It always takes not having something to realize just how much you depend upon it. And not just for convenience sake, but as an invisible regulator of routine. There are often things that we consistently take for granted because our lives inadvertently became intertwined with a complex entity. Whether it be human, mechanical, or even animals such as pets, we subconsciously give ourselves over to aspects of rule, and regiment to some form, and when that particular item is gone, we get completely out of sorts until it gets figured out internally.
Take electricity for example. Yes we all use it, and it is now needed in the daily function in our lives, but being without it for almost a week after Hurricane Irene, I realize just how deeply electricity is regulating us. Although I wasn't there, I can seriously imagine years ago how people's lives were more regulated around nature. The rooster crowed, and you were up..The sun went down, and unless you had some oil lamp to guide you through the night, you went to bed. Your actions, and behaviors were dictated by just how much daylight you had to work with, and your body was basically in harmony with what nature gave you. Horses needed to be fed, things needed to be produced and fixed all within the hours of the sun, or else it sucked to be you if you didn't finish. I can also imagine how when electricity was first introduced to people it must have really screwed them up. Now they could be up all hours of the night, complete whatever task you hadn't finished in the daylight, and not need indications of nature to give you clues on where you needed to be in the cycle of things. People at first probably didn't know what to do with themselves, as the natural world became less and less a factor in how folks needed to plan their time management.
Electricity now is so integrated in our lives that when without it, we are thrown off sorts. I had a hard time figuring when to sleep, or even being able to, because I didn't shut anything off, so psychologically there was no point of reference for my mind to adjust. My rooster was my alarm clock, and the sun, and moon were insignificant factors for me when there was electricity. I'm sure there were many folks out of sorts who became a little cranky because food heated, and chilled by power were out of the picture. Charging a phone somewhere became a priority, and God help those who live by cable or internet such as myself. I actually read a newspaper, and forgot how fun it was to do so. All of this electricity was supposed to make life easier, and clearly in most instances it does, but when it isn't there for a significant amount of time it really does become apparent how much a part of our lives revolve around, and function based on the ability to have it. Not just externally, but internally, as our body clocks are now based around the cues of electricity run items around us. For some, the coffee maker is ready, so it's time to get up..For others, their phone starts some melodic tune to wake them, for others who work overnight shifts, their world is topsy turvy anyway, so they hit the sack when everyone else is getting up. When you get tired, you turn off a light and go to sleep. Piece of cake.
The point is that we are no longer independent creatures of nature. We are products of machinery, and the things we created are now creating our dependence upon them. Yes there are some who still belong to the laws of nature such as the Amish, or folks who have decided that they will live a life of minimalist existence, but they are few and far in this country. Without electricity for most of us, life becomes a complicated mess. The complete opposite of what it was before electricity. But hey..Here I sit writing on a computer on a blog or social network, so I am no leader in the slave revolt.
Our bodies are now electric, so sing it and accept it. No Rooster necessary in the American life. The Rooster union is trying for a new collective bargaining agreement. Drop your clocks and grab your socks. No matter what time of the day or night it is, you can be a jerk and go to work.
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