Farewell, Walkman

Sony just announced plans to halt production of the Walkman in Japan. The cassette players are still available in America, but I bet they won't be around for much longer. It's a basic rule of supply vs. demand. All in all, the end of the Walkman era is sad.

The Walkman was born in 1979 just like me. Much like every good invention, there were cheaper knock-offs and I'm pretty sure every kid in my elementary school owned one. I had a few myself. The Walkman wasn't the most durable gadget ever made - and we all know tapes had both their limiting and redeeming qualities. Still, the Walkman was a huge part of Glam. I mean, the Walkman epitomized the 80s!

I made so many mix tapes back in the day. All sorts of mixes. And then I copied the tapes for my friends. Believe me when I saw I was awesome at making mix tapes. Then I put them in my Walkman and listened while in bed or wherever.

Our Glam faves shipped most of their units via cassette. Of course, vinyl was still big in the early 80s but as time marched on, plastic cassettes won out. Then came CDs and I suppose that's when music really changed, but whatever. Even after CDs became popular and common, I had a cassette player. I eventually upgraded to a CD Walkman while in high school. Mainly this was to block out my classmates on Friday night away-game bus rides because I was in the band. I hated being in marching band - especially when it was snowing - but that's another post for another day.

So, the Walkman helped me escape reality, bond with the music I love and make stronger connections with my friends. I love my iPod but it just isn't the same.

Do you have a Walkman memory?