My father-in-law was born in 1905. If he were alive today, he’d be 103. He actually lived to be 92. He was a simple man, having lived in the same house his entire life, in a farming community in rural South Jersey. Our farm is pictured above in my header. His family did not get electricity until he was 22 years old, and running water came 5 years after that. They did not get a local newspaper, because they did not read English. Once a week, they traveled by horse or train about 7 miles to the local Italian Market for the Italian newspaper and other supplies.
The best story he ever told was about the first time he saw an airplane (bi-plane). He was about 14 (1919), and working in the field with the family. They heard a strange noice and looked up to see a strange creature in the sky coming toward them. Some ran, some screamed, some cowered in fear. In the end, as it passed overhead without harming them, they came to the conclusion that it was a motorcycle that could fly.
He lived to see (and hear) radio, television, telephone. He lived through the influenza pandemic of 1919, and lived to see (and receive) vaccines for illness that killed previously. He lived through the depression, both World Wars, the nuclear bomb, the cold war, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm. He embraced the microwave oven. He saw man land on the moon and he saw the Concorde pass over the same field 75 years after that first airplane sighting. He retired his horses and bought a tractor and a farm truck.
He took it all in, and marveled at how fast everything changed. Yet, he remained a simple man with few needs and desires. He did not let the bombardment of emerging technology and information disrupt his daily routine. He used what he needed, and ignored the rest. That’s why he lived to 92. He was content, he was wise.
I wonder, can we do the same?
