Not quite a native Ripley Countian - she attended only her last year of high school in Doniphan though she taught in the R-1 system for 32 years - Teresa (Pearson) Lee delights in surprising readers and herself with anecdotal observations of life in general. Maybe you can blame her St.Louis roots for a quirky humor and some slightly-askewed opinions, but never doubt she writes from the heart.

Look Around

Posted Friday, December 9, 2022, at 12:16 PM

Autumn 2022 portrays a landscape that surprises and pleases every bit as any I have experienced. (I’m aware that each year I think THIS one is the most striking). Perhaps it seems true this fall since precipitation has been erratic and sparse, covid variants and disasters - natural and otherwise - cloud perceptions. Viewing the vivid colors is a grand relief. Something is working as anticipated.

Do others feel the same way? But wait. They’d have to look around them to be aware of the magnificent panoramas, to take notice of Mother Nature’s home screen.

This week I ran an errand and arrived a bit early. To kill some time, I ate an early breakfast at a convenience store that has a snack bar the length of the front window. It struck me that most everyone who pulled up either already had a phone in hand or had it front and center on exiting their vehicles. In one instance, one of a couple came in for beverages as the other raised a phone even before the car door closed. A few walked toward the entrance maneuvering pavement levels and patrons while absorbed by their screens. Folks at the gas pumps stared at their devices while fuel was pumping. Inside some juggled phones along with items to purchase. To be truthful, had I not left my phone in the cart, I might have missed all of the above for the same reason.

I’ve shared before the precious memory of my first grader running to catch a lone leaf falling ahead of us on an early morning autumn walk. So much to take in: his running with outstretched arms; the zig-zagging to match the leaf’s path, his glee in catching it; and running back with the big dimpled grin to show it to me.

Some might think it would not have been such a big deal to have missed that. No, unless it was the routine - to focus on a device rather than to interact with my child or other non-robots in my range of vision and interaction. Our habits are changing. Our brains are changing. Look around,

This calls to mind a song written by Jerry Capehart/Glen Campbell, recorded by Campbell in 1961 and several others later. The version I know best is the ‘68 hit by the Vogues - “Turn Around, Look at Me.” I sang along replacing 'turn around' with 'put phone down' and breathed a prayer of gratitude that I am battling this preoccupation later in life rather than earlier. What I might have missed!

(For 10/19/2022 PN)