Homebodies - Embracing technological advances

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Published on Saturday, April 15, 2017

By Rita Friesen

The Neepawa Banner

The times they are a changing. There was a time when I carried a pocket size day minder with me, the Reader’s Digest one was my favourite – loved the monthly layout and space for notes. Well, I have embraced technology. My trusty cell phone, out dated by most standards, is my go-to. It now holds my appointments, my telephone numbers, my fitness goals and attainments and my games. All that in one little package. I am doing okay with it. Know how to enter events, scroll ahead for months and months, and prevent most double booking. I have not mastered split screen so am not certain if I could actually be in dialogue and check availability. That’s fine, for I know how to text the caller and verify details after the conversation has been completed. 

I love the health app and am using only a minor portion of the program. I measure my dog walking steps. On average, Henry Hoover and Miss Daisy and I gallop between 7,000 and 9,000 steps a day. According to the records, we are in the top 20 percentile of all users of this app. Not bad for an old girl and two aging dogs! I am certain that there are a zillion other apps I could and perhaps should learn, but small steps! 

I love my computer. Mostly work related, I have learned how to create, and fill, file folders. Basic ones – Homebodies, sermons, and funerals- I don’t lose or misplace many! I need to get more organized with miscellaneous, that folder is convoluted, difficult to find what I know I put in there. 

Then there is the wonder of Facebook. I love the contact I maintain with a sister based in Australia but all over the world, a daughter in France, grandchildren all over the prairies and friends far and near. I appreciate the tech support offered by my grandchildren! Here at home, my granddaughter keeps my phone functioning and for the computer, well, the grandson near by has all my information (totally trust him!), and can log on to the very screen that is confounding me. Calm me down, talk me through – for my lack of knowledge for the correct technical term can be frustrating- and solve my computer problem, “No, grandma, if they deleted your hard drive, you would not be seeing what you are seeing.” With a few clicks, I am back to my beloved home page. 

Cars have become more technical. Ed could repair or improvise any non-functioning feature in an automobile. One vehicle we drove literally had a strip of electrical tape blocking a non applicable warning light. A fix of sorts! Now, when I have flashing lights and warnings, it a grandson-in-law that talks me down and walks me through. Thank you. 

I embrace advancement. I try to understand the need for the growing edge of technology.  Now I need to learn how to activate a tracking beeper on my phone.