I joined the 1990s!

Some ten years ago, I was flying to visit my aunt in Charlevoix, and boarded a Northwest flight to Detroit - on a Continental flight number, of course. Being the hedonist I am, I had wrangled an upgrade and sat next a high school junior who was the most gracious, smartest, delightful person I had met in eons. He had with him a Sony MP3 player, which he demonstrated for me. He had bought it while an exchange student in Japan.

I didn't see his enthusiasm in the player, but it was very interesting from the "wow, that's cool" factor. He and I stayed in touch, somehow. I mentored him in Freshman English, which was quite an experience. His professor was somehow impressed with my technique. His written English dramatically improved (although he still can't spell worth a flip.) He gave the commencement address for his college graduating class, and sent me his speech before he gave it. I couldn't change a word of it - it was so authentic, so thoughtful, so well said that any editing would have taken away from it.

He stayed with me two summers ago when he was interning at a Houston oil company. His blog chronicles his self-guided trip around the world, through the Pacific Northwest and his conscious engagement of people as they occur in the world. He's magnificent.

And now, today, I have an MP3 player.

Months back, Guy told me I could download podcasts on iTunes. Well, I had a dusty, unused iTunes account, and they were very glad to have me back. And, lo - do they have podcasts!! Holy cow! I started loading up my hard drive with stuff that needed listening to. And, the notion that I'd benefit by having an iPod crept into my noggin.

Brian says that I should get a non-Apple MP3 player. His suggestions were very, very good ones, and when he speaks I sit up and pay attention. Guy, being the Apple man that he is, recommended the iPod, along with a new iMac and iPhone.

I looked at 'em. I shopped. I actually went to a RADIO SHACK to look at them in person. I thought about bargain basement-ing the issue, and looked at them on Craigslist.

Two years ago, when I was living in the big house (the Castle Warwickshire, not the Big House like TDCJ) I had looked at what was then a very cool iPod, the U2 version. I kind of put into mind that was the one for me.

Just like I did back in 2004 when I saw the Bonneville GXP - all cleaned up, Northstarred, and looking slick. Just over a year ago, I got the Bonnie, and today I bought the iPod. Reconditioned, with a longer warranty.

It's gorgeous. It FEELS luxurious - the texture and heft of it feels like fine art or jewelry. The other MP3 (lesser brand) players all felt plasticky, like an old Walkman or something. The software setup was so smooth, and so slick that now I'm convinced that the right computer choice for me this summer is, in fact, an Apple.

I'm buried in my Sprint contract until 2009, though.