Letters from North
America
The
process of getting older
brings with it a number
of challenges for all of
us. If you are thirty or
younger and you think
these will not apply to
you, think again…they
will come before you
know it. Be prepared.
Now, in my mind you have
a choice, you can either
groan, moan, complain
and be cynical or you
can choose to think of
each new event with a
sense of adventure.
Since no one would
listen to me if I choose
to moan and groan, I
will opt for the new
sense of adventure.
Besides it helps to have
something to write
about.
When it comes to changes
in technology I find it
pays to maintain a good
sense of humor. The best
way to impress your kids
and grandkids is to buy
the latest stuff and
then figure it out
before they come to your
house. Then you can whip
out your iPod or new
cell phone camera and
kind of insert them into
the normal conversation
without any fan fare.
The kids will be
instantly impressed and
amazed that first off
you’ve bought this
device and secondly that
you actually know how to
use it. Do not admit
that it took you the
better part of a week to
learn how to turn it on
for the first time. Also
be certain you know the
basics of these devices
before you introduce
them into your family
circle. For example
pointing the camera
towards the subject is
something you must learn
how to do before you
attempt to take
someone’s picture. Never
attempt anything unless
you are absolutely
certain you can do it
properly. If you have a
new cell phone, try it
out first before making
an absolute fool of
yourself in front of
your kids if you have to
admit you don’t know how
to get a dial tone. This
is a big no-no.
It’s ok to try out new
things with your spouse.
He or she is in the same
boat and certainly can
understand the need for
practice, practice,
practice with anything
unfamiliar. When GPS
devices first came out
my wife became concerned
when she heard a strange
voice over the cell
phone while she was
talking to one of our
sons. He told her there
wasn’t anyone in the car
but him. Only after he
changed the voice to a
British accent did she
believe him. A few weeks
ago we were in Seattle
trying to get to our
hotel in a blinding
rainstorm at midnight.
Thunder and lighting is
crashing all around us
and the GPS voice is
telling me to ‘turn now’
or ‘get into the left
lane, right turn ahead’
or some such
instructions. My wife is
talking to me, I’m
yelling at her (my wife)
and at the voice in the
GPS as if she (the GPS
woman) can actually hear
me. Yelling at the GPS
voice does not do you
any good whatsoever.
They can’t hear you and
they don’t care. Do not
do this in the company
of your children or your
grandchildren. They will
think you have lost it.
I have to get used to
having computers talk
back to me. We all need
to work on this as it is
the wave of the future.
We bought a Weii….I
guess that’s how you
spell it. Anyway, it’s
this computer game
exercise torture
machine. When you first
get it cranked up you
have to enter all kinds
of personal stuff about
yourself and then the
machine evaluates your
body composition and
tells you several
things. Not things I
necessarily want to hear
from a machine in my
house. It tells you your
weight (too much) body
mass index (didn’t need
this figure) and then
what you need to do to
get down to your proper
body size (stop eating
for a year) and how to
get back in shape (round
is a shape).
Now, in all seriousness
the thing is a hoot.
It’s really a lot of fun
and you really forget
you’re actually
exercising. We haven’t
been on ours for a
couple of weeks due to
the dog, but came back
on it this weekend. It
wants to know where I’ve
been. It wants to know
if I’ve been snacking.
It wants to know if I’ve
seen my wife since she
hasn’t shown up for
exercise as well. It
groans each time I step
on it as if I’m
overloading it or
something.
Well, we showed it a
thing or two. We worked
out so hard; I threw my
hip out of place. My
wife did over five hours
on the obstacle course
and walking like she is
in traction, but we are
determined to get beyond
the beginner level. Our
kids are impressed that
we know how to turn the
thing on and do
anything, so the pain is
worth it. We are
old…hear us roar.
Comments got to
www.pearyperry.com.
Complaints go nowhere.
