APPS AND GADGETS

On a recent trip, I read an article in a flight magazine that grabbed my attention.  The article was titled Body Conscious.  It was about becoming aware of and more in tune with your body by using the latest electronic self-tracking apps and gadgets.  

It’s fascinating discovering how out of touch I’ve become while living my “slow story” pace.  It also let me know that tribal people wherever they’re found always seem to have and use some device that has simple and similar applications.  

These body sensor, self tracking apps and gadgets are controlled by the latest smart phones.  Many are very simple wrist bands that are made using various flexible, synthetic materials that come in assorted colors.  Of course they’re all designed to put you in touch with your body and help you “ track who you are” by the measurements that are computed and recorded.  Bands around the wrist is what made me think of my Sheep Camp Grampa. 

One time, when I was washing my face and hands in the enamel wash basin on the little wood table by the doorway, I noticed how he was paying attention to me as I washed.  When I dried my  arms, face and hands, he nodded his head in my direction, pursed his lips ever so slightly pointing to my left wrist, as he spoke, “You know what’s that called?”  I replaced the towel on its wall peg and turning to my left asked, “You mean this?”

“Hmm.” He grunted, with a nod.  In Keres, I said, “Ai-yah-dru-me-soosh-tuu.” He didn’t respond right away.  I figured he was surprised I knew the name for the wide leather band wrapped around my left wrist. Next he said, “Know what it’s for?” 

“It’s so when you shoot the bow and you let go of the string, the string won’t slap and hurt you.” I quickly answered. Then he said, “Is that all?”  What else was there?  What else could there be?  I stood there feeling the dark, smooth leather, gently twisting it around my wrist, waiting for him to go on.  “You wear it on your left side, coo-mu-suh, isn’t that correct?” he asked. 

I quickly said, “Yeah, I shoot right handed!”  He then lifted his arm and pulled up his shirt sleeve to show me the old warn leather strap on his left wrist.  He’d worn that piece of leather, now dark and polished smooth, ever since he was a boy.  That leather band was an artifact!  Then he added, “It’s on your left side, see?  Your heart is on this side.  You wear your bow guard to remind you to guard your heart.  And to remember the man, that heart makes you.”

 “This is the way it is, Grandson. Nun-nah, be a man!”  

Ironic, isn’t?  How this piece of leather must be an App?  And out there somewhere, Nun’nah and I must both have our smart phones tracking who we are. 

Photo credits: Nike.com; cardiio.com