and comes in many formats.  The internet is teeming with self-proclaimed gurus who are anxious to teach us. My email box is filled with so-called experts claiming to be able to teach me how how live  as well as all about using AI effectively which they used to subsitute for experience itself.

Progress has made it even easier for anyone to be anything they want to be by just proclaiming it.  Each of us can be anyone we want to pretend to me through the miracle of the internet.

Yes, this is an old lady remembering when times were simpler, when experts were easy to spot, and when learning was easier.

As a child, I knew that Mom was the expert.

It’s not as easy today.  But, if you’re careful, you can still find those who have lived through the past and can help guide you through the present.