We’re still waiting for my granddaughter to arrive. I have my packing done, so when Trav calls, I can just load the stuff into the car and head to Lexington. After I packed, though, I had to make a list (you all know how fond I am of lists) so I wouldn’t forget to take anything with me. After I made the list, it hit me, yet again, how much things have changed since I gave birth to my children.

I’ve already looked at what seems like a bazillion new gadgets for babies, things that would’ve made things much easier 25 years ago when Byron was born. And the interesting thing is that when I had Byron, my mom pointed out all the things I had that made things easier for me than they had been for her. I suppose that’s just the way of things, but even 25 years ago when Byron was born, I looked at all the conveniences I had for taking care of that baby boy, and I wondered how in the world anybody had been able to take care of a baby in previous centuries. I guess it just comes down to the fact you do what you have to do with what you have, but let’s just say, I’m glad I was having my children in the 20th century.

When I think back about packing to go to the hospital when I had my kids, it was really quite simple. Basically all that was needed was a  suitcase of clothes for me, a couple outfits and a few gadgets for the baby. Then I look at the list I just made, those “essential” things I have to take when I head to Lexington. Obviously, there is a suitcase of clothes for me and Jimmy, and there is the toiletry bag (the one I keep packed so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice for whatever situation may arise). Since we’ll likely be spending a night or two at Trav’s, there is the air mattress so we aren’t sleeping on the floor. After that, though, it’s just the fun stuff that, sad as it may be, have become essential items for a trip – the cell phone, the laptop, the iPod, the digital camera and the Sony Handycam, the Kindle, and, of course, chargers for all those gadgets.

The rapid pace of technological developments blows my mind anyway. As soon as a product hits the market, it’s already out-of-date. My current list includes things I never would have thought possible 25 years ago when Byron was born. I can’t even begin to imagine what we will have by the time my granddaughter is ready to become a mother.

It is what it is, though. We rely heavily on these technological gizmos, and that won’t change. As more products are developed and marketed, we’ll become even more dependent on them. There are advantages and disadvantages to that, but that’s a blog for another day. For now, I’ll be passing my day using those various devices to get things accomplished (I am still working on getting things ready for school to start, wondering how I ever managed to get anything done before I had the laptop) and waiting for my granddaughter to arrive. I have the list on the nightstand, so I’m ready to go, as long as in my excitement I don’t forget to check the list.