Hey Google…
So, I have to talk to Google sometimes as I enter my son’s Game Room! P.S — I refer to the smart device named Google Home. The device normally responds to a sentence that starts with ‘Hey Google..’ and then you relay a command to which it shall respond to the best of its limited capabilities.
Me: Hey Google…Turn On the game room lights!
Google: The ceiling light is not available at the moment.
Son: Mum you just physically flicked the light off the last time you left the room, hence it’s not connected to the internet anymore, and therefore the
unavailability.
Just command Google as you enter and exit next time! Do not touch that switch, and you’ll be fine.
Me: Really Son! Why do you even need a middleman in Google? How hard is it to flick your damn lights on and off?
Son: Mum, Google is a cool tool, you can have it do plenty of other tasks for you.
Me: Yeah, it can do everything that you can, every simple task; as it may be. In addition, you have to ask, for it to perform it. I don’t get that. Would you rather not just be self-reliant and all?
And on goes our row. You see, I do not detest Google as such, but it does not justify its function to me. At least not yet!
As you can imagine, given the nature of the internet; sometimes Google would work just fine and at other times talk right back at you, asking you to fix connectivity issues to accomplish your command.
It is quite relentless that Google. It communicates most effectively; more than most humans do anyway and is precise every time. And did I mention it speaks only when spoken to? Yeah, that’s a plus!
Over several years Google became a part and parcel of the many interspersing background noises at our home, and we would use it, for its very many virtual functions; for asking the time, the weather, to have it play music, and of course asking for those damn lights to be switched on or off, so I would not trip and die in that game room someday. And you get the drift!
As I used it more, I suppose- I resented it less; even so- I still could not fathom its need. It was not controlling the functions of my room! So that was that.
On a side note, I must admit it is a dependable voice, invisible but a highly alert and audible male voice ever ready to help, which in itself is greatly refreshing; I have to emphasize- the ‘obedient male voice!’ Ahem.
It’s so polite- sometimes I would almost express my thank-you’s and sorry’s for its promptness or not. Rest assured it’s just a voice working away systematically expecting no remuneration for its services, not in cash nor kind.
Over time I realized it was only really a polished new way of walking this earth, in step with technology and all, and yet; I still didn’t feel its need. And like the youngsters say these days- I have to say; Whatever!
Also, I did not get a chance to mention it yet; today my son leaves for his overseas experience, he is extremely excited, I am not sure how I feel. If I have to try and elucidate, I am feeling intense separation anxiety, like he must have felt on his first day of school. At the time, I thought of it as just a small hiccup, it might not have been that small for him then; as I am feeling quite the opposite of small right now. It’s a big hiccup! A huge change, about to alter the pace of my life, threatening the very equilibrium of my being.
As you can imagine our lives have been quite intertwined thus far, and I do not know what it will feel like; sans his beautiful company at my home. Many uncomfortable feelings of not knowing are creeping up on me. I am fine, I am fighting them, I am going to come out stronger; for him. I am determined to find my balance. I have. I hope…
What I do know for sure is that the boy that stands in front of me today, has persevered through a rather steel-like grit and determination in becoming the fine young man I see. I am a testament to the many ups and downs sometimes for his lack and sometimes for mine as we traversed the journey together; in all these years of his growing up, must I add I was doing some remainder of my growing up too.
His strength of character radiates in his humility and nobility; all traits for a fine young man that he has turned out to be. I am not saying this because he is my Son, but the world will be better for him, and thus; I shall have to let him go. And did I mention I did not have an option! Well, he is too damn excited. No separation anxiety on his part. I would like to avenge him and have none of my own also. Well, it just did not work. I am still not able to shake the feeling.
Alas, as a parent you are never prepared until you just have to be, in the inevitability of it all. Acknowledging that change shall always be a constant in our lives seems relatively rational at this moment.
To keep my sanity intact my mind is continuing to persuade me of the reasons why this could be a good idea. It reminds me that the world needs compassionate, gentle, caring, and kind people; now and more than ever. And so it seems I have to let one fly out of the window to light up this world with his generosity and kindness.
A true gentleman that he has grown up to be, I am not sure the kind to open doors for the ladies; sorry ladies, you might have to discover this all for yourself, but may I say he is more new age- as I see him.
He would be the kind who would most definitely be perceptible in gauging human emotion, and if need be; the kind to lend a hand or more importantly lend reason and hope to everyone that he will meet on his path as he treads his professional and personal journey.
The world needs his kindness and his beautiful mind and soul, thus I will have to share him.
I will have to let him fly also to fulfill all of his beautiful destinies.
I am going to have to let him go.
I have let him go…
In the meanwhile, I am adjusting to the silence that is getting louder by the day. The familiar humdrum of my daily life has altered for now- the music in his room has ceased and his game room is sometimes where I end up. It envelops my heart and my soul and welcomes me in its familiarity of belonging to him and that is still here.
Curtain call: On your game room for now- my dear Son. I shall miss you dearly and wish to see you fly over the great seas and the great oceans and to the distant beautiful lands awaiting to mesmerize you with their distinctive peoples, cultures, cuisines, arts, and architecture.
May you get very busy expanding your horizons as you perpetually keep up with new ones to explore.
Dear Son, I still have to ask Google to turn on the game room lights every time I enter; and it does it with the same emotion and excitement that it used to when you were here. I guess it misses you too but cannot express it. I like that Google cannot feel, is so matter of fact and lives at the moment. Great qualities to imbibe.
I think I am finally liking it now, there is a certain comfort in its presence.
As I leave your game room, I have to call out to Google still; Hey Google: Turn off the game room lights! And it does ever so silently, almost as if it was being so careful as not to interrupt my quiet musings.
It is quite obedient that Google, a bit late but I seem to have finally found a reason to co-exist with it.
Until we meet again, Bon Voyage my dear Son! I say Cheers to all your beautiful tomorrow’s. Thank you for choosing me as your mother. Thank you for being my teacher, mentor, and guide. I do not know when the roles reversed, but it was rather timely; for it has catalyzed the renaissance of me and ushering me into my new firsts going forward. I shall keep you updated on my journey all the same.
Looking forward to hearing all those beautiful memories that you are going to make sans living under my roof.
Looking forward to all the lives that you will have touched.
Looking forward to all the adventures yet to enchant your soul.
May you be mesmerized by the diversity of your experiences.
Until we meet again, the way you look at the world will continue to inspire me every day, and my love affair with your game room and your memories will gently propel me into the next chapter of my existence, as I intentionally seek new adventures for me myself and I.
Hey Google… Sign off for me kindly, would you!