Signs of the times

   I’ve had a signs-of-the-times conversation again. While JC de Vera was on the subject an officemate said he looks like Jao Mapa. Kids of today do not know who Jao Mapa is. If you know him, then you’re a kid of yesteryear.

   I like the Eraserhead’s song Torpedo because the lyrics hints of a certain period. “Di ba Huwebes ngayon baka may bago nang palabas.” Before that I hadn’t the slightest idea when cinemas changed their shows. I think movies are now replaced on a Wednesday. Then there’s “Sige na umalis ka na, tumutunog na ang beeper mo.” My beeper (pager) is now buried in my daughter’s toy chest. Born in the generation of cellular phones she still thinks it used to be an alarm clock. 

   And then there’s the post office. I remember writing to classmates during summer vacation. Painstakingly choosing which stamps to use. Then worrying that the stamp might fall off before my letter reaches the recipient. Because of the slow delivery of mails, hence the term snail mail, we only get to exchange two to three letters each summer. Now there’s email, chat, and text where you can send your message all over the world in a matter of minutes. Three weeks ago I promised my daughter I’d teach her how to send a letter via post office. I have to make good of that promise. Fast.

   I remember when daughter Cheska and I were studying singular verbs. “Mang Jose (take    takes) a bath in the river.” There was a change in her tone, her face looked so aghast you could almost hear Eeooow! Couldn’t get over it, she said it again maintaining the Eeooow look. So I explained that the river must be clean. She asked “Meron bang ganon? (Is there such a thing?)” Now that’s a kid of today. 

   When was the last time you saw a clean river? Much less took a bath in it?