On my way to my first haircut since Oki was born (about 2 years ago!), I sat behind a lady who was putting on her make up on the bus. I find it fascinating watching women putting on make up, being someone who rarely wears it herself. It seems like such a private thing, transforming yourself until you think you are presentable to the world. You're giving away your secrets, but I suppose it doesn't matter so much in front of strangers.
I also like seeing all these mysterious products come out of the bag. SO many things!
Lately I have noticed people using their phones as a mirror. Owning a very basic phone that pretty much just texts and phones, I'm unfamiliar with all this technology. When this lady was using her phone to put on her make up, my thoughts were:
"Really? A mirror seems like such a small thing to include in your bag, and all you need to do is open it, whereas I imagine with your phone, you have to press a few buttons. Is it really better using a phone?"
I know I'm old fashioned. I like looking at a physical A-Z map, when trying to work out where I am. I once saw an old gentleman on the tube, and all he was carrying in his hand was a dog-eared, well loved A-Z. I thought it looked so beautiful. I love REAL books, pages you can turn and feel. I like playing with the pages, the sound and feeling and slight breeze as you flick through. I love the challenge of starting a brand new big thick book, and when you finally reach the end, how it becomes worn, the creases in the spine, the dog-eared cover...they're signs of the times you've spent together.
Off on a tangent a bit there, but I can't help but have these thoughts as I notice how fast everything is changing around us. I suppose becoming a mum recently has made me be curious about what kind of world my boy will grow up in. I'm happy that Oki loves books, and the only books he knows at the moment are real ones. I suppose if I had the technology, then we'd look at books on a screen too. I've been told about digital interactive books that move about and stuff. I'm sure he'd love them. But for now, I love having him on my lap and us turning the pages together :)
Anyway, back to the Makeup Lady.
Her phone/mirror choice all made sense when she pulled out the most enormous brush I've ever seen out of her tiny bag. Ahh, ok. Fair enough. Yep, you need all the space you can get carrying that massive thing around with you all day!
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i've been completely won over by my kindle but its weird that i buy books that don't even really exist. quite often i can't even remember the author of the book im reading because i never see its cover.
ReplyDeleteHey Craig! GOod to hear from you!! It's the same for me and the few mp3s I've downloaded - I forget I have them on me ipod, as there's no memory of holding the actual thing in my hand. I'm gonna be one of those ancient and embarrassingly old-fashioned parents when Oki's a teen he he :D
ReplyDeleteStand up and be proud of being an oldie! I used to love buying music and flicking through the booklet. It inspired me to become an illustrator. I STILL buy CD's, but not so often now. As for books - they are GOLD and it is a wonderful feeling having a small child grunting and squeaking on your lap as they can touch, feel and turn pages. Temi is fanatical about The very Hungry Caterpillar. We have two versions (one is pop up) and he loves sticking his fingers in the holes. You can't do that with a Kindle (sorry Craig!). I'm quiet happy to move with the time, I'll even admit that I've checked my hair in my phone, but book. BOOKS must stay paper based FOREVER!
ReplyDeleteAhh the thought of little Temi squeaking on your lap makes me smile :) And YEAH, real books rule! Have you read Chip Kidd's The Cheese Monkeys? Now there's a book I can't imagine being translated into the digital format, it's fab, with a secret clever bit, ooooh!
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