On Wednesday October 22nd, the incandescent light bulb turns 129 years old. While that's only a tiny speck in earth's history, it's hard to imagine how our lives would be without electric light. Edison’s invention changed life as we know it with one flip of the switch...
Think back to the last time the power went out at your home - what’s the first thing you did? Find a flashlight? Light a candle? It’s only when we lose light that we realize how important it is to our general level of comfort. I live in the great Northwest, and it’s a certainty of Northwest living that the power will go out several times each winter, spring, and fall. And believe me, getting dressed in the dark is not nearly as bad as trying to put on make-up in the dark… Light is essential to functioning in our everyday lives, and without it we're lost.
I think we may take for granted the convenience of simply turning on a lamp when we wake up in the night for a trip to the bathroom, a midnight snack, or to check for boogeymen under the bed. It's a convenience that mankind lived without for thousands of years, and it's only within the last century that we've had the privilege of instant light.
Light is necessary. It not only allows us to see, but gives us safety — it's a beacon that keeps ships away from shorelines, directs planes, and can even summons superheroes. Without light, baseball teams would never play night games, doctors would perform surgeries outside, and old Hollywood stars would have never seen their names lit up on marquees. We owe a lot to that tiny glass bulb.
Our ancestors used fire as a source of light, and while effective at producing light, fire just isn’t nearly as portable or as safe as our trusty light bulb. The invention of the light bulb changed our lives forever, and it’s not nearly done evolving. New technology such as spiral Compact Fluorescent bulbs and LED technology are quickly taking favor in today’s homes, so enjoy your 129th birthday, Incandescent Light Bulb, because I’m sorry to say your days in this form are numbered.
Lighting your home isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity that deserves our appreciation. So join us on October 22nd to celebrate the birth of perhaps the most important American invention of all time. Each time you flip a light switch, take a moment to think about how your life would be different without the light bulb. We know we will.
Happy 129th birthday, Light Bulb... Your future looks brighter than ever!
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