From Jello to Cell Phones

  On Sunday we celebrated my younger daughter’s 12^th birthday.  We had parents, God parents, cousins, and friends over to mark the occasion.  The age span of our guests ranged from 7 months to 83 years.  For what ever reason, my older daughter received a cell phone on her 12^th birthday, so the very short tradition in my family then follows that on her 12^th birthday, my younger daughter would also get a cell phone.  As gifts were being opened, which included a cell phone, my 79 year old uncle shared that, as kids, their birthdays were marked by my Grandma making jello.  I asked if maybe Grandma added some fruit or celery.  No, was the answer.  I asked if he got to choose the flavor. Again, no.  Just jello.   I later thought about how Americans are asked, are you better off than you were a year ago, or do you expect your children to have a better life than you.  Not that jello or a cell phone is the yardstick to use for the answer, but I just thought “from jello to cell phones”.  Life sure has changed.