i don’t take it for granted. these are some of the amazing things that i consider part of my day-to-day life.

being able to synchronize contacts and calendar and tasks between my work laptop, my home pc, my pocket pc, and my mobile phone.

being able to beam my contact info to the boy next to me in the minicab.

calling my london friends from indiana, or my american friends from my cell phone in spain, all relatively cheaply.

typing this entry on my hp jornada 568 pocket pc with my targus stowaway keyboard — both items fit into my trouser pocket.

enjoying internet access around the world, in internet cafes, marrying my job, my personal correspondence and staying abreast of news around the world very easily.

being able to take panoramic pictures and hundreds of shots on my digital camera, and in moments share them with the world.

being able to broadcast personal news, do group invites and group greetings to my friends and acquaintances around the world.

travelling more often, more frequently, and in better style with educated travel websites and airline frequent flier programs — allowing me to save time, money, and enjoy the world.

with these benefits come cons. cons that have taken me years to cope with.

hundreds of spam messages every day.

reliance on technology — communications and interpersonal breakdowns when my mobile phone stops working, or i don’t check my email.

information overload — worrying too much about whether my flight is on time, or whether i’m getting the best price on my christmas gifts.

news junkie syndrome — checking headline news, world events and celebrity gossip in the tabloids, online and via my phone, too frequently and too in-depth.

moore’s law — so much to look forward to.

so, like, christmas is around the corner.

when i was 9 years old…

mom would put new gifts under the tree every few days, starting a few weeks before the date. “don’t even think about touching those!” she’d exclaim. i’d sit and look at the gifts, and shake ‘em, and try to figure out what was inside. too big to be legos. too squishy to be a video game — probably underwear, or, even worse, socks. i’d keep scavenging, looking for that one gift i hoped, i prayed i’d get this year. i remember one year i wanted this wicked built-it-yourself roller coaster kit, with big metal marbles and these flexible plastic tracks. i kept shaking and snooping, and finally i found something that i thought, *yeah*, this could be it.

it seemed to be the right size, the right weight, and when i shook it it sounded right. i still had a good week to go until christmas morning. hmm… what to do.

the right thing to do is to just wait. a normal kid would probably go about their business and not think about it again. wouldn’t obsess. wouldn’t sit and stare at the gift. i’m the type of kid (even now) that will obsess, and sit, and stare, and just wait. that would be the right thing to do — to wait. and then, on christmas morning…

on christmas morning, with the family all around, i’d shake it, and slowly peel off the wrapping paper. tease myself, tear off the back first, revealing perhaps a upc code or some instructions. maybe i would glimpse a product shot or part of the product name, like “rol” or “ster”. and, after it was all revealed, hopefully, i’d be filled with an enormous flood of joy. or, there’s the chance that i’d be incrediby heartbroken after receiving 4 volumes of an encyclopedia set.

that would be the right thing to do — to wait.

or, i could wait until mom’s out of the house, and then carefully, slowly, pull back the cellophane tape and reveal what was underneath. you’d have to be sneaky, as to not leave any trace of re-taping, or tearing, or pulling the printing off the wrapping paper. but, if successful, i’d be left with one of two distinct feelings: (1) oh my god, i got just what i wanted — i have to wait for a week to play with it though, or (2) hmm… an encyclopedia set… i hate my parents and i hate christmas. i wasn’t a spoiled brat — i’m just trying to make a dramatic point.

so.

what’s right? what’s wrong? what’s a smart kid to do? the excitement of christmas morning isn’t getting a whole truckload of stuff, it’s not the *transaction*… it’s the *surprise*. the wonderful, “oh my god i’m so overwhelmed” surprise of having just what you wanted.

so.

you meet some bloke. a friend of a friend, someone in your homeroom, this guy who accidentally sits on you on the bus, whatever. there’s a spark, a glimmer, a smirk, and eventually an agreement to go out on a date. and a second date. and a third date.

how fast do you peel off the layers of wrapping paper? sometimes it’s preferable just to feel like you have the right gift, and enjoy it sitting there, all wrapped up. the worst feeling of all is unwrapping the gift early, and being disappointed. and then trying to retape everything back together. that sucks. but, for an impatient kid like me, i sometimes just can’t wait.