Oh how I envy kids today

When I was growing up -- trying to, actually -- what I would have given to have a computer and Internet access. Or a digital camera. Where I lived, a pair of real binoculars was a treat. One-speed bikes were the norm, and three-speeds were a luxury.

Now I see kids all over the place text messaging, riding ATVs and dirt bikes and living like kings compared to what we had in the 1960s.

But not many kids today have barns. I loved barns then and I love them now. They're disappearing, don't you know.

Looking back, the barn probably did me more good than a laptop and a cell phone would have.

And my kids have no idea what a bookmobile is. Several kids where I lived looked forward to the bookmobile visiting our town each week in summer, and coming to the school each week during the school year. Bookmobiles were good, too. With only two channels coming in on our TV, books from the library got us through the summer and weekends.

Maybe I don't envy today's kids. They're plugged in far more than I was, but in many ways they're poorer.