I’m still numb from the horrific news from London yesterday. But instead of dwelling on that crap, let’s move on to something lighter. It’s Friday after all, and the best way to fight terrorism is not let it carry us into the mire of fear and hate. And because the terrorists represent everything that is uncivilized, dark, and primal, let’s talk about something that is yet another signal that mankind is on a gentle upwards slope towards progress.

I’m talking about car DVD players.

OK, we fought it, despite the fact that we have a very, very long drive to Cleveland twice a year. Partially, because with this new house, we’re running through money like it’s juice boxes at a birthday party.

Partially, we fought the DVD, because we feared that they would lose some quality thinking time in the backseat. They would lose out on great conversations with their old folks. They would miss out on seeing the hawks and the deer, because they were glued to a screen watching Nemo.

And partially, we fought the DVD because we suffered, damnit, and they should, too. 1978, three of us, in the back of a Plymouth, with no A/C, fighting for a roll down windows, all the way to Florida. Yeah, nice time. But it made us tough. And kids today are going to turn into some sissies who need to have leg room and cup holders and fast forward past the scary parts in the movie. Sissies, I tell you.

But when the father in law offered to pay for it, we took him up on the deal. Because frankly, those car rides sucked. Why glamorize them?

We zoomed across OH, PA, and NJ and made the trip in record time. Nine hours. Not once did we hear “Are we there, yet?” We took lots of movie break for book reading time and for leg stretching. But the ride was pleasant.

That’s what civilized people do. They don’t resent others for their privileges. They accept change, eventually. And they take handouts from relatives.