Last Wednesday, my father was lying on a bed in the spinal surgery recovery room on the 5th floor of St. David's Hospital. I brought him helium balloons, books and a get well card. I asked him what else I could do for him. What does he ask me for? He wants to borrow my iPod! I return home to Avenue G; empty out Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Scabs, Cypress Hill; then load it up with Buckwheat Zydeco, Johnny Cash and Dad's other 50 favorite CDs plus a few audio books. This takes less time than it takes Warren Beatty to brush his teeth.
This gets me to thinking about the aging population and how they will use 21st century technology. Just like my grandmother who was born at the end of the 19th century and never learned to drive, there will be those of the 20th century who age and never learn to use a computer. What a loss. Unlike my grandmother, who has no use whatsoever for a vehicle these days, there are so many things she can do with a computer.
Key reasons why everyone old enough to have a pill box
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Scatter your parents' ashes, not their life savings
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- Medical Information - when I, or any of my peeps, go to the doctor, the doctor spends his 20 or 60 minutes diagnosing and prescribing, then sets the next appointment. When we get home, we research the illness, procedure or medication online. For every illness, injury or medication, there are communities of people online who share their experience - what to expect, what helps and what hurts.
- Luxury Information - If I make it to 72 years old and want something different for lunch, but the arthritis in my hip is acting up, or I don't feel like pushing my walker around, I will go to chef2chef.com and look for new variants on steak au poivre and order my groceries delivered. I can read newspapers in any city or country without having to stack a recycling bundle.
- Entertainment - A decently equipped computer has remote controls for your sound system and TV player/recorder. You can listen online to 'All Sinatra Radio All the Time' or your personal collection of Perry Como. Do you fall asleep in the middle of Matlock? With TV Guide Online and an ATI Radeon card you can watch your program and record it at the same time. You will never again be left in the dark about who dun it.
- Staying in Touch - It is a safe assumption that anyone under 13 is going to grow up with the ability to use 21st century technology as easily as they speak English. As long as you are receptive to it, you can maintain a far richer and connected relationship with your kin than you would waiting on the mailman.
Well, dear Pecan Press reader, Agnes has her point. You would do well not to take tips from me on home repair. I patched the roof on that garage shanty seven times in a decade and it still keeps falling in.
However, if your Christmas list includes a new computer or components, if you don't know the differences between SD, DDR and RD ram - you will need help. For a $40 check to HPNA or Animal Rescue, I will consult with you and help you select one. If you already have one picked out, and I can find you a better system for less, then how about a $10 check?
Please email me at the address below or knock on the porch.
Merry Christmas from 4307 Avenue G
| -- | David Szathmary david@avenueg.us |
