As I packed up to leave work on Friday, I noticed my ipod was missing. Like most people, I cannot be expected to get through the day in a productive, healthy and happy manner without my mp3 player. So, after frantically tearing up the classroom I gave up the ghost and mourned the loss of my beloved, sleek, black, ipod (May 2008-January 2009).The first joint I bought was during my freshman year and it lasted for my entire undergrad days. The warranty saw me through 4 ipods. I never missed a beat and I never had to listen to the sounds of the street, wack men spitting game, or subway station arguments. Instead, I was ensconced in the sounds of my own choosing. And it was good.
So, the loss of my ipod was devastating - materially, I was out of a $300+ investment. Emotionally, though I felt really betrayed that one of the kids at my school might have stolen my ipod. I realized my ipod was lost at about 3:30. At about 4:00, I was trying to figure out the fastest way to the Apple store downtown.
Even in the midst of a recession that's more like a throwback to 1933, I was able to immediately purchase another music player. Being on my Suze Orman steez has paid off, since I usually have a little extra left over for emergencies. However, my "emergencies" aren't like the ones that drove my grandparents to leave their homes in the beautiful Caribbean, like grinding poverty, few educational opportunities, and poverty. Some of my most recent "emergencies" have been: an unplayable Netflix dvd, my stolen ipod, running out of milk, forgetting free movie passes at home.
Did my ancestors hope that there would be a day, when their great-great-great granddaughter wouldn't be faced with problems like hunger decent housing and health care but with a tricky dvd player and a long commute? Probably not. But I am thankful that my problems are little more than marginal annoyances, disappointments and inconveniences when put into perspective. While we privileged children of the first world do have many issues that we deal with on the daily, I'd much rather stick with them rather than swapping them for those faced by our brothers and sisters in the developing world (or even of those folks in the South Bronx).
At least I was able to get a new ipod, even if it was a nano. These are tough economic times after all.
