I’ve said a eulogy for an electronic device. Circa 2002 I bough the first iteration of an iPod that had something like only 500 or 1,000 songs you could play on it. Then with a Christmas gift card I was given I bought what I think was an iPod Nano that I used for 15 years.

The electronic device that is now sitting in a landfill or was recycled somehow for the metal (doubtful I think!) was an HD radio receiver with an iPod dock. I bought it 15 years ago.

The alarm clock on the device could be set to wake me up to an iPod song or even a Playlist of iPod songs plural. For the longest time I set the clock to wake me to “Get the Party Started” by P!nk. Because why couldn’t I be the center of my attention with adoring fans waiting for me to arrive?

Like P!nk sings in the song about everyone who’s already arrived getting the party started for her. We should all listen to this song to get a burst of confidence.

The electronic device broke for good 5 months ago. I couldn’t set the clock ahead for Daylight Savings Time or Eastern Time or whatever the calendar date required the time to be.

Then instead of hearing a song in the morning the device started beeping. Out! Out! went the device for electronic recycling.

And though I’m no fan of how Amazon treats its warehouse employees I admit I buy things from Amazon. Things I can’t get locally or elsewhere.

So I ordered an Echo Show 5 device to keep on my night table. I shout too loudly “Alexa, shut down!” when I should use a quieter voice. As it is I have a loud voice. I’ve been castigated in a restaurant by a nearby diner for talking too loudly.

Only it makes sense that I have a loud voice. My aunt told me that she knew it was me screaming when she heard the loudest baby in the maternity ward. Imagine. I haven’t stopped speaking out loud.

It’s because I lost my voice when I was 22 and had to fight to get things normal people take for granted they can have–it’s because I lost my voice early in life–that I don’t think I should stop speaking out and writing about the truth.

So, I tell Alexa to shut down a little too loudly.

And since I always wake up early without needing an alarm clock to get me up there’s a benefit to the Echo Show 5 device. I can wake up and tell Alexa to play my new favorite song to get me going in the morning.

Though I’ve been a fan of alternative music I cannot resist the allure of Lady Gaga telling me to put my paws up. And so when I wake up I shout: “Alexa, play ‘Born This Way’ by Lady Gaga.”

“Born This Way” is my new favorite anthem. It has replaced “Get the Party Started” to get me going in the morning.

With the advent of new technology and streaming music services (I ordered Sirius XM) Apple no longer manufactures and sells iPods. Which I found out going on the Best Buy website to try to order a replacement HD radio receiver iPod dock. That device I used for the last 15 years is no longer sold either.

Really I should not be shouting at a device. So there you have it. I’m now living in the 21st Century when it comes to how to play and listen to music.