Karen OConnor - My Senior Moments Have Gone High-Tech: Laugh-Out-Loud Stories to Calm Your E-Fears

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

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MY SENIOR MOMENTS HAVE GONE HIGH-TECH

Copyright 2016 Karen OConnor

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

OConnor, Karen.

My senior moments have gone high-tech / Karen OConnor.

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-7369-6510-1 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-6511-8 (eBook)

1. Older ChristiansReligious life. 2. AgingReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4580.O375 2015

248.8'5dc23

2014021859

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For all my senior friends.

My thanks to each of these men and women who contributed suggestions and ideas and their own experiences, which I used with their permission as story seeds for this book:

Pat Baer Dianne Barker Jennifer Butenschoen Peggy Dickerson Charles Flowers Heidi Heath Garwood Donna Goodrich Jim Gordon Janet Kobobel Grant Linda Gail Johnson Rose Kabat Jade Kinnaman Jennifer Zarifeh Major Diana Brand Meyer Brenda Nixon Charise Olson Yvonne Ortega Bonnie Rose Columba Lisa Smith Laura Strnad Jeremy Sturm Julie Sweeney Georgia Varozza Sandra Victor

Contents

I lift up my eyes to the mountainswhere does my help come from? My help comes from the L ORD , the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Mickey and her housemate, Ginny, headed for the Sierra Mountains, both ready for a few days off. They set up their tents in the campground at Lake Dorothy. No motor home for them. They preferred camping the old-fashioned way. They took a daily hike on the well-marked trails and returned in the late afternoon to prepare dinner on their camp stove. In the evening, they sat around the fire pit with the stars twinkling overhead in the dark sky.

It was a great time of exercise and relaxation. On the first day, before setting off on their hike, Mickey suggested they turn off their cell phones. Our cells are right here, she said, patting her backpack. To be used for emergency only.

Ginny agreed.

At the end of the week, the women packed up Mickeys car and drove down the highway toward home. Theyd been out of touch with the outside world for several days and had no idea what was going on in their city or around the globe. A few hours later they pulled into a truck stop for drinks and a sandwich. Mickey felt the urge to check on things, so when they piled into the van again she suggested Ginny turn on the radio. We ought to be able to get some news and music now.

Ginny worked the knobs on the radio. What frequency? she asked.

Try 102.3our favorite country music station.

After fiddling with the dials for a long time, Ginny sat back and sighed. I give up. I can get 1-0-2, but 1-0-2 point 3 wont come in. I dont understand whats going on. Its always worked before.

Mickey glanced over at the radio and noticed it was turned off. The clock , on the other hand, indicated 1:02.

The women giggled so hard, Mickey had to pull off the road until she and Ginny could compose themselves enough to continue driving safely. Theyd definitely been out of touch too long.

TECH TIP

Put on your glasses, if necessary, when reading maps, radio station numbers, and cell phonesif you dont want to get lost.

Reflection

His God instructs him and teaches him the right way (Isaiah 28:26).

Contemplation

Its supposed to be automatic, but actually you have to push this button.

J OHN B RUNNER

Timely Prayer

When it comes down to it, Lord, people are pretty funny creatures, needing your help even with the simplest of things.

My grandma Marion is adorable when it comes to new technology, said Charlotte. She uses Whiteout Liquid Paper on the TV remote to mark the important buttons. She once went weeks without watching television because shed inadvertently pushed the wrong button. She had to wait for someone to come over to help her.

Marion also has her doubts about modern washing machines. She isnt sure hers really cleans the clothes, so she soaks them in the washer tub, stirs them with a stick, and then she lets the machine run its cycles.

As for the dishwasher, she uses it for storage only because she doesnt believe it can clean her dishes as well as hand washing.

One year for her grandmothers birthday, Charlotte made an appointment with her daughter Mandy, who was away at college, to attend the celebration via a Skype phone call. It took a little doing because there isnt Internet access at Grandmas house, said Charlotte, and Im not very tech-oriented either. But I was so excited to have Grandma see and talk to Mandy during the party that family members and I managed to get it all set up. When it came time to talk with Mandy, Grandma sat in front of the screen straight as a stick. She barely talked, and she only did so or waved when one of us prompted her. It was strange.

The call lasted only a few minutes, and Charlotte admits she was a little disappointed. Later I asked Grandma why she was so reluctant to participate. Turns out she thought it was a video . She believed we were putting on a skit for her as we interacted with Mandy. She couldnt believe it was a live call or that was really Mandy speaking directly to her.

TECH TIP

Do a run-through explaining whats happening before using new technology with reluctant seniors.

Reflection

In all your ways submit to [the L ORD ] , and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:6).

Contemplation

I have always wished for a computer that would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish came true. I no longer know how to use my telephone.

B JARNE S TRONSTRUP

Timely Prayer

Lord, Im so excited when a new possibility comes along, but so often the old way seems easier.

Laurene was going to learn to use a computer if it killed herand it almost did! She tried to follow the suggestions her son gave her when he sat down with her, but he talked so fast and moved so quickly typing this and searching for that, that she couldnt keep up with him. He also used a little silver box attached to the computer to move from one place to another. He called it a mouse of all things. It didnt look like a mouse to her.