In a few years the phrase "Shake it like Polaroid Picture" will be met with confusion.

I just heard news that Polaroid recently announced that it was ceasing production of its iconic instant film cameras and products.

Polaroid instant film will be available in stores into next year, the company said. Meanwhile, Polaroid — which stopped making instant cameras over the past couple years — is seeking a partner to acquire licensing rights, in hopes that another firm will continue making the instant film and keep limited supplies available.

Polaroid introduced its first instant camera in 1948, just as the baby boom got started and parents were looking for new ways to take photos of their kids. Film packs contained the chemicals for developing images inside the camera, and photos emerged from the camera in less than a minute.

I suppose it was inevitable, with the creation of the digital camera and how it's easy to get great photos with a reasonably-priced digital camera. But I'm going to miss the Polaroid camera. I'm going to miss the odd chemical smell, the excitement of staring into the film as the colors slowly fade in and become a recognizable picture of friends and family.

What I fear most now is in the future -- when my daughter hears the words to "Hey Ya!" I'm going to have to explain what it means when Andre 3000 sings "Shake it like a Polaroid picture."

*sigh*