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UnevenEdge

Does everything have to be on the web these days?


1938 Packard

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What did I see yesterday, at work, on the loading dock?  Three truckers with deliveries, waiting for a manager to sign forms.  All three were within a few feet of each other, but tapping away at stuff on the web.  They were just oblivious to each other, while engrossed with whoever they had on line. 

 

Today?  Well, I sat on the promenade, near some guy who appeared to be sleeping.  But, then, he dropped his flip phone.  He had some difficulty trying to bend down and pick it up.  Stiff back.  I picked it up for him and handed it to him.  He thanked me and then a few seconds later, he asked where I was from.  I told him and he said he lives in New York and has been visiting Atlantic City every month for sixty years.  Then, he asked, "Do you remember the 500 Club?"  I told him I'd never been there, but remember the whole town being on a big bummer the day it burned down.  I also recalled Gracie's Little Belmont, Nash's, Count Bassie at the Steel Pier and the Traymore.  He said, "Yeah... this town was really full of life back then.  I'm just here for the black jack games now.  Can't think of anything else around here that's fun."  Then, a lady showed up and she asked, "Are people allowed to smoke out here?"  I said, "You're probably thinking of Ocean City.  They have a non smoking policy for their whole Boardwalk, but around here, they won't even hassle you for pot.  Light up."  The other guy turned to her and asked, "Where are you from?"  She said, "Only about an hour from here, but haven't been here for six years."  Then he said, "You're in school, right?"  She said, "Well, yes.  Second year of law at Stockton." 

 

At that point, I was just doing a lot more listening than talking.  She was both brainy and pretty.  Really going places.  Maybe I should have worn my teeth today.  It would have made a better impression on her. 

 

Look, this is just the sort of thing that used to go on all the time with people.  That is, before earbuds, iPhones, game apps, etc.  Now, it's like... everybody's talking to people hundreds of miles away while ignoring people in their immediate midst.  Take away all the tech and people just might start talking to each other again.

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