TECHIE SALES REPS LACK EMPATHY

Do you dread buying a new computer, iPhone or other electronic devices? I know I do. It’s not like buying a new dress to wear to a wedding. You brace yourself for a whole a new set of buttons and apps. For me, any new piece of equipment involves a steep learning curve. And most sales reps at places like AT&T and BEST BUY are woefully unaware of how to help seniors. They zip through the instructions at breakneck speed, and never smile. You can tell they don’t like waiting on folks over 50. Young techie sales representatives lack empathy for anyone who didn’t grow up using computers.

It wouldn’t be so bad if the new computer or phone came with an instruction manual. But everyone’s gone paperless. Since I grew up using Simplicity patterns to make my own clothes, I’m pretty good at following printed instructions. But when a sales rep impatiently barks out directives on using a new product, I’m lost. Yes, I know, there’s a line of customers behind me, chomping at the bit to be waited on. And they won’t be asking silly questions or ask the salesperson to repeat themselves.

Techie sales reps lack empathy for old folks who didn't grow uup with computers. — Young techie sales reps lack empathy for seniors who don’t understand their language..

I know they’re frustrated because I don’t understand their language. And they know I’m at their mercy. If I want to survive in modern society, I must have a cell phone and a computer, at the very least. Not to mention an MP3 player and a Kindle. I’m not going to walk out of that store empty handed. But I’m going to go home and try to remember what they said, and probably end up in tears of frustration, bemoaning my own ignorance. And when I return to the store for further information, they frown with disapproval.

Each store should have a special clerk for seniors. It would be helpful to advertise, and schedule appointments, so as to accommodate people on canes and walkers, or those who can’t stand up for long. This person would need to have something the other tech salesmen lack—empathy.

As a last resort, I’ve ordered a printed manual for my new phone called “iPhones for Dummies.” That’s perfect for a tech dummy like me.

May 12, 2021May 12, 2021

OH NO–NOT BILL GATES!

Why do we assume that intellectuals and geniuses seldom give much thought to sex? Animals have sex. Even plants have sex. It’s a basic, instinctual process, requiring little or no intelligence. If not controlled, it can cause disastrous consequences like STDs and unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, many regard sex as shameful and dirty. The Catholic Church doesn’t think very highly of sex. As a result, they require celibacy in their priests. We all know how that’s worked out. Nevertheless, we still assume that brilliant and/or spiritual people have their minds on loftier pursuits. That’s why our initial reaction to the Bill and Melinda Gates divorce was, ” Oh no–not Bill Gates!” Turns out he’s more interested in sex than we imagined.

After watching a television interview with Bill and Melinda Gates about a year ago, I had the feeling things weren’t going too well in that marriage. It was all about their devotion to some worthy cause . However, I noticed Melinda kept upstaging Bill, answering questions for him, and taking up more space in the interview. Surprisingly, he seemed amused at her effort to outshine him, and made no effort to assert himself.

Now, we’ve learned that he was a friend of the notorious pedophile/billionaire Epstein, who committed suicide in prison. Bill’s biographer also revealed that in his bachelor days, he enjoyed nude pool parties with strippers. And, while married to Melinda, he hit on female journalists who interviewed him. Oh no–not Bill! Yes, it seems the super-human god-like hero we admired was just like any other horny male. Except, his money and position helped cover it up. Newspapers, politicians, and charities weren’t about to jeopardize the benefits that he sent their way.

Then, of course, we have the strange looking CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, who left his smart pretty wife for a gaudy glamor girl who bragged about the nude pictures he texted her. Let’s see. Who do we have left? Jack Dorsey of Twitter is single, and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook seems to be in a pretty solid marriage. Elon Musk , owner of Tesla, has a baby Momma, and says he has Asperger’s. You just never know. These are the men who have a major influence on our elections because they are rich, famous, and very smart. But should we really respect their opinions and allow them to shape our society?

May 10, 2021May 13, 2021

PLEASE DON’T WEEDEAT THE LILIES

Most people nearing retirement are determined to live in their own home. However, it doesn’t always work out that way if one spouse dies, gets sick, or disabled. But let’s suppose you’re lucky enough to age in place. You have the strength to shop, cook, and clean your house. And yet, maintaining a lawn is more challenging. If you are over eighty, chances are you are paying someone to do that. Unfortunately, our lawn man passed away , and we had to hire someone new this year. Beware: Just because someone owns a lawn mower, it doesn’t mean they can tell a flower from a weed. So, if you’re starting out with a new lawn service, you might say: Please don’t weedeat the lilies.

Please don't weed eat the lillies. They won't bloom if cut down too soon. — PLEASE DON’T WEEDEAT THE LILIES. A new lawn person may not be able to tell them from weeds.

Lilies are probably one of the most beautiful spring flowers, but their blooming period is short. For years, my husband and I planted bulbs along our fence in the fall. Come spring, we had a splash of colored lilies that brightened our yard and brought joy to everyone who passed by. Lilies only bloom for a short time, but they’re definitely worth waiting for.

This spring, it looked like the mild winter and spring rains were bringing us a bonanza of lilies. They were sprouting up everywhere, doubling what had come up the year before. We watched in excitement, thinking of all the beautiful blooms we were about to see. And then, along came our new lawn man with a young helper. A girl who didn’t even look sixteen. As I glanced out the window, I saw her calmly running a weed eater along the fence row, chopping down lily after lily in a matter of seconds. I raced out the door, yelling for her to stop. She seemed confused. Turns out she was the man’s daughter.. Heartbroken, I asked, “can you tell a flower from a weed?” To which she sharply replied, ‘No Ma am.”

The father was apologetic; offered to buy new lilies. But all the money in the world couldn’t restore those nineteen dead lilies, cut down before they were able to fulfill their mission on this earth. So my advice to you is this. If you’re starting out with a new lawn service, be sure to say : Please don’t weedeat the lilies.

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021

OLD DOG LEARNED 10 NEW TRICKS

No one can predict how much time we’ll spend on this earth, but there’s a general perception that everything goes downhill after 80 years. In some ways, that’s true in regard to physical capabilities. There’s arthritis, high blood pressure, and all those other physical conditions that the elderly must cope with. However, this old dog learned 10 new tricks after her 80^th birthday. Since that milestone, I have learned to:

1. Start a blog. This was like learning a whole new language. I could never have done it without the generous help of younger folks at Ivy Tech Community College and the Vigo County Public Library.

2. Make a smooth omelet. My omelets were always lumpy and falling apart. Finally, I went on You Tube and learned the secret is using a blender to whip up the eggs before pouring them on the skillet

Old Dogs Learn 10 New Tricks. You can learn to play Mahjong after 80 — Old Dogs Learn 10 New Tricks. You can play Mahjong at any age.

3. Play Mahjong. I was a bridge player since college. Years ago, I attempted to play Mahjong, but soon gave up, as it seemed too complicated. And then, three years ago, I was lucky enough to find the right teacher. I still enjoy bridge, but Mahjong is just as challenging, without the pressure of pleasing a partner. And you can play online!

4. Navigate Netflix. We started sending for Netflix CD’s several years ago. But when the pandemic hit, we kept hearing about all the Netflix series that could be streamed . It seemed way too complicated, but a Netflix customer service person walked me through all the details. Binging on a Netflix series like Bridgerton helped us through the long winter of Covid-19 isolation.. We’ll be watching less TV this spring, but I’m so glad I learned how to stream.

5. Rebloom an amaryllis bulb. Three years ago, my husband ordered a pot of amaryllis just in time for Christmas. I had never seen anything so miraculously blooming in the winter. After reading the instructions, saved the bulbs, and repotted them the next winter. It was exciting to see the leaves shooting up slowly, and 6 weeks later when the flowers bloomed again. Now I’m hooked. My basement has nearly a dozen bulbs hibernating until next winter.

6. Stop a nosebleed. My husband is prone to them because he’s on blood thinners. Usually, we called the doctor if it happened. But during the pandemic, we didn’t want to sit in a doctor’s office with other patients. We got online and found this advice: : Have the patient lean forward, not back. Take a cotton ball and soak it in liquid nasal decongestant. Put the cotton up the nostril that’s bleeding. If you have a nose pincher, use that. Otherwise, pinch with your fingers. Within 15 minutes, the bleeding has usually stopped.

Other new skills acquired were: 7) Online banking: transferring money and paying bills via the internet, 8) Practicing daily meditation using the Calm app. 9) Texting messages and sending photos on my cell phone 10) Completing jig saw puzzles.

If you dread turning 80, or have already reached that milestone, just remember: It’s never too late for old dogs to learn new tricks.

May 5, 2021May 5, 2021

GRANNY’S KINDLE ALARMS ATLANTA TSA

Remember when everyone had a Kindle ? If you were traveling, you would see people in hotels and motels sitting in the lobby reading their Kindle. On beaches, paperbacks were replaced by those little gray devices that someone had received for their birthday or Christmas. It was all the rage. However, when we stopped going south for the Winter, my Kindle was relegated to a desk drawer. Last week, I recharged it for a trip to my granddaughter’s wedding. Stuck it in my suitcase, and sailed through TSA at the Indy airport. But on the return trip from Atlanta, I was stopped by airport security and told my bag would have to be opened. Did they think an octogenarian in a wheelchair was carrying something dangerous? Turns out, Granny’s Kindle alarms Atlanta TSA.

Whew. They didn’t inspect my Kindle for suspicious reading material. Actually, I didn’t even have to remove my sandals. But I learned my lesson. Should have put my Kindle device in the tray along with my cell phone. Then I would have avoided the embarrassment of exposing the contents of my sloppily packed suitcase.

Here’s what’s happed to the Kindle: It’s gone out of style. When launched ten years ago, it seemed miraculous. You could carry hundreds of stories in that little slip of thick, black plastic. And it was pricy, at $399. In 2014, 32% of adults used a Kindle or Nook for reading e books. Currently, only 19% own an e reader. Why? Because they’re considered clunky compared to reading an e book on your I phone.

Yes, I could spend hours gripping my slippery cell phone and squinting to read a 435 page novel. But I’d much rather relax with my trusty Kindle that I can prop on my knees during a plane ride When you have arthritic fingers, bigger is definitely better. And reading a Kindle is much easier on the eyes. Amazon uses eInk technology on Kindle. This means that the screens reflect light in the same way that paper does, so that your eyes won’t get tired when reading like they do when looking at an iPhone.

At home, I prefer reading real books. I like turning pages, and the feel of a hardcover in my hands. Not sure if or when I’ll be getting on another airplane. But you never know what’s going to come up. So, I’ll store my Kindle in a drawer, available if needed. . However, since Granny’s Kindle alarms Atlanta TSA, I’ll throw it on the conveyor belt in plain sight if I ever fly again.

May 1, 2021April 27, 2021

FREE BOOK: CHASING THEIR LOSSES

The other day, I was walking by the paperback section at the supermarket. A lady I didn’t know turned to me and said, “I wish someone would write a good book.” I was tempted to tell her about my books, but due to social distancing during this pandemic, there wasn’t time. So, if you’re like this person– looking for something good to read–I’m offering a free copy of my Kindle book, “Chasing Their Losses.” for your enjoyment. If you’ve been following my blog, I think you will love it. And I hope it will take your mind off all the craziness in the world today.

This free offer is good Saturday, May 1 through Tuesday May 4. Download it at http://amzn.to/2cLBl0Y

Free Kindle Book, available on April Fool's Day — For your enjoyment during the coronavirus outbreak, I’m offering a free book: Chasing Their Losses

Why did I write Chasing Their Losses? If you’ve read my bio, you know that I was the Director of Nutrition Services at an acute care hospital in Indiana for many years. Hospitals are full of drama. There’s love, hate, sex, ambition, and just about every human emotion thrumming in the air. I always knew I wanted to write a novel set in a small town hospital, but it wasn’t until after retirement that I could distance myself from all that intensity.

Here’s a brief synopsis.

Will the haunting power of first love lead to Cara Mackenzie’s destruction? At 31, she’s back home from Miami, starting a new career as nutrition director of Sycamore Hospital. While in a blossoming romance with Dr. John Drakos, she runs into her former lover, the suave and sexy Tony Cabella. Soon, she’s drawn into a dangerous web of dirty secrets and lies.

When Tony’s stepson vanishes under her watch, Cara must fight for her life, her reputation, and her career.

The police think Dr. Drakos’ jealousy could have provided a motive for the kidnapping. But unanswered questions suggest a conspiracy. Who shot Tony when he and Cara met in secret, and why won’t he call the police?

At the heart of this novel are four damaged people: John and Cara, whose intense relationship is clouded by painful memories and fear of commitment; Tony and his second wife, Gail, who gave up everything for passion and desire, only to find disillusion and heartbreak.

As the tragic events spin out of control, the heart thumping suspense builds, with twists and turns that take you from the verdant farmland and sparkling waterfalls of Indiana to the vast, lawless sand dunes and nude beaches of Texas.

CHASING THEIR LOSSES : Free Kindle Book available on Amazon today through Tuesday @ http://amzn.to/2cLBl0Y