the forgotten joy of listening to the 2009 ipod nano's click wheel
something about having all your carefully selected music all in one place wherever you go made the act of listening to music all the more special. you went out of your way to try and find the music you liked, buy it if not copy the link onto a youtube to mp3 download site and wait for your slow 30kbps internet speed to put that live performance of Jethro Tullās āBungle In The Jungleā onto the slim, sleek ipod nano that you got for your 10th birthday. you gently massaged the frayed end of the earphone jack and adjusted it till it was just at the right angle where you could hear everything clearly with no static. the massive libraries of music you got when you went to your friendās house and asked if you could sync your ipod with their itunes. and the hours spent on train rides, soccer practice, laying on the bed immersed in a whole new world of sound that seemed so special it was as if it belonged to you. you watched intently at the album artwork of your favorite Fall Out Boy record and tried to discern the sheep from the lights in the tiny 2.2 inch display. you scrub through your entire library searching for the next song to play but you keep scrolling, just so you can hear the comforting clicks of the scroll wheel in perfect synchrony with your fingers. the feeling was almost therapeutic. playing vortex laying on your bed wondering whether you could beat your own high score, all the while knowing that there were better games to play, but using the scroll wheel was hypnotic and sometimes you just couldnāt stop. i thank my bright pink ipod nano for all the years it allowed me to hold it close to my heart, my friend in the silence with me till it could no longer play the songs that I made a part of me. i thank the technology that made my youth - living in nostalgia is comforting from time to time.