Within the space of a month, three new technologies have been added to my household: a new computer, a printer and a cell phone made specifically to withstand rough use.
Nothing I learned in the past 20 years works with any of them. As Dick started setting up the new computer, a number of questions arose. (I gave a silent prayer, thankful for my old laptop and Windows 7.) Up to this point in my life, I’ve always been able to give a little help with computer stuff, but not anymore. I glanced at the screen, flabbergasted. Looked like a foreign language.
“Windows 10?” I asked.
“Yup.”
I had not the foggiest idea of the next step. After 20 years of using Windows, I didn’t recognize one dang thing. This seemed unfair to the older generation of which I am a part, so I ranted. “Why do they have to change things? What was wrong with the old way. This is infuriating.”
I vented and seethed and cursed the march of technology, but in the end, the problem was solved by the younger generation. Our daughter-in-law showed us the set-up.
Next, we tackled the new phone. I was pretty smug. After all, I’ve had a smartphone for three plus years, but that didn’t help when confronted with this new piece of technology. It’s nothing like mine. It’s incredibly complex. Maneuvering around it takes concentration.
I started whining again, (Yes, whining) wishing for the old days. My complaints were stopped short by my husband. He’d been thinking about this and came up with a bright idea. We should look on all this new stuff as a challenge, not sit around and cry. Working together to learn new technology would be good for us, good for our brains. Embrace it.
Okay. Much as I hated to admit it, he was right, so I made an attitude adjustment. And it’s a good thing because the next techno challenge came in the form of a new printer. This time, I kept my mouth shut. I jump-started my brain and stayed alert. I even jogged around the living room to get the blood moving. We set to work as a team and answered a few questions. We stayed calm. I didn’t rant. I didn’t feel negative when we called it a night although things weren’t yet working.
The next day, with fresh senses and a “can do” attitude, we got the printer connected to the new computer without muss and fuss.
I also found a good old-fashioned activity to keep me calm. I bought a 550-piece jigsaw puzzle.
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