the iPod is dead, long live the iPod
Although I'll write about the actual subject of the post in a sec, I just wanted to admit, here and now, that I never understood the phrase I just referenced. Obviously, if the king is dead, he cannot also be alive, so the two words don't have the same referrent, right? On the other hand, in, say, the English monarchy, if Queen Elizabeth II passed, would they say "the queen is dead, long live the king (charles)"? It's funny the way those things you hear as a kid just sort of slip through the cracks, understanding-wise, until they surface mysteriously years later.
Anyway, my iPod is dead. After it started making some mechanical noises a few weeks ago and crashed my computer when I tried to connect it, I got scared to turn it back on. Finally, the other day, I did. And I got the *unhappy iPod face*, which can be found on apple's support website. As far as I can tell, if not completely dead, I can no longer access the music on it. Much to the consternation of anyone who tried to offer sympathy, though, most of the music was from friends from last semester, and is thus not on my computer; either I have to find Toby, Peter, Bart, and Kelly and get their music again, or I have to turn to a life of clandestine copyright violation. More than the actual music itself, though, this feels like a symbolic loss. Often alone in a foreign city, I walked everywhere with my baby (the iPod); it gave me comfort, passed long hours spent travelling all over the place, reminded me (when I wanted it to) of home. At this point, though, even my playlist from last semester, "Keeping it low-key in BP," is gone forever. Scary how much of an experience you can lose in four months. First it was the big things, but now even the little things are slipping away from me. Does that devalue going? I'm sure it doesn't, but that doesn't make each little prickle of awareness at how far removed I am from Hungary sting any less.
Anyway, my iPod is dead. After it started making some mechanical noises a few weeks ago and crashed my computer when I tried to connect it, I got scared to turn it back on. Finally, the other day, I did. And I got the *unhappy iPod face*, which can be found on apple's support website. As far as I can tell, if not completely dead, I can no longer access the music on it. Much to the consternation of anyone who tried to offer sympathy, though, most of the music was from friends from last semester, and is thus not on my computer; either I have to find Toby, Peter, Bart, and Kelly and get their music again, or I have to turn to a life of clandestine copyright violation. More than the actual music itself, though, this feels like a symbolic loss. Often alone in a foreign city, I walked everywhere with my baby (the iPod); it gave me comfort, passed long hours spent travelling all over the place, reminded me (when I wanted it to) of home. At this point, though, even my playlist from last semester, "Keeping it low-key in BP," is gone forever. Scary how much of an experience you can lose in four months. First it was the big things, but now even the little things are slipping away from me. Does that devalue going? I'm sure it doesn't, but that doesn't make each little prickle of awareness at how far removed I am from Hungary sting any less.
posted by sam at
1:46 AM
3 Comments:
Sam, I feel your pain. My map of Budapest is above my desk and sometimes I try to remember being there. I can, but the fact that I am not there now is sort of painful. Sad that things can be so important and can leave you so fast - though they are probably still there and will surface years down the line when we least expect them. I still think it was good to go.
By
Anonymous, at 4/19/06, 6:59 AM
hug.
By
Anonymous, at 4/21/06, 5:32 AM
Yeah, you are right. The (old) King is dead, long live the (new) King. Especially funny if the new king killed the old king.
Say what are the job opportunities like in Budapest? I need somewhere to go when I leave Japan. I mean I guess I could move back to the states, but thats just soooo boring. ;-)
By
Travelingrant, at 4/26/06, 11:05 AM
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