* cartoon source - Jeff Stahler
Well hard to believe hunnies, but little ole Miss Vero has been hangin’ around the cyberspace cocktail party for almost two years now. Y’all may have noticed that our blog, missverosbeachhouse.com, has some changes and additions in the form of youtube videos, facebook badges, myspace updates and a whole bunch of other such stuff and not too much actual bloggin’.
And y’all would be justified in askin’ “Miss Vero, just what in the H. E. double toothpicks is goin’ on?” and we’d have to remind y’all just how fast our world is changin’. Now some folks are really good at adaptin’ to change and others, well… not so much. Let’s just say that Miss Vero is always ready for the next big party.
Just remember when Miss Vero started there wasn’t much competition in terms of challenging the daily newspaper and its opinion columnist that claimed to represent Indian River County. Just how a local newspaper could appoint one of their insiders to speak for us, who had no idea who we were, ruffled our feathers a little too much and that started the whole blog ball rollin’.
Way back then in May of 2008, there weren’t no 32963 newspaper showin’ up in y’all’s mailboxes. There weren’t no Veronews.com to check out every morning and there weren’t no facebook with folks beggin’ for fans and attention. There was just little ole Miss Vero with some clever photos and our take on local politics, gossip, restaurants and parties. Now it seems everybody’s got a blog, a facebook page, or a half baked agenda.
We are actually thankful that Miss Lisa Zahner has taken over the political muckrakin’, that Keith Carson instantly posts videos on Veronews, that we run into Miss Mary Schenkel at almost every fun event and that it’s easy for new businesses to promote themselves with facebook. Even our once guest blogger Max Newport has his own forum. Shoot, we have to get in line to be snarky to some folks these days, but kids, we don’t mind one bit. In fact, now that the party’s in full swing, it’s time to start another party!
We would never want to be a passenger on a media Titanic and that’s where daily newspapers and radio are headed. Now we know some of y’all will argue, that there are those that still tune into there favorite radio show or like to get ink stains on their hands, but we bet that these are the same folks that still have “I like Ike” buttons in their sock drawer and when they’re gone…Well, let’s just say we don’t expect any children (anyone under forty these days) to fill up the gaps in the audience.
Our good friend Dr. John (who, we have a sneakin’ suspicion is over 40) asked us once, “Who in their right mind would pay for radio?” referring to the new subscription radio stations. Of course Dr. John and I can remember listening to radio programs, watching just five TV channels and getting up off the couch to change those channels. The answer is that cable TV changed all that and you’ll find it hard to find anyone who’s not paying’ for something that we all used to get for free. So yeah, paying for radio is not a strange idea for anyone that doesn’t remember those days.
By offering young folks exactly what they want in news, radio, TV (tivo and hulu!) and especially WHEN they want it on the internet, why should anyone waste their precious multitaskin’, textin’ time on any old media content? Can y’all image anyone cozyin’ up to the radio to listen to “The Shadow Knows” or waiting patiently in front of the TV for “Lassie” to return after a word from our sponsor? Nope, neither can we, those days are long gone, hunnie.
As much as we fondly remember old Florida, the smell of citrus groves, night bloomin’ jasmine comin in through the open jalousies, cool terrazzo floors, train travel, white gloved cocktail parties and Miss Lucy and Miss Alma Lee’s store - those things are behind us on our journey but certainly not forgotten. Someday kids will look back and remember the turn of the 21st century, the days before computers, when cars ran on gasoline that only cost $3 a gallon and those will be their “good ole days”.
The other night at a party, Miss Vero offered to write down some information and asked for a pen. “I never carry a pen anymore” Our acquaintance announced as his thumbs quickly typed our email info into his blackberry.
“What’s that thing called, y’all know what we mean, I’ma have to look that up.” A second later our assistant had googled on his Iphone and provided Miss Vero the answer to the question. If my phone chirps it’s a text and when it rings it’s an old friend. These days it’s doin’ a heck of a lot of chirpin’.
Well, this is now and we love livin’ in the now. Maybe we’re not the fastest to adapt but we sure are willin’ and that’s what’s important. So look for some changes and some “new media” at the Beach House. Let's just say we like to look at things from a different perspective. Miss Vero won’t mind one bit when the kids take over, it’s their world after all and the best we can do is offer some wisdom and a cocktail! We’re not sure they’ll take the advice but the cocktails nevah go to waste!
See y’all? Some things never change.
MWAH!
missvero@live.com
