By MARY ANN HUGHES
GRACE NOTES
My husband is a gadget guy. So is my son. Me? Not at all.
Over the years, the two of them have filled our home with a wide variety of electronic doodads. Usually, they had to explain their purposes since I am apparently living in the 1800s.
Once I understood how these must-have gadgets worked, I had to admit that living the life of Jane Jetson made things a little easier.
Until things starting breaking. And here in this house, we have been on a spectacular streak of things falling apart. It’s like watching dominos fall. My new question: What’s breaking today?
At night, if I listen closely, I can hear the sound of wires snapping and circuits breaking.
Boing! Boing! Boing!
It’s a little bit unnerving, I can tell you.
So what can we do without all of our gadgets? What will happen to the quality of life that we have worked so hard to attain?
Here’s what I know.
The summer when I was 12, I lived with my grandparents. They owned a television set that was rarely turned on. There was a wringer washing machine and a dryer in the cellar, a stove and refrigerator in the kitchen, and I think that was it.
They had no dishwashing machine; so every night after dinner, my grandparents would stand at the kitchen sink and laugh as they washed and dried the dishes together.
They attended early morning Mass at the church across the street; and about 10 every morning, my grandmother would head to the front porch for her prayer time. I think she prayed the rosary and said a few novenas.
It was a sacred time for her, and we all knew it.
Her faith was her priority, and her prayers helped her find her path.
When my son was 19 years old, he wrote these words: “The people of Earth were handpicked and carved by the Higher Being. They should rejoice and be glad in that itself. They should show Him praise for just being allowed to participate in the life experience.”
I have held those words close to my heart since I first read them.
My son is 40 now; he’s a wonderful, loving husband and father.
I know he is right. We should rejoice and be glad. We should offer praise for just being allowed to participate in the life experience.
And that doesn’t require a gadget.