I was working out today at the gym, listening to my iPod, reading my book. When out of the corner of my eye, I catch a lady- in her late 40’s- walking up the stairs. Clipped onto her pocket was a large silver box, coming out of the silver box were headphones. I kept looking at it as she walked up the stairs to see if I could get a better look. As she got closer I could see a tape inside. It was a tape player. A portable tape player…
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a portable tape player. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a portable CD player for that matter. I was dying to ask her what tape she was listening to. You know it had to be something pretty old because they stopped selling cassette tapes a while ago, right!? My first thought was Simon and Garfunkel, she seemed like the type that would enjoy them. But then I was thinking it was probably a book on tape. Maybe a mystery- the intrigue!
I couldn’t help but think back to my high school days when I’d take my CD player and book of cds to every basketball or soccer game. I’d listen to two songs on a CD, take out the CD and return it to the sleeve only to pull out another to listen to for a short period of time. I take for granted the conveniences of the iPod. Thousands and thousands of songs at my fingertips. I make random playlists for every occasion. Similar to me recording songs off the radio in particular order and playing them back!!
I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I imagined this lady walking on the treadmill and getting to the end of the tape. Opening up the side of the player and flipping it around to the other side. Or waiting the 15 seconds to rewind the tape. Classic- it’s something we all remember, and at the time- they were pretty sweet. The original WalkMan. Those were the days.
I can’t fathom what my kids are going to think when they see pictures years from now of the iPod- Are they going to laugh at me in 15 years when I hit the gym with my iPod? Will they be so embarassed at the dinosaur iPod, they’ll beg me not to walk with them when I’m listening to it, or even better, they’ll be embarassed enough to buy me a new gadget for Christmas, something so cool? Who knows!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! 🙂
I'm laughing right now picturing those days on the bus on the way to soccer games with our CD players and STACKS of CDs!! Memories!!
That is classic! Cool for her not to give into the demands of trends & current "in" stuff! (:
Love the new blog look. Did you design it? So cute!
That is funny! I remember waiting on my favorite radio station for my favorite songs to come on and ready to push record on my cassette tape. That brought back a lot of memories. By the way I'm impressed that you can listen to your ipod and read a book at the same time!!
i did the same thing as lisa…waited for my favorite song to come on and see if i could hit the record button fast enough. i actually just found a receipt in an old box that said i purchased a cassette tape in 1999. hahaha i wonder which one it was.
on the bachelor note…i am a jillian fan, too. i guess it didn't really come across that way in my blog, but i think i like her. i can see him with her. that's sad about molly…i like her. i'm glad you filled me in. i'd been dying to know. that would be really hard. even though they signed up for it, i doubt they thought it would be as intense as it was…
Okay I was totally laughing as I was reading that…a WALKMAN?!? Serious. That is hilarious.
Plus, love the new look on your blog…aren't you fancy dancy!
Kara I love your blog! It has the same color scheme of these cute new boxes and organizational things at Target. Are you secretly a designer for Target???