Save Paper from Extinction

On my walk this morning I saw a man delivering newspapers. It got me to thinking about how much things have changed. I can still remember when Milwaukee had a morning and evening paper. Who can forget the Journal's Green Sheet...home to the daily comics. Remember when paper routes were for young kids on their bikes? When was the last time you saw a kid delivering a newspaper?

As much as I appreciate technology and all the conveniences it brings, there's still a part of me that feels I'm being pulled into it with both heels firmly planted. For instance, I don't understand reading the paper on the computer. When my brother told me he wasn't buying books anymore because he's going to read them on Kindle...it made me a bit sad. Call me old-fashioned or maybe I'm just more tactile, but there's something about paper that I love.

It goes beyond newspapers, magazines, and books...it's greeting cards and letters as well. Believe me, I'm the first to raise a stink about the cost of cards (if you've received a card from me...this explains why they're homemade), but there's still an excitement about receiving mail that's not junk or a bill. While I have seen some pretty funny e-cards...it just isn't the same. Everytime I walk into a store that sells stationery or decorative paper, I feel like I'm drawn to it.

Now I know that using a bunch of paper also raises environmental issues. I'm no expert, but I would guess paper is easier to recycle than computers. Since most computers seem to be outdated or peter out in about three to four years, this can become a real problem.

So until the phrase, "Curling up with a good Kindle" catches on...I guess I'll just stick to all things paper.