iPad or am iMad?
Alan and I recently celebrated
our anniversary. The morning of our special day appeared at first like any
other weekday morning. I sleepily made it to the kitchen where I saw a box
wrapped in pink flowery wrapping paper on the table. This surprise woke me up
from the usual routine stupor. I read the cards. Yes, there were three. The
first was a sweet traditional printed greeting card, the second was Alan’s gift
disclaimer (it’s returnable if you don’t like it) and the third card’s contents
will remain between my husband and I. My first thought was, “Oh yes! He got me
a Kindle!”
I apologize for the
following digression but I think you’ll agree it all makes sense in the end.
I got Alan a Kindle for his
birthday and I think this maybe the best gift I’ve ever given him. He is an
avid reader and the books he has been reading lately are hardcover and almost
1000 pages. I felt bad that he was carrying around three pound books especially
when he would pack them when traveling. His computer bag would get so stuffed
and heavy with books that carrying it was similar to an ancient Egyptian slave
hauling a block of stone to build the pyramids. Even so, knowing his reluctance
to zippy new electronic toys I bit the bullet and remembered the ol’ disclaimer
“it’s returnable if you don’t like it.” Much to our happiness, he loves the
Kindle.
I have debated with myself
for a while now if I really want a Kindle or continue reading the old fashioned
way. I’ve been on the fence for a while because I actually like the smell of
old books. Unless Amazon comes up with a scratch and sniff sticker or some kind
of air freshener attachment that emanates the smell of aging paper, I’m not
sure if reading from a Kindle would satisfy and complete my book reading experience.
Another reason I’m apprehensive is most of the books I read are from the
library; a megatropolis of geriatric book smell. Ahhh! The library is also one
of my favorite hang outs so it would totally cramp my style to download books
from home.
Previous to my giving the
Kindle to Alan, I asked him if he would be interested in one. He emphatically stated
why get one when the iPad does the same thing in color and it can surf the web. The practical person that I am I couldn’t
part with $500 for a frivolous web surfing tablet when we already have iPhones
not to mention I could buy a laptop that does so much more for around the same
price. Buying the Kindle for him was for me part experiment and part surviving
in a world of gift giving cluelessness.
And now I will continue with
the point of my story.
As soon as I tore the
wrapping paper, I saw the white box and knew exactly what was gifted to me. I
wonder now if Alan was conducting his own experiment with me as I had done with
him with the Kindle. I had mixed feelings as I stared at the plain box featuring
a picture of what was inside. Nate wanted me to tear off the shrink wrapping
but I wanted to wait until Alan got home from work. I began to methodically
calculate throughout the day all the possibilities of how exactly I would use
an iPad. Using my logic, I couldn’t justify owning one.
When Alan got home from
work, there was a slight awkward moment of thanking him for a great gift that
just about anyone on the planet would love to have to telling him that I’d
rather have a laptop instead. I felt like the infamous Veruca Salt – spoiled,
bratty and completely ungrateful. Had I gone completely mad rejecting possibly the
best digital toy of the early 21st century? The jury is still out on
that one.
This whole situation didn’t
end without my gaining tremendous knowledge though. After I asked Alan if he
wouldn’t mind making good on his gift giving disclaimer by returning the iPad
and replacing my old laptop with a new one, the look on his face told me
volumes. He asked if I would use it a little as there was a grace period before
it became unreturnable to the store. This was his disguised plea - his wish
that I would bond with this metallic pet if I stroked it and gazed at it
enough. Unfortunately for him, I was solid in my decision and he took it back.
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