The dearth of technology and communication due to my broken cell phone continues on my farm. The few phone calls that I have answered were usually met with much static and frustration.
There is some good news about not using the phone; I have not been told that my car’s warranty is about to expire. The bad news is how difficult it can be to buy seed, fertilizer, herbicides and other essentials for the next year without making phone calls. My landline is a museum exhibit, and some business cannot be conducted by text message.
I am amazed to know that some people quickly rush to buy a phone that is over $1000. It appears that many consider the latest smartphone technology an absolute necessity. I plan to purchase a much cheaper phone, one that will do everything I need. However, I have yet to find one in stock when I visit the store. Once again I am caught up in a supply chain snafu.
With only 4 full months until the next planting season, questions still abound about whether or not all the herbicides, fertilizers, machinery, parts and supplies will be in ample supply when needed. Also of great concern is how much they will cost to purchase if they are available.
Is the shortage of many products or services the new norm or will this be a minor hiccup that passes? I suspect we have all seen reports of people having tirades and outbursts from being denied some of the items that they were used to being readily available. For the 6 decades of my lifetime, I have become fortunate to have vastly more technology and modern conveniences each year. Has that created a sense of entitlement?
Are the luxury and excesses in our lives a testimonial of how successful we are as a society or is it an indictment of how wasteful and spoiled we have become?
Do you remember the memorable scene in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life when the community makes a run on the bank? Jimmy Stewart’s character George Bailey, convinces the bank’s customers to only take what they need and manages to prevent the bank from failing. I wonder how well our society would survive such a test today given a shortage of food, gasoline, money, smart phones, or even toilet paper. Would we hoard and look out for ourselves first or be thrifty and sharing?
This is the time of year when our homes are filled with presents and old movies with Chevy Chase or Jimmy Stewart saving Christmas for the family. I hope Santa has an Apple I-phone 8 in the bottom of his bag for me this year. The store doesn’t seem to have them. As the Grinch said, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from the store.”
I have my hopes on St Nick. Merry Christmas everybody! If you think this article was boring, wait until next week when I write about my prostate.
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