My 60 Minutes Moment – Stamps, iPhones, Can Openers, and Cats
While these stamps are perfectly functional, they symbolize the loss of an era right before our eyes...
Last weekend Dan and I made the decision to trade in our Android phones (which we fondly referred to as “The Evils”) for an Apple iPhone. Before we got to the shop, we took a quick detour to the post office to get stamps and I was in shock with what I saw.
There is no question that somehow the spirit of Andy Rooney lives in me, because I instantly found myself becoming a curmudgeonly grump. No longer does our self-service stamp machine give out books of stamps. Instead, to save money, we are now given stamps that are printed on a sheet of label paper. They are completely boring and devoid of any personality whatsoever. And why should I care so much – the sole purpose of the stamp is to get my mail from point A to point B without delay, isn’t it?
"Penny Black" - the world's first postage stamp that was introduced by the UK in 1840
Well, for me, the stamp and the ritual of putting it on the envelope is one of the last vestiges we have left of Americana and I don’t do online payments for that reason. I like the physical act of writing out a check (with pictures of my kitties on them, naturally), putting it in an envelope, walking down my driveway to the mailbox and putting the flag up to signal I need a mail pickup. It just makes the process seem personal and real. Now, writing checks is becoming a lost art, cursive writing is all but obsolete, and everything is becoming standardized, electronic, and de-personalized.
These stamps that were issued in March of 2010 were part of a campaign to increase public awareness about shelter pets and to encourage adoptions. Ellen DeGeneres and Halo pet foods also teamed up with the campaign and donated a million meals to shelter pets.
I also loved having the option of choosing a book of stamps with artwork that commemorated something going on in the world. One of my favorites was the recent series of cats and dogs called “Animal Rescue Adopt a Shelter Pet” when stamps were still 44 cents and I also have a series of charming cat stamps that I framed almost thirty years ago that now hangs in our guest bathroom. Somehow this silly sheet of nondescript stamps made me both sad and angry as I realized with more certainty than ever, that the post office is going the same route as newspapers, film, books, and magazines – digital and electronic.
These beautiful stamps that were issued in 1985 featuring eight cat breeds are now considered a vintage collectors item!
So, complete with my already irritated frame of mind, we headed to the iPhone store to get a new piece of technology that I really didn’t want. Unfortunately, however, our Android phones, despite how technologically amazing they were capable of being, were nothing but a headache. If I am going to purchase a piece of technology, I at least expect it to do what it is supposed to do. Well, my Android did just about everything except let me use it as a phone… it got to the point of being utterly ridiculous – not one phone call I would make would go through without some sort of mishap, forcing me to call the person again, and again, and again.
The iPhone has a great reputation, so we decided to bite the bullet and finally get one. I would like to say it was love at first sight and that the phone and I bonded instantly as BFF’s, but, naturally, it was a rocky relationship from the start, with me actually wanting to submerge the phone in a tub of water to drown it… Nothing is more frustrating to a writer, than not being able to do something that comes so naturally to you – type.
Seen here looking quizzically at this foreign object is Zee and Harley. None of my cats have ever seen a rotary phone. Even Jazz, our eldest, grew up with the newer style keypad phones that sat in a charger cradle.
I consider myself somewhat intelligent, but I reverted to a two year old who was on the verge of a massive tantrum as it took me over an hour to create an Apple account to download the facebook AP. The cats stayed clear of me, as my body was radiating waves of such intense frustration, that I think they thought I might combust into flames at any moment. I kept making mistakes, my relatively petite fingers became giant hands, as the phone kept insisting whatever letter I was trying to key in, was actually a different one. I could figure out how to correct mistakes to the left of the cursor, but I could not correct any text to the right of it. FINALLY, I created the account and received one of those emails where you have to validate your account. Turns out that my last name was now “Barned,” instead of “Barnes,” because I did not see that it had not accepted my “s.” At this point, you could have called me anything you wanted, all I cared about was that I got the account to open and I could download the stupid AP that was ruining my mental sanity.
This is Peanut on the counter - you can see from the look in her face that it she realizes it is time to come find me and remind me it is dinner time...
By then, it was getting late and past the normal time I feed the cats dinner. I know this for a fact, because somehow Peanut has an internal clock residing inside her. No matter what the day, weather, daylight savings or not, this cat KNOWS when it is time for dinner. She will come find me and remind me in her trademark way – first off, she will stare at me from the floor and emit a long wailing meow of reminder to me. Next will be the physical reminders – she will jump up on my lap and tap my check with her front paw to tell me to get up and get dinner going! Okay, okay! I’m getting up!!
At this point, my mind is already in a serious funk – turns out technology and convenience can be quite exhausting… Anyhow, I did what I do a thousand times over, I popped open a can of moist food to mix with the dry kibble – a sacred ritual in our house. Out of nowhere, the spirit of Andy Rooney takes over me again and I flash back to a time of days gone by – the electric can opener. With most of my food coming either frozen, fresh, or canned with pop-up lids, I realized I had not used an electric can opener in years. As a matter of fact, I no longer even owned one. I have a hand held can opener in the silverware drawer and that is it.
This relic from years ago was actually the first GPS locator invented to find cats...
I am sure they are still available, but the models today are probably so sophisticated that they clean your oven and cook a roast at the same time. But what about the cats? It seems that they too have become victims of technology as they know none of the Pavlovian effects a can opener can have on them! Do you remember that? All you had to do was press down on the can opener to make that whirring noise and your cats would come from a mile away thinking it was time to eat!
Numerous illustrations of Norman Rockwell graced the cover of the classic magazine, The Saturday Evening Post. This one, called “Take Your Medicine,” from May 30, 1936 actually features a cat in the corner. This was somewhat unique, as Rockwell tended to use dogs in most of his works.
I actually remember a time that I brought an extension cord outside to plug in the can opener to find a cat that had accidentally gotten out! If my cats heard a can opener today, especially Zee, he would probably flee the room in terror, not recognizing the sound!! As it is, the blender is a mortal enemy to him. Sigh… seems I’m just a Norman Rockwell girl living in a Steve Jobs world (RIP). I think for many of us my age, that is something we all can relate to. Unlike our children who have grown up with such advanced technology and take it in stride, we still struggle with remembering a simpler time in life, while also embracing the new world we live in.
Sometimes I think that I just need to take the lead from my cats and find a nice sun puddle to curl up for a nap… They seem to take the changes in life in stride and don’t let it bother them. And the good news, my iPhone and I have patched things up and our relationship is getting stronger by the day. I have figured out how to use the keypad and the clarity of the phone reception and images has been amazing. I have not had one dropped phone call yet and I think there is hope for a long and wonderful friendship!
Good luck bonding with your iPhone. I remain a BlackBerry devotee – the iPhone touchscreen keyboard and I don’t get along. I’m with you on the stamps – the current selection is not all that exciting. I wish they’d bring back the pet stamps, or the spay neuter stamps they had a few years back. I suppose there’s always the option of making your own customized stamps.
Have a great weekend!
Ingrid, I actually like the BlackBerry too – the keyboard was wonderful, but when I was laid off, so was my BlackBerry! Making stamps would be fun, I have seen it on Zazzle, but it was quite costly!
My mommie want´s nice stamps too !
Good luck with your Iphone , my mom sticks to her Andriod 🙂
Have a pawsome weekend
Kjelle – I am glad you mommie likes her Andriod… I really, really, really wanted to like mine, but it was a nightmare almost from day one!!
I could sooo relate to this!
About the stamps, I am the same and put different stamps on different letters/bills to reflect my feelings about where the letter/bill/package is going. Good news for you, you still CAN get assorted stamps, you just have to stand in a line at the Post Office (which will trigger another Andy Rooney moment), they have them behind the counter. About the Adopt A Shelter Pet stamp, I had ordered mine online through Ellen’s website…later I ordered them from the post office’s main website, they might still be available. I bought “forever” stamps at the Post Office (behind the counter) that have Tigers on them.
On to the phone. I have an Android and HATE IT. I have complained multiple times to Sprint who told me since I have one of the first of their Android attempts I will LOVE their latest Droid that has supposedly solved all of the problems I am currently experiencing (similar to yours). I am not eligible for an upgrade til MAY…not sure what I will do. The other day I tried for HOURS to get past a glitch that wouldn’t let me upload photos.
I get equally as frustrated with the technology that is supposed to make our lives so much “easier!!”
Oh and about the can opener? I use an ANCIENT hand-held…I have bought new ones…I disposed of all of them. Give me my ancient rickety-old one that works like a champ anyday!
Caren – I’m with you on the stamps. For me, it is like putting on an outfit – I would pick whatever stamp made the most sense to whoever the recipient was!! I realize I can still get regular stamps, it just angers me that in order to pay for convenience, you have to sacrifice quality. I still have a few sheets left of the Shelter stamps and will keep them tucked away in plastic, as I can see now that one day they too, will be a collectors item!
Regarding the phone, I remember that you and I were complaining about them two years ago at BlogPaws in VA!! I can feel your pain!! All I can say, is that I’ve had the iPhone now for a couple of weeks and the more I learn about it, the more I like it. Still, not one phone call dropped and I can hear each and every call with amazing clarity!
I still get those cat and dog stamps when I buy stamps which isn’t very often since it is so much cheaper to do stuff online.
I don’t have and never have had any of those fancy phones or I Pods or what ever they are. LOL. So we are no help in that dept. I am lucky to get the computer turned on.
Have a great day.
Marg… that is so funny!! I know what you mean though – years ago, I was the same way with my computer! Now, it is practically attached to my arm!
Oh the Woman hated her old android phone for speaking on to! So she took Microsoft up on their discount for employees and got a win phone (the carriers for iPhone have poor coverage where we live). She’s also a stamp collector who was excited to see your post. She hasn’t been so involved in the hobby any longer as many of the stamps now are almost “presented” to the collectors rather than being something you FOUND as part of your letter–if you know what I mean.
Oh yes, Chey! I know what you mean about “finding” a stamp as part of your letter – now, we barely even get letters from people 🙁
We good luck with the switch to iPhone. I switched from Android about a year ago and now I love it. Here’s a couple of hints…turn off autocorrect, it’s a pain in the furry butt and turn the phone sideways to type, the keyboard is a lot easier to use that way. Oh yea, under settings, general, keyboard, you can save standard phrases that you might use all the time, for example, for me, if I type acwd and hit tap the space bar it types Adopt Cats, We Deserve it, or eee puts in my email address.
Brian – thank you for those great hints – especially the one about typing key phrases that you use all the time!!
As wedded as I am to my computers, I am one of the few people on the planet who is cell-phone free, primarily due to the ridiculously complicated and expensive plans and the fact that I have a short range (home>work>home>work) lifestyle. These days, when everyone is tethered to their phones, I consider it a point of pride!
I still have a sweatshirt with the vintage 85 cat stamps, a sheet of shelter pet stamps, and a screechie electric can opener that can still summon the cats.
Sally, wow! Not having a cell-phone is almost unheard of today!! While I do find the email and texting aspect of the phone handy, I certainly don’t use it to the full extent it is cabable of and wonder why they can’t just make cell phone models that aren’t so complicated!! I would love to have that sweatshirt with the kitties – how cool is that?!!!
I so relate to what you have written today. I have an old cell I use only when I am in my car by myself in case I have car problems or accident. I refuse to do my banking on-line or other financial stuff such as pay bills etc. I still buy & read books….no Kindle for me! And I still have my trusty hand can opener even though every can it seems have those pull lids or tops whatever. I never considered myself old-fashioned but I guess I am!
Karen, years ago, when cell phones first came out, that is exactly why I got one. I wanted it for the car so that if there were an emergency, I would be okay. That has all changed, but I do have a strict rule that I do not text while I drive – that really scares me when I see people doing that… And don’t worry about being “old-fashioned” – that is a good thing!!
OH this was so funny!!! Did you really take the can opener outside? That GPS reference was PRICELESS! I didn’t know they were phasing out “real” stamps for…those things. That is a slice of Americana that is slipping away from us.
I have to admit it…I’m a geek, a nerd, a techno-weenie through and through, so I love stuff like Android phones and Kindles. But I totally get your frustration with that teensy keyboard, Ms. “Barned”. (and now the struggle to go back and figure out how to *fix* it…aaargh…!) Not sure if it’ll help, but I love my Swype keyboard. You might download it and try it out. instead of tapping, you swish your finger around the letters to form the word. I think it’s much faster and easier – and if I ever have to use hubby’s phone now to text, I grumble and get all Andy-Rooney, too.
Glad you enjoyed the post, Lisa!! Now that I have calmed down, in retrospect, it was funny!!! And yes, I sure did take a can opener outside!! Interesting concept with the Swype keyboard… knowing my luck, if I download it, I will do it wrong and cause the phone to go haywire!!
I had to smile about your being “Andy Rooniesh” I miss those small but touches to that were more intimate and thoughtful. Especially the stamps. I haven’t gotten any new one’s in a long time because everything is digital. There’s something about writing an old fashioned letter vs. an email despite the ease of an email. I’d like to start up a circle of women writing each other old fashioned letters/cards. One thing that’s not going to be replaced though is our playing with our cats like with “da bird.” Some things will never go out of style.
Sele and Miss Bella – what a sweet idea about starting a club to write old/fashioned letters and cards! I love it! And yes, playing with our cats will never go out of style! Even with all the technology in the world, a paper bag, a box, and a wadded ball of paper are still the best toys!!
Call me a curmudgeon because I agree with everything you say! Just the other day I received a parcel from England with the most beautiful Royal Mail stamp of the Queen which I’m keeping. On a tech happy note, I have comment luv back :-0
Layla – lucky you!! I would love to see that stamp!
I will be curious to see how you like the iphone once you get used to it. I’m sorry that I LOL’ed at Barned…but it was funny. That first stamp is Fugly with a capital F!!
Julia – I don’t mind the laugh, it was funny!! As far as the phone, I have to admit that it is growing on me… I found a leopard case for it, so that’s all that really matters to me!!
Oh I do understand! I don’t have an i phone or anything like that but I do have a touch screen, and the amount of times I have wanted to throw it as far as I can see it because I have scrolled to the recipient only for it to stop and send to the wrong one. Then it corrects my spelling to something I don’t want when there was nothing wrong with it in the first place. I also still have my hand held can opener that I refuse to part with. I always queue at the post office for “nice” stamps. Those printed things are so impersonal. So, it sounds like I am a grumpy old curmudgeon too!
Oh yes, Eric and Flynn… that is something we can relate to also!! Sending the email to the wrong recipient!! Happens all the time and it is so frustrating!! You want to grab the email from thin air and bring it back, but despite all the technolgy we have, it’s too late and in it goes into the wrong person’s in-box!! Seems like maybe we need to start a “grumpy old curmudgeon club” – I am finding a lot of people who could be members!
I’m still getting used to my iPhone and I’ve had it since February! Do you remember when the microwave ovens first came out?
I’m also very frustrated with the stamp thing. Would you believe one of the postal clerks at the post office refused to sell stamps to a customer at the counter when I was in there mailing a package? He insisted the customer use the stamp machine for a 45 cent stamp! I think I’ll head over and make some stamps with Truffle and Brulee’s picture on them.
Sweet Purrfections… microwaves!! Yes, it seemed like black magic back then!! I remember my ex-father-in-law was completely fascinated with them and he would just stick stuff in it all day long to see what would happen – bacon, potatoes, popcorn…
How rude on the part of the postal clerk… And we wonder why the instituion is crumbling before our eyes…
LOL Very funny post 🙂 Being a converted Apple person, I have Macbook, ipad and iphone and LOVE them. And I am not techy at all! I’m glad you are getting used to your phone. I wouldn’t be without mine now. The advice in the comments is good 🙂
I had no idea who Andy Rooney was? We have Wayne Rooney, the footballer and I know Micky Rooney and I went to school with a girl called Catherine Rooney …. but then, you don’t want to know all that lol.
And I agree, the digital age is slowly but surely taking the heart and soul out of daily life. Individualism has been sacrificed on the altar of identical pixels and dots! xx
Oh my goodness, CATachresis! Andy Rooney would find the fact that you did not know who he was quite funny! I miss him so much – he was part of my Sunday night TV viewing for more years than I care to admit. He passed away this year and I think maybe I should take his spot on 60 Minutes!!
Profound statement… “taking the heart and soul out of daily life…”
Deb, you sure *did* channel your inner Andy Rooney in that post. And it was fantastic! 🙂
Those stamps … wow, I don’t even know what to say about them, except that is SO sad. We love “nice-looking” stamps. It’s such a treat to see the wonderful artwork, and learn the stories behind them.
Although I’m a Mac user, I have an Android, and actually like it. We’re all pals here, so I know you won’t think any less of me, though. MOL Glad you are enjoying your iPhone!
Hugs!
Hmmm, well, yes, you do have a point, meowmeowmans… we are pals, so I will let it go and not think anything less of you!! Glad you enjoyed my Andy Rooney “channeling!”
iPhone? Electric can opener? I have three computers, but not even one TV and bypassed most of the electric kitchen gadgets, remaining happily manual, but I’m glad to see there’s another non-cell person here. I’m more concerned with the eyesight 30 years of computer screens have irreparably damaged and the hands I’d rather save for delicate sketching and brush strokes than tapping away on a keyboard I can’t even see. And I always hoped that one day I’d get to paint the images for the stamps. Sigh.
Bernadette – you are so right about the eyesight and hands… I know it is affecting a lot of us in ways that we don’t even realize. I hope you can paint a series of images for stamps – they would be exquistite!
For those who don’t know who Andy Rooney was, here’s his take on stamps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrRTae-kvjs
That video was wonderful, Dan! Thank you for sharing! Sure makes me miss him all the more!