Yes, in a heartbeat. On most occasions these moments are spontaneous, at least they have been for me. A by chance look at a setting sun, an unexpected caressing touch of a loved one, a sweet forgotten smell full of memories, a fleeting moment of thought that sweeps us away and awakens us to life’s beauty and our good fortune, as if a gift for something done right.
But, this time, I knew that on July 26th, a little after 4 pm, I was going to have a very special moment. We had an appointment to see Dr.Galen Jones. I was finally going to hear the heartbeat of our baby. Aylin told me that the ultrasound device that they listen to the heartbeat is pretty loud so I expected that I could utilize any device with a microphone.
That choice used to be a lot easier in the old days. You could easily assume that the primary function of almost any device attached to a microphone was to record sound. Nowadays we are dropped inside a technological labyrinth peppered with multi functional gizmos that seem to do everything except windows – don’t you love the pun?
I spent two days contemplating on what device I should use to record the sound. It needed to be sensitive, practical, digital, and portable. I could use my PDA but I realized that I couldn’t transfer the file to my computer because I didn’t have the proper software. Next option ARCHOS AV500, my media player. It can hold over 100 movies, why couldn't it store a few seconds of heartbeat? Oh yeah, right, I messed up the OS so my laptop doesn't see it as an external drive anymore. What other device can I use to record my special moment? I know, the camera, the camera.
Yes, in an age when I can get my directions from my cell phone instead of stopping at a gas station, watch movies on my "walkman" instead of going to the theatre, order my half mushroom, half pepperoni, well done crispy pizza with an extra side of blue cheese from my laptop without talking to a person, why does it sound so strange that I can use a photo camera to record my baby's heartbeat electronically on a wave file? After all, aren't cameras made specifically to capture those special moments? Well, I am not disappointed. My camera once again captured a special moment. But this time, I will re-live that moment every time I listen to this…………
