When I was growing up if you wanted to know the correct time, there was a telephone number that you could call. You would hear a monotone woman's voice saying something similar to "At the tone the time will be nine thirty six am and the temperature is fifty four degrees." I'm not sure if this service is available now or not, but when I was younger we called this number frequently.
Now everyone has a cell phone with the time and temperature on it, your computer displays the time, your tablet has the time, and there are even those fancy bracelets that monitors your heartbeat, number of steps you have taken, calories burned, fast food joints visited, how well you slept, and yes even the time, oh I almost forgot there is another tool that you also wear on your wrist that tells you the time...your watch.
And speaking of watches I want all of you to know, "Benjamin got his box!"
You will remember that after packing and unpacking Benjamin's box, then moving everything into a Bigger Box, that I packed and unpacked two more times before I finally got his new watch packed inside. Now after going through all of the other goodies inside the box Benjamin did in fact find his new watch.
If you want a good and much more accurate replacement for the old time of day telephone number, simply give a watch to a seven year old.
Cindy was on the telephone with Tim and in the background she could hear Benjamin talking, "Hey Dad! Did you know that it is two thirty five pm and thirty seconds...in twenty seconds it will be two thirty six, and nowwww it isss exactlyyyy two thirty six...and ten seconds now, eleven, twelve...
Cindy and I were laughing at Tim's plight with his newly acquired source of time, when I said, "Just wait until Benjamin finds the stopwatch feature," Tim laughed and said "he already has."
Tim said that he and Elisa were sitting on the couch when Benjamin ran into the room and suddenly stopped, looked at his watch and then ran all through the house, Benjamin ran back in and stopped right back where he had started and yelled "Yes thirty two seconds!" Tim asked Benjamin to explain what he was doing and he replied "I'm testing the stopwatch...do you know what time it is now?"
Now everyone has a cell phone with the time and temperature on it, your computer displays the time, your tablet has the time, and there are even those fancy bracelets that monitors your heartbeat, number of steps you have taken, calories burned, fast food joints visited, how well you slept, and yes even the time, oh I almost forgot there is another tool that you also wear on your wrist that tells you the time...your watch.
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| Benjamin with his Santa Box |
You will remember that after packing and unpacking Benjamin's box, then moving everything into a Bigger Box, that I packed and unpacked two more times before I finally got his new watch packed inside. Now after going through all of the other goodies inside the box Benjamin did in fact find his new watch.
If you want a good and much more accurate replacement for the old time of day telephone number, simply give a watch to a seven year old.
Cindy was on the telephone with Tim and in the background she could hear Benjamin talking, "Hey Dad! Did you know that it is two thirty five pm and thirty seconds...in twenty seconds it will be two thirty six, and nowwww it isss exactlyyyy two thirty six...and ten seconds now, eleven, twelve...
Cindy and I were laughing at Tim's plight with his newly acquired source of time, when I said, "Just wait until Benjamin finds the stopwatch feature," Tim laughed and said "he already has."
Tim said that he and Elisa were sitting on the couch when Benjamin ran into the room and suddenly stopped, looked at his watch and then ran all through the house, Benjamin ran back in and stopped right back where he had started and yelled "Yes thirty two seconds!" Tim asked Benjamin to explain what he was doing and he replied "I'm testing the stopwatch...do you know what time it is now?"
Benjamin sure does look happy!
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me how smart young children are these days, I think it has a lot to do with the technology that's at hand.
Lon, Children today are so much smarter than we were, you are 100% right the technology available is building a smarter generation of kids. We were happy with simpler things in life, where today complicated items are simple for them.
DeleteI remember when the phone company discontinued their time line! It was a sad event for me.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin's excitement in unpacking his box made all the hassle worth it. That's what keeps grandparents shopping, isn't it. You made him very happy.
You are right Jean, the excitement that we see on his face and hear in his voice keeps the boxes going, I'm willing to bet Cindy has already started on the next one.
DeleteYes, Benjamin looks thrilled with his Santa Box! Good job by Cindy (and you too, in spite of yourself) for getting it to him with everything included. Though I don't envy Tim's constant updates on the time.
ReplyDeleteThank you Val, I am just happy that everything finally made it to him and that he is happy.
DeleteI have to laugh about Tim's constant updates on the time from Benjamin, because I can clearly remember Tim being our constant updater of the time with his own new watch when he was a kid.
This just makes me smile and smile!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you to be smiling Jenny, that face of Benjamin's does that to you doesn't it.
DeleteThat sweet face, that constant time updating, and your account of it - it's a perfect storm :)
DeleteWe were fascinated as kids with the time phone number. In fact, it's one of the few numbers I remember from childhood: 762-0111. Are you impressed?
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that a kid would still like a watch!
Bijoux I am impressed that you remember that phone number, I wracked my brain trying to remember ours but came up blank, you just know that it was a simple number too.
DeleteI was tickled that he wanted a watch, I am surprised that he didn't leave from his visit with us wearing one, that's when he mentioned it to his Mimi.
Our time phone number was 1194. No weather attached though. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin looks totally blissed out with his Santa Box. You and Cindi did really well.
EC, I recall the temperature being given after the time, but that was a long time ago too. I have to give Cindy credit for gathering the goodies, I was in charge of the watch and packing the box.
DeleteBenjamin's face is full of happiness. I love to see happy children. Jimmy, you do raise memories.... I used to dial three figures (which ones escapes me!) to hear a lady say 'at the third stroke it will be (insert time here) and so many seconds. I used to dial the number all the time just to hear her voice. Well, how was I to know we had to pay for calls....lol. I don't think I had a watch then and other gadgets came much later.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the happy faces on children is one of the best sights ever Valerie. Our number was a typical seven digit number for local calls, I don't think it cost any extra on the phone bill but I wasn't paying the bills then either so how would I know. I actually found a picture of myself at about Benjamin's age wearing a watch my mom had bought for me, a Batman watch I sure wish that I still had that one.
DeleteEven though I have a computer, a clock in every room in the house and I own about 30 watches, I still don't know what the right time is and normally google it! :D
ReplyDeleteSo glad Benjamin received his box safely!
There are clocks at every turn in your house it seems, like you I am gathering a collection of watches, I sometimes have to google the time just to reset everything when our clocks start showing different times.
DeleteBenjamin's box actually arrived really quickly.
I remember calling the weather number! I also remember riding by the bank just to see what the temperature was on their light up sign.
ReplyDeleteIts good to get a seven year old a watch. This is a good way to teach them how to tell time. Or how to time themselves running through the house!!
Lisa
Lisa I wish I had been there for the timing of the running through the house ha ha. I agree that it is never too early to learn to tell time, a watch is a good gift for a kid.
DeleteOh what fun.
ReplyDeleteYou have to love it Delores, the face says it all.
DeleteWonderful! Don't you just love them and their enthusiasm for life at that age?
ReplyDeleteI do love the excitement and enthusiasm that kids have for life at that age, oh for those days.
DeleteWhat a lovely post about the excitement of his first watch. Too fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, Cindy and Jimmy. ☺
He was so happy getting that watch, and I believe that his dad has not had to wonder what time it is since.
DeleteHave a great Sunday Sandee.
I was seven also when I got my first watch. It's one of my early life events that I have never forgotten. My uncle, who lived close by, taught me how to use it. I still remember sitting in his garden and learning how it worked. I remember the excitement, even though it was nothing like that felt by Benjamin. That's one happy little boy!
ReplyDeleteInger aren't early life memories like you remembering your uncle teaching you to tell time so wonderful? I hope Benjamin has those same type of fond memories when he is grown.
DeleteWhen I was 7 or 8 I got my first watch as a gift. I remember that I was so happy I cried!!
ReplyDeleteFran that sounds like approximately the same age that a lot of us got our first watches, you were evidently wanting one too, with you crying tears of joy on receiving it.
DeleteI'm so glad he got the watch intact and is enjoying it so much!
ReplyDeleteAbby I think he feels that Christmas came early for him because he is enjoying it that much.
DeleteI don't remember my first watch, but I'm guessing my life changed the day I got it :)
ReplyDeleteRick you probably felt a little more grown up on that day, getting your very own watch is indeed a stepping stone so to say.
DeleteI remember dialing a number for the correct time. Haven't thought about that in years.
ReplyDeleteStephen I'm not sure if anyone does that anymore, I bet the current generation has never heard about the time of day telephone number.
DeleteThat watch could be more trouble than a drum set.
ReplyDeleteForgot all about calling for time also.
Joe I didn't think of it in that sense but you are right, it actually could be more trouble than if we had sent drum set for Benjamin, I'm definitely going to need a bigger box for a drum set.
DeleteGlad the box and the watch arrived safely. I remember my older sister testing me to see if I knew what time it was on her watch when I was about 7 years old. I remember giving her all the correct answers and getting a watch for my First Communion :) Now I rely on all the electronic gadgets to keep time for me and haven't worn a watch in years :)
ReplyDeletebetty
That is a really nice memory on how your Sister helped you learn to tell time and of your first watch. I think that the majority of people are like you and rely on their electronic devices to tell time more so than a watch.
DeleteI'm glad Benjamin loves his watch.
ReplyDeleteI have trouble getting the correct time, when they announce the time on the radio it doesn't match any of my clocks, none of those match each other either, and nothing I own matches the time on the Town Hall clock. If I set everything to match my watch, the time on my computer and phone don't match up and the TV news may start on time, but how would I know when all clocks are different? I'm just glad I manage to catch the bus I'm waiting for at whatever time I'm waiting.
River, like you that same thing drives me nuts around here also, I find myself going around the house synchronizing all of the clocks with my watch, but that only lasts so long. I guess as long as your watch stays synchronized with the bus drivers that is the most important one to remember.
DeleteWishing you and yours the happiest Holiday Season. Love Granny Annie
ReplyDeleteThank you Annie, and I hope your Christmas and Holiday Season is filled with joy and happiness also.
DeleteThe more I read your posts, I'm convinced we are the same age Jimmy, because I sure remember calling that same number! And as you mentioned it seemed like we called it all the time. Glad the box got there as it should and the gifts enjoyed. (lol)
ReplyDeleteRO, I believe that you are right, there are a lot of similarities in our upbringing leading me to also think we are from the same generation, I was raised not too far from where you are now.
DeleteI've never liked wearing watches, and stopped doing so well over 10 years ago. I have my cell phone or other electronics, or clocks, in every room of my house. No need. But I bet Benjamin feels very grown up with his!!
ReplyDeleteMost people who carry a cell phone has the time readily available at any given time, thus eliminating the need for a watch, and as you pointed out the time is right there on our electronic devices, I can see why you stopped wearing a watch especially if you never liked wearing one in the first place.
DeleteHe looks happy. I remember calling that number then when I was 13 and earned my amateur radio license, I knew I could go to certain frequencies where the national bureau of standards would cite the time... Now I use my cell phone but I don't wear a watch except for when sailing (and racing) and using it to time when we're to cross the starting line.
ReplyDeleteSage it appears that many people have stopped using a watch as a timepiece now, I really hadn't thought about it before this post but the cell phone has pretty much taken the place of a watch.
DeleteMy grandmother gave us all a pocket-watch when I was in middle school.
ReplyDeleteThe time is 14 after Four in the Afternoon, in the year of our lord 1845
hahaha i can realize the excitement of benjamin !
ReplyDeletewe were not rich though yet as because my father owned little shop of watches where he mend and sold watches ,he never left my wrist without watch and i still love to wear watch on my wrist though everything is telling what the time is
Hahaha - I don't know what it is about time that fascinates kids!
ReplyDeleteYears ago I gave my older two boys an egg timer. They had to brush their teeth as long as it took for the sand to go through the glass (3 minutes). My oldest is 38 years old now and he still talks about this egg timer when his dentist talks about his great teeth. LOL.
I still have this same egg timer, it's in a drawer in the guest bathroom.