Sunday Comics

I can't really remember the last time I saw someone reading a newspaper. 

Well, actually, my grandma gets a delivery of Chinese newspapers, and sometimes, when I intrude, I'll be greeted by her at the kitchen table. Whenever she was getting really into it, she'd do that slightly head-tilted up thing to get the prescription on her glasses juuuuust right, then move her head to keep that focus. She was always able to find a way to make things work. 

Anyway, I've never really seen people sitting on the bus or train and reading a newspaper. I think there's sort of a charm or appeal in such a thing. It's slow, it's bothersome, and it keeps you grounded in the moment. No notifications or distractions. In this day and age, it's not necessarily convenient or worth getting the Sunday paper when you can just open up any app for news. The ink smears, you have to go out to your local corner store, and most of all, it isn't free! 

In some ways, newspapers feel like a form of media lost to time, like the yellow books. Can you really imagine opening your door and getting a massive book with yours and all of your neighbor's phone numbers on it? The only reason I believe it is because of the meandering mischiefs in my youth. In this day and age, where privacy ranks supreme, it seems like some weird uncle joke.

Sometimes I wonder what else will quietly disappear from modern life.

Part of me feels this longing for nostalgia. I never had to patiently wait for my father to finish his papers so I can catch the Sunday comics. I've always wanted to have a familiar friend that has a pet tiger.



Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA

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