History - People of the Past

If we could hop back 100 years - would everything be worse than we are now? There certainly would be less conveniences, like microwaves, water treatment, cell phones, and cars for just about everyone. One thing that might be interesting to get a glimpse at is how much more people spent outdoors, how much more people read (assuming they could read), telling stories, gathering at community events or involved in organizations and yes, making music. People of the south and the north would have had their own definitions of how to have a good time but I bet quite a few more would participate in arts, culture, athletics, and outdoor time. Some purely were spectators - watchers of baseball game or other events but they were there live. Today we have television to bring some events to us but in some cases television is also keeping us from some events or from the real outdoors.
Next week I'll be visiting a school who is putting together events for National Screen- Free Week. Televisions, computer screen, video games and more portable electronics keep kids hooked practically all hours of the day. With the kids ever get hooked on outdoor adventures, cooking, or even the long lost activity of writing a letter by hand? It is in our hands as to the imprint we leave with kids. Parents who read likely will have more of a chance of having kids who read. Parents who eat healthy or are more active and spend time outdoors will likely have more active kids and yes community members who play an instruments will also be part of keeping life music alive - and not just for the symphony orchestra performers. Here in Duluth there are individuals and groups performing about every night of the week and, meanwhile, I wonder how many people are making music in their homes - not even as part of practicing for performing somewhere but just for the fun of it. Well, maybe the people are performing - for their dogs or cats - or getting their singing vocal cords or humming going - in the shower. Maybe the instruments are real authentic instruments and maybe they are a glass bottle, a couple spoons, or a cardboard box. That's fine. It can be kind of fun.