SHARON’S BLOG

productI just learned something new today. When a product or service outlives its usefulness, it’s called “end of life” or EOL. Who knew?

I learned this when a company that provides a service to my Website emailed to tell me they are discontinuing that particular service because they believe it is no longer needed.

That made me think of other products or services that have reached the end of their usefulness or are obsolete. Top of the list: home potato chip deliveries, party lines, and 8-track players. Yes, I am old enough to remember all of those.

Can you think of a product or service that has gone defunct in your lifetime?

Below are two writing prompts you can do with your children this week. When you write with your children, you convey to them that writing is a legitimate activity. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun to read each other’s ideas. After all, your children might not even know about some of the things you remember from your childhood. This could be history!

1. Write about a product or service that no longer exists. Are you happy about its demise? Do you wish it were still around? How did it work? How did people use it?

2. Write about a product or service you wish would go belly up or that you think will die out in the next few years. What do you think will replace it? Why do you think it will soon be obsolete?

Yours for a more vibrant writing experience,
Sharon Watson

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