How Did We Waste Time Before?

I’ve got a Sudoku problem.

Even now, as I’m starting today’s blog, I’m fighting the urge to play some online Sudoku games. It’s calling to me, that website.   Come on, it says, you know you want to. And really, what’s the harm? You’ll only play a game or two. It’ll help you relax.  And you deserve it after working so hard. After all, you’ve just about finished the first paragraph.

Lies and more lies.

One game will lead to the second, then the third and then … well, you know how it goes. There goes the evening.  Which would be fine, except I have a blog to write.

Obviously, I’m not alone. We’ve all got our little electronic vices. In restaurants and airports, on the street and in the stores, I see big kids, little kids, adults and teens are all mesmerized with their little screens.  How did we live before computers, laptops and cellphones?

I’m not talking about how long it took to type a letter or term paper without an embarrassing number of typos. Or how we kept in touch without email, texting and cellphones. That’s grist for another post. What I’m talking about is what we did when we had nothing else to do.  How did we waste time?

I’m sure I wasn’t any more efficient.  In school, I always put off assignments until the last minute.  I just can’t remember how I procrastinated without 100+ channels.  Maybe I read more books. Maybe I spent more time on the phone, talking to friends. Maybe I even listened more since I couldn’t simultaneously check my email or play Sudoku. But mostly, I must have just stared off into space. What else was there?