I tend to hang onto my phones until I absolutely have to give them up.

Example: when my Nokia flip phone, which I ludicrously loved even more once the cover degraded to the point where I could flip it open with a one-handed flick of the wrist like a Star Trek communicator, sadly reached the point where it could no longer send or receive calls. Only then did I finally get an iPhone, at which point I instantly fell in love with the incredible camera upgrade.

That was two iPhones ago. With each of my Apple replacements, it got to the point where I couldn’t install software updates because my phone was too old. I couldn’t install apps because my phone was too old. You get my drift.

So I reluctantly got a new phone this January, and although I still haven’t figured out all its features, I am starting to understand just how good the new camera is.

Here is part of a paisley pattern on a pillow in our living room.

See that teardrop thing, kind of in the middle of the photo, framed by what looks like it could be sepals were the teardrop to be an upside down flower bud?

Well, here is a closer view. See the second little teardrop thing in the middle of our main teardrop?

Well, have a look at this macro closeup of that inner teardrop, below.

Isn’t that amazing? That I could take such a detailed close-up photo with my PHONE???? I mean, I remember when I thought it was super thrilling to have captured a tiny, pixelated, one-square-inch image on my Nokia. And now this!

Sometimes it truly is necessary to stop and take a moment to wonder at (and appreciate) the marvels of our time.