the shift

conversing

gathered around the table
together
with good food
and lively answers to the question
how was your day?

 

 Out to dinner with mom

and sisters

sipping on fancy drinks

at a table that is filled with

an endless stream-of-conscious

kind of discussion 

complete with

belly laughs

and tears

while sharing the

what have you been up to latelies?

These moments of open

dialogue 

leave me hungry 

for more.

Maybe because I am aware of

the shift

the phenomenon

that 

like the sly blamb

has crept into my life

in a most

troubling way. 

 Stark contrasts.

In the span of one day.

First

a taking care-of-business call

where I am pushing buttons

as directed

 to different

departments

and in the end I get

the recorded message 

(a pleasant robot voice)

telling me 

my concern will be processed

soon.

have a good day

 Stopping at the library

to return and pick-up books I reserved

online.

With the newly installed

self check-out

that allows the librarians

to do...

well

whatever it is they do back there.

I can now do their

old job for them

without even a

good day

how convenient

The grocery store...

ditto.

Now flash back to the dinner 

I was discussing earlier.

the talking

the laughter

the tears.

To return home to my family

One is upstairs playing

a video game

The other two are

multi-tasking

i.e.

the television is playing

a re-run

#2 son is also texting or

playing a game on his phone

hubby has his laptop

open to

very important work

I'm sure. 

A lot of noise.

All are quiet.

It's true.

It has insinuated itself

right here in my

living room.

I could lie and say

this was a first

occurrence

but I think we all know better.

We can call these little

devices

time suckers

conveniences

budget busters

but in the end I can't help but ask

the age-old question

are we gaining or are we losing

Turning to myself

what I have allowed to happen

(never underestimate mom power)

Those dinners at home around the table

have found their way into the

living room

watching re-runs.

Today 

is a new day.

I feel a shift coming on.