Village Squire, 1977-05, Page 25DIGITAL DILEMMA
by Irene McBride
It all began with an interesting and well meant Xmas gift; a
beautiful digital alarm clock.
The old. luminous, alarm clock, faithful friend through
many a five -thirty rising, was getting near to pension age. Its
luminous face would only glow for a few seconds after the
light' had been switched out and then the numerals would
slowly disappear into the shadows of its face. I was well on the
way to becoming cross-eyed through night after night of
trying to see the time in the dark.
A bright light would have wakened my sleeping spouse,
and brought his wrath down on my head, so the gift came in
the nick of time as far as my sight was concerned. I was
fascinated.
The new toy was duly plugged in and set. All I had to do if I
woke up during the night was to cast a bleary glance at the
illuminated face.
The first night I switched off the light and proudly watched
my new clock flip its digits with each new minute. I couldn't
close my eyes: 1 just had to see another minute flip into view.
Before I knew it I was an addict. Each night would find me
huddled under the covers watching minute after minute flip
by. How could I break this habit? I knew I had to try. I was
certain there couldn't have been any breakthrough in finding
a cure for this disease of the times, the Digital Dilemmas.
Having made up my mind to kick the habit I resolved to
turn my face away from the clock. It proved to be much harder
than 1 had imagined. How was I to have known that the darn
thing was an alcoholic? First the number would flip over and
then, a few seconds later, would come this polite little hiccup.
It was a refined little creature; no loud belch, just a small,
apologetic. "Hic".
With my face turned in the opposite direction I found I was
waiting for the hics. There I was, enveloped in darkness,
trying to match hiccups to minutes. After counting about five
hics I would become possessed with a burning desire to see if
my guess at the right time was correct. Maybe I'd missed a
"Hic" or counted one too many. I had to look. Just a quick
little . peek!
Realizing that facing in the opposite direction wasn't going
to be the answer, I returned to lying on my left side and facing
my tormentor.
"Hic...Hic...Hic". I couldn't resist opening one eye -- just
a slit! This had to stop: I was, fast becoming a digital
insomniac. Midnight would find me prowling the house in
search of respite from my inebriated clock.
It was during this period of my life that I made an amazing
discovery. Always, just before retiring, 1 had listened to the
soft and soothing music on the radio.
The announcer, his vocal cords wrapped in velvet, would
lull his listeners into a comatose state. I took it for granted
that. within minutes of my dozing off, the whole radio station
staff would be tucked up in their little beds sleeping the sleep
of all good media folk.
Ho, Ho! Not on your life! Once they have lulled all the
early -to -bed -early -to -rise people off to sleep out pop all the
swingers. The music becomes hip.
Smith's
Market Square
The centre for family
shopping in Listowel,
with over 30,000 feet
of selling space for your
convenience and selection.
Smith's
Foodmaster
WHITE
�
so..
SMITH'S MARKET
SQUARE
�' I 1 a UNI �\
iiiii'i:I i I :�
11,11Plllllihr 11111
THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT SUPERMARKET IN
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO.
*lunch counter
•in store bakery
•gigantic fruit and vegetable
department
VISIT OUR DELI
•cooked fresh meats, only the best
grades of beef
•150 feet of frozen food display
•dairy department full of cheese
and creamery products
for a large selection of meats, salads,
and cheeses
WE CATER TO ALL TYPES OF PARTIES!
WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARIES, HOUSE PARTIES,
DANCES OR STAGS.
We prepare the food, you serve it.
Store Hours: Mon., Tues., Wed., Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.,
Thurs. and Fri. nights till 10 p.m.
Choose from our great selection of Colonial,
Listowel
Contemporary and Traditional Styles
Home Furnishings to furnish every room of your home.
FULL LINE OF
WESTINGHOUSE &
FRIDGIDAIRE
APPLIANCES
TELEPHONE
523-9666
'Quality and value with confidence!'
155 lnkerman Street
Listowel, Ontario
VILLAGE SQUIRE/MAY 1977, 23