Bigger is better right? Growing up in the burbs of Detroit – bigger was always better. Let’s face it in the 50’s and 60’s, size meant you had finally made it. Bigger the house, with a big Caddy or the working man’s Lincoln in the driveway, and that big gold Bulova on your wrist – meant you had made it in the Motor City.
So why
I am standing here, listening to this salesperson’s pitch on the merits of the
smallest Video Player I have ever seen in my life? Ok what if the 7 inch screen, could give you
the feeling of “…almost being there..”
with an added benefit of “..2 ½ hours of play back time.” It was still, only 7 inches!
When I
was a teenager (some four – five decades ago), a rectangular screen Color TV
and Fisher Stereo Console in the family room – meant you were “living the
dream.” They were big massive “solid”
things. When set in place by the delivery
guys, they stayed, rooted to the living room floor - until the house fell down
around them.
The
sales pitch goes on “…and this version can play back DVD,
CD, JPEG and MP3 formats for a variety of entertainment options and even
features a headphone jack for private listening.”
Yeaaaa!!!!….I think to myself.
If it weren’t for the fact that my wife and I were going on a trip and
needed something small to lug through the Airport – I wouldn’t be here. You may be asking what about my cell phone
or Ipad? Have you ever tried to get a
signal in the Dallas Airport? Enough
said…..
So here I am, headed out
with a deal on the $79.99 model. Then all of a sudden, it happens! On the way out of the store, I stumbled upon
the forbidden “TV and Home Theater” room.
You know the one in the back, that the spouse never wants you to find.
A darkened sanctuary with
real imitation leather couches. Moreover,
in this Holy of Holies, in all of its brilliance, I gaze upon the “…Sharp -
AQUOS - 90" Class (90" Diag.) - LED - 1080p - 120Hz - Smart - 3D –
HDTV.” Moreover, find that this beauty
could be all mine, for just south of a reasonably priced $8,000.
The sound, the color, the
pigmentation, the facial pores of Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean! Now this is truly - in keeping with the
tradition of my youth!!!! This was my
manifest destiny!!!
When did I first buy into
the “smaller was better” mantra? Ok, I will give you that some things should be
smaller, such as a surgical incision, or my waist size. And just maybe, just maybe my cell phone
could be a little slimmer.
I guess what really
bothers me, is that nowadays everyone seems to accept that everything has to be
smaller. Even our dreams, when did this
happen? Whatever happened to manifest
destiny!! Dreaming “BIG” and taking
risks!!! Just for the chance now matter
how remote, to “make it..”
Oh yeah, now I remember,
it came with retirement. As my
wallet grew smaller, so have my
dreams. As I head out of the store with that $79.99 deal,
I realize that I can still dream. While
I maybe retired, it doesn’t mean that I am dead, (or at least yet, that’s up to
the spouse). As a marshal my will, knowing
- I’ve lived just long enough to realize that dreaming by itself will not do
it. I’ve got get moving, find another
job or even start another project!
I can dream can’t I? It’s on to the want ads and networking
groups. Let’s see what a 60ish retired
veteran can find.
