Polaroids and Haikus
I think social media has changed the way we go about our daily lives. I remember life before internet…you know…it wasn’t THAT long ago. Back then, I could go through an entire day without thinking “I need to make a status about that” or “I have got to take a pic of that and share”. I did attempt to keep a diary growing up. It certainly wasn’t kept up to date like my Facebook page is. I would end up feeling guilty about the month long gaps between entries and just give up. It’s not like anyone was reading my diary anyway…except maybe my sisters.
Now, I don’t want you to get the idea that I’m saying things were better before social media. That whole “back in my day, if we wanted to communicate, we would pick up the phone!” I’m saying that this is a good thing. I have a daily journal of my everyday life in status updates for the past 8 years! Ask me when my 2 year old said his first word. I can’t remember off the top of my head. Let me check my Facebook statuses. Ask me when my 22 year old said her first word. Um……… there is that guilt. I should have written that down.
I was thinking about this today at work. Our events coordinator was trying to come up with ideas for “Bring Your Kid to Work Day”. She thought it would be a cute idea to get Polaroid snapshots of the kids and their parents. Do they even make polaroid cameras anymore? You can find an old Polaroid camera on Amazon for around $200. Of course, you will need to find someone selling the film also. Things have sure changed. We don’t feel the need to print out all of our pictures anymore. We just upload them to Facebook. Snap, upload, and done.
We did find a new alternative to the old Polaroid camera. Fuji makes an instant camera that is Polaroid-like. We bought one for the office and I , of course, had to try it out. My boss’ dog, James Bond, was visiting today. He had the honor of being the subject of our first instant pic. I know this sounds strange, but I felt an excitement as I watched the picture go from white to…well…a picture. It was nostalgic.
And now…
Traci’s Daily Haiku:
Social media
Bringing the world together
Journaling our lives.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Remember the past
Like old pictures in boxes
Now easy to share.
Image Credit » My Own Picture
Comments
lucyluuk wrote on February 7, 2015, 1:22 PM
I still print pictures out and put them in frames around my home or in photo albums but it is good to have a digital back up of these images
1LindaCPearson wrote on February 8, 2015, 4:21 PM
In many ways, social media and technology have really enhanced our lives. In some ways though, it has definitely complicated our lives, so much more to do and always having to keep up with upgrades, etc. I enoyed your haiku.
GemOfAGirl wrote on February 8, 2015, 6:53 PM
My niece (a professional photographer) has one of the old Polaroid cameras, which is one of her prized possessions. I asked her once about the film, and she said that she thought that some tiny little company might still make it, but she wasn't sure. She keeps the camera as an object d'art, integrated into the décor of her home.
traci.ruffner wrote on February 10, 2015, 11:35 AM
The constant upgrades is probably the worst part. Thanks =)
traci.ruffner wrote on February 10, 2015, 11:36 AM
I have been meaning to put some pictures up. Lol It does make a home look more homey.
traci.ruffner wrote on February 10, 2015, 11:37 AM
Tell her to definitely hold onto it. It might make a comeback. You know...like record players.
GemOfAGirl wrote on February 10, 2015, 10:12 PM
LOL - I'm sure she already knows! She's very much into vinyl records right now. She recently asked me to get her some Grateful Dead records the next time I go to a second-hand record store that's in my town.
traci.ruffner wrote on February 10, 2015, 11:37 PM
I still love the crackly static sound of old records.
allen0187 wrote on February 12, 2015, 12:04 AM
I'd purchase one of those old Polaroid cameras if I had the chance. I know that there are still companies making film for those.
Love the haiku.
snerfu wrote on March 5, 2015, 9:01 AM
Nice to keep memories alive. Photography is really a boon.
LeaPea2417 wrote on December 14, 2015, 10:08 PM
I remember the days before the internet and social media. I have to admit, I have become addicted to social media. I do think it has enhanced my life.