Okay, I’m confused. It’s not the first time. As usual, technology is the culprit. My iPod died, drowning in my Sonic limeade a few weeks ago because of an unfortunate puncture in the Styrofoam cup. I was feeling rather secure, as I had opted for the insurance for once on the newly purchased mp3 player. I got out all my paperwork and headed back to the store, only to find that water or limeade damage was not covered. Since then, I have ruminated over the multiple choices of products in the mp3 player genre. I have gone so far as to purchase a Zune and return it, consider a new cell phone that also plays mp3s, examine iPhones, iTouches, iPods, mini-shuffles, and nanos. May I just add, all I really wanted was my own tunes with me for walks and long car drives, or so I thought—oh, which led me to purchase an iPod adapter for my car. Now, after seeing so many selections, I think I might need an optional FM player or my emails downloaded, or my contacts list and calendar from Outlook with me, so the decision is I’ve decided I can’t decide. All this high tech comparison from a woman who thinks power windows are just one more thing to go wrong with a car and panicked when the dog had her head out the car window and accidentally stepped on the window switch. But that probably is another post altogether.
Scientists spend countless hours in research to develop items that are supposed to improve the quality of life. We have so many choices that we now make more decisions in one day than we did ten years ago in one week. This takes an inordinate amount of my time, which defeats the purpose to increase the quantity and quality of leisure time. I want time to dream again, to rest my weary mind, to feel creative because there is room in the brain for one more thought. Maybe I need none of the above and just a day off to not have the luxury of choices. The dream is usually better than the reality anyway.
I’m not sure how to tie this together, but the other thing weighing on my head this morning is, as I write, Houston and the world are saying goodbye to world-renown heart surgeon, Michael DeBakey. He would have been 100 years old on September 7. I believe history will record him with the greats of Jonas Salk, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein. Here was a man who put his great mind and inventive techniques to unparalleled excellence. No iPod creation credit for him, but he will be remembered as the man who pioneered open-heart surgery. Before his discoveries and advancements in surgical procedures, heart patients were pretty much prescribed bed rest as their only hope and had little chance to live. He revolutionized surgical procedures originally by mending veins with a fabric, Dacron polyester purchased from Foley’s, a local retail store. In contrast, creating new iPods or using Dacron to heal veins, I want to salute Dr. DeBakey and am thankful he sacrificed the frivolous in life and opened the doors to amazing medical advancement. His dream became a remarkable reality and hope to many.
a view through annie's eyes 
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