Sunday night, as I drifted off to sleep, it occurred to me that my son Timothy and I spent many happy hours this past weekend engaged in nothing more than the verbal transfer of ideas.
Now, we did spend a few dollars on breakfast Saturday morning and Gloria Jean's coffee Sunday afternoon. But even if we'd skipped these activities, we still could have spent that same time.
For hours, Timothy verbally shared his scene-by-scene outline for the fourth book in the Adventures of Cornell Dyer series: Cornell Dyer and the Never Robbers.
For hours, I transcribed his thoughts into a note file on my phone.
Occasionally, Timothy checked the notes on his phone.
Occasionally, he asked if the plot was too complicated for kids.
Occasionally, I had a question from a reader's perspective.
We only made it to chapter five (about halfway) in the approximately six hours we spent on it.
No gadgets (except the notes stores in our phones and the above mentioned refreshments).
And now I have to wait until this weekend (at least) to pick the story back up and see what happens! (argghhhh!).
All this from a person who once needed help from me to support his little infant neck!
We seem to live in an age where people bemoan social media and the lack of in-person conversation (especially among the generations), especially when people bemoan it on social media, and where technological entertainment appears to prevail.
And yet these tools, too, are just one more means of sharing the thoughts of one to another: for edification, enjoyment, or both.
It's really sublime, isn't it?
Now, we did spend a few dollars on breakfast Saturday morning and Gloria Jean's coffee Sunday afternoon. But even if we'd skipped these activities, we still could have spent that same time.
For hours, Timothy verbally shared his scene-by-scene outline for the fourth book in the Adventures of Cornell Dyer series: Cornell Dyer and the Never Robbers.
For hours, I transcribed his thoughts into a note file on my phone.
Occasionally, Timothy checked the notes on his phone.
Occasionally, he asked if the plot was too complicated for kids.
Occasionally, I had a question from a reader's perspective.
We only made it to chapter five (about halfway) in the approximately six hours we spent on it.
No gadgets (except the notes stores in our phones and the above mentioned refreshments).
And now I have to wait until this weekend (at least) to pick the story back up and see what happens! (argghhhh!).
All this from a person who once needed help from me to support his little infant neck!
We seem to live in an age where people bemoan social media and the lack of in-person conversation (especially among the generations), especially when people bemoan it on social media, and where technological entertainment appears to prevail.
And yet these tools, too, are just one more means of sharing the thoughts of one to another: for edification, enjoyment, or both.
It's really sublime, isn't it?
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