The world, society, is ever-changing.
Yes, I understand this in my mind and somehow manage to find my place in one corner of it…or so I like to think.
My grandmother was born in the Meiji era.
"These days, the world is becoming inconvenient, isn't it?" she used to say.
"Why do you think so, grandma?" (my kindergarten-age self would ask)
"In these days, telephone machines have changed. There was something called a dial that you had to turn the numbers of, to
call the person you wanted."
"In the old days, you just had to pick up the phone and say, 'Mr. Yabu Soba, please,' and things would progress…,"
she lamented.
My mother was born in the Taisho era.
"Recently, at the bank, they've told me to use a card to withdraw cash."
"Is that inconvenient?" (my student-age self would ask)
"Well, it feels safer to ask a bank clerk at the counter…"
I was born in the Showa era.
However, before I knew it, I found myself labeled as a senior, existing on the fringes of society.
Recently, before enjoying a concert at the Opera City, we decided to have a simple meal. But this turned into quite an ordeal.
"At our shop, we use a QR code ordering system."
There wasn't much time until the concert started, and there were no other restaurant-like places in sight.
We decided to give the ordering system a try.
My husband, who is somewhat better at handling such devices, struggled to place the order.
"I was able to order," he declared. (Phew, somehow we are keeping up with the changes in society!)
After a while, the meal brought by the server left us speechless! There was only one item that looked like a hamburger.
"I thought we ordered a lot more…"
That moment reminded me that I'm still someone at the edge of society.
I'm on the brink of a cliff, but since I haven't fallen off, it's okay. At least, that's what I thought at the time…