Today’s word prompt caused me to reconsider, not for the first time, my love of information. 

I’ve always had an intense desire to know why. Didn’t matter what it was, I wanted to know about it. As a child I remember reading encyclopedias for answers, and the bible a few times 

(ps- very intense and violently disturbing story for a ten year old. Yes Old Testament, I’m talking about you)

That NEED to know continued on from the time I learned to read all the way through school. Sometimes I think I knew more before I went to high school then I ever learned in University, 

and then forgot it all.

When I was in first year university, working at Canadian Tire to pay my bills, I remember reading the forensic science dictionary on my lunch breaks if I was alone. 

(Learning about body farms is something better done alone instead of with a confused and worried audience. Unless of course you want to be left alone, then it’s highly effective)

But it wasn’t long after that cell phones with internet service changed the way most of us did things. One of the biggest ways it’s impacted my life is the ability to find out WHY immediately.

 Instead of making lists to research, Google was at my fingertips with the power of a million libraries run by the most efficient librarians the world had ever seen, and the power to tell me answers in a fraction of the time it had taken before.

I could look up how to pronounce a word, verify half-remembered facts and even (or most importantly?) learn what the lyrics to every song were, 

the minute I thought to look. 

These memories and others flooded back, reminding me of the “old days” where knowledge was harder to come by.

( I’m pretty sure my husband likes to ask me questions because I’m faster at looking things up, not because he thinks I actually know the answer. )

All these thoughts came because of my curiosity about today’s word prompt, “buff”

Initially, I thought I would go down the body building path- it would have made sense, given that I have one of those at home. 

Then I remembered it was a colour, and thought hey, what else does it mean?

What I learned tonight was that the word “buff” initially referred to a B-52 bomber, and was the nickname for Big Ugly Fat F***er, and came from the Vietnam war . 

Huh. 

The more you know, I guess. And that is why I love Google. 

Next time, why I hate Google,  in relation to work, of course 

(Google, we will always have our happy private life. We just don’t work well together)

I love learning WHY. Anyone else in awe of the power of the Google at your fingertips?