It takes a village

It was said the other day on TV that it takes a village to raise a child, but the village is now gone. It was reflecting that our "village" our family unit has become so mobile and so far spread apart that the family unit we had as a child growing up is no longer in existence for this generation of children growing up. Where we had Grandma and Grandpa almost next door and cousins to play with enough to make up a good baseball or football team. Sundays were reserved for church and then to Grandmas house for dinner. Conversation was over coffee and maybe the telephone party line, sharing the latest happenings in the family and neighborhood. Movies were at the drive in or the local theater, now they are recorded to watch later when you are not so busy. This is how it was when I was growing up. God first, family second, neighbors third and friends last. Gardens were shared as was the harvest. Canning was done together and shared equally. What does this generation have-I pods instead of AM radio, cell phones for on the go, texting instead of voice conversations, Instant Messaging/Blogs/are your link now to the world and email has replaced the time old letter and postage stamp. Do I miss it...I sure do. I miss the personalization that a conversation over a cup of coffee, a phone call to hear a loved ones voice vs a beeping message on the phone that you have a text message. I do feel left out when it comes to the old fashioned family gatherings. Our lives have become way too hectic and time consumed. Our grandchildren are missing out on real value of family gatherings, neighborhood football and cousins. We have become way too mobile and have lost the old fashioned touch. I am glad that I am in the fall of my life and I have the wonderful memories of my childhood to carry me though this electronic age. Nothing will never replace the knock on the door for coffee and shared company or the ring of the phone to say hi.