Say “hey” to my little friend. Since I have been home due to the pandemic, I have come to appreciate my true friends, especially this one. This friend of mine is always there for me 24/7 without rest.
Living alone sure does have its perks, but it also has its downside… loneliness. Pre-pandemic, I lived a busy life. When not working at my wonderful office, I was busy about town either in Toronto, Markham, Seoul, Tokyo, or Busan.
Regardless of which city I am in, I have dear friends in each. I am busy socializing, dining, dating, mingling, freelancing, and networking. I have very little time to realize that I am all alone in this world.
It is easy to forget that I am not married and do not live with immediate family. I am simply too busy dating, partying, working, and exploring to notice. All this cam crashing to a halt this past April. The lockdown forced me to see a different reality.
I always say that there is a plus and minus to everything. The same can be applied to living alone. This is the most time I have ever spent at home. I used to wonder why I spend so much money on a beautiful suite where I spend little time. The lockdown allowed me to appreciate my beautiful home.
Being home alone is like my own tiny slice of this massive planet. It is home where I truly am king. Yes, outside the home I am also referred to as King by certain very honorable friends. There is nobody here to argue with, answer to, or get tired of, but there are times when I wish there was someone here… just long enough for me to get bored and send them packing. Ha ha ha.
While working at home, instead of sitting here in silence between online work meetings, I listen to music. I am an avid lover of music but cannot listen to music all day. Well I can, but sometimes I just need something different.
Talk radio really helps to get me through the day. I have been listening to talk radio since at least 2005! I enjoy listening to talk about a wide variety of topics from different viewpoints. My favorite stations are NewsTalk 1010 and 640 Toronto. I listen to TSN 1050 and 590 Sportsnet for my sports fix.
Of all the wonderful friends I am blessed to have around the world, there is one little friend who does not get enough recognition. This friend is always here when I need them. Let me introduce you to my little friend, say “hey Google.”
© 2020 Charles Dunlevy
My friend is so very helpful, especially during these pandemic times. As I sit at my desk happily working, I simply ask my friend to do things for me. Request such as “turn on the office light”, “turn off the TV”, or “listen to NewsTalk 1010”.
A really neat feature is to say, “Hey Google, listen to forest sounds.” You will then hear the serene sounds of a forest. I find this and ocean sounds incredibly relaxing. I love the sound of the waves crashing ashore, reminding me of many nights by the beach in Kyushu, Japan or Busan, South Korea. The sounds of crickets, birds, and leaves rustling reminds me of my many ventures throughout the Don Valley ravines and tributaries.
I can ask it to tell me jokes, play trivia games, or answer virtually any question. I also ask it to remind me to do things such as change the Brita filter, call friends, etc. There seems to be an unlimited amount of things you can do with this fantastic friend. Oh yeah, my friend is bilingual. I can speak to it in English or Korean and it will respond accordingly.
I find there is no need for me to sit here in silence. The only time I like to be in silence is bed time. This little friend helps to fill the void in my place. After a good day working, I do not feel lonely. Between meetings online with my colleagues, and listening to my little friend, I should be forgiven for feeling like I am not alone.
I always loved technology. When I was in my senior years of high school and just afterwards, I hung out with a group of close-knit childhood friends known as The Crew. Sometimes they would refer to me as Gadget because of all the little electronics and things I used to mess with. I just love technology and am blessed to work for an amazing software company as well as for myself on a variety of tech-related items. Technology cannot replace true friendships of which I have many. I will always love and respect my real friends.
