I Figured Out The Google… Do I Have To Figure Out The Twitter?
Posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Could I be too old for this crap?
I’m beginning to feel great empathy for my Mom and Dad. They lived their lives, being a part of the Greatest Generation, happily without instant and constant connection with other people. They lived in a world where you’d have to dial up the operator, request a number, and wait for the operator to connect you. They lived their younger years without television. They both served in the military and worked hard to raise their family.
I think my Mom and Dad deserved some time just to enjoy the quiet disconnect from the noise of the world.
I lived most of my young life in a world with three network television stations that went off the air after the 10 o’clock news. I loved that test pattern. It meant it was time for bed. Simple.
I grew up with a party line telephone in our house. Two shorts, one long ring… that’s for us. Two long, one short… that’s for the neighbor.
Our music consisted of stacks of record albums with pretty and interesting jackets (covers, for you youngsters).
Our research was done with a set of encyclopedias and a dictionary.
We used the one phone in our house when it was allowed, and our calls were screened. Not by an answering machine, oh no. By Dad. He answered the phone and let the party know either “yes, you may speak to….” or “no, you may not speak to…” We talked to our friends at school, in person.
We had piles of letters, handwritten, mailed, cherished. I still have boxes of birthday cards saved for all these years. I don’t think Grandma’s e-greeting will hold the same nostalgic bitter-sweetness when you come across it years after she’s gone… if that’s even possible. Seeing a signature on the bottom of a card or letter touches your heart unlike any email ever can or will.
Enough of that. Back to this new, noisy, connected world. Granted, there are many folks my age and older who are happily buzzing around their “Twitter Universe” with all their “Twitter Friends”, tweeting this and tweeting that. All very important for them, I’m sure. And, I guess a person like Oprah should follow 500,000 people as they move about their day, but for me, I think I’ll stay, how shall I say… disconnected.
It took me years to be convinced by my dear daughter, Nicole Dean, the Nicole Dean of NicoleOnTheNet.com, to start blogging. And, no, I didn’t know what a blog was until she got me up and running. Nicole is smack dab in the middle of this cyber-technology-networking-internet-marketing thing and is quite a rock star in this world. She does it all and makes it look easy, well, not to me, but for others wanting to learn. I’m rather hopeless. But, like they say; “A year ago I couldn’t even spell blogger… now I are one.” Go figure.
So, if I ever start Twittering or Tweeting, or whatever the heck it’s called, you’ll know I’ve gone off the deep-end and need someone to come rescue me. I may desperately be in need of some quiet time. Mom? Dad? Help please.
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Patti, I enjoy those “blogs” so much because they are so true…..we really did live like that!
Hi Cousin Patti,
I don’t know if I told you how much I enjoy reading your blogs. You write exactly how I feel most of the time and so true. You are an amazing story teller and brings so many good memories and feelings.
It took me so long to finally log on to remarkablewrinkles and so glad that I finally found the time. I’m so looking forward to seeing you in June. Love you dear cuz.
You are so true about us losing the written word. I marvel at how my mother wrote at a minimum, one letter per day and sometimes many a day to keep in touch with her family and friends – long distance calls were considered luxuries because of the expense. Where did she find the time? Oh that’s right, she was a woman of the 50s who had the luxury of staying home all day with no outside job. And as far as twittering, my hour-to-hour activities are just not that interesting to share. Natalie “made” me join facebook and I forget to visit it, or update it, or do anything with it. I’ll save up my gabbing for CCs!
Oh, Ladies, you are so sweet to comment on this blog thing I’ve got goin’ on here. I’m glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane and glad also to see that I’m not the only one who feels a bit removed from this technology thing. I laughed out loud when you nailed it, OSS, about twittering. My activities just aren’t that interesting either! Thank you, too, Pixie for sharing many of those memories I talked about with me! And, Cousin Carole, I am so glad to see that you’ve found me and that you are feeling all warm and cozy basking in some familiar stories. You ladies are the best! See ya’ll soon!
You have really found your niche! I’m proud of you!
Thanks Anne-Marie! You’re sweet! 🙂
The funny thing is, mom, that this post is being talked about on Twitter. 😉
http://twitter.com/Tracy_Roberts/status/1940376318
http://twitter.com/Tracy_Roberts/status/1946157097
http://twitter.com/SharonMc/status/1946139068
Hee! You’re on Twitter even though you’re not!
Love you bunches.
N
OMG! I’m on the Twitter? What next? 😛 Thanks Nicole… I think… I’m kinda scared…
If anyone is reading this, go ahead and click on the links above in Nicole’s comment. It’s really a gas seeing the Twitter in action. Still don’t get it, but that’s okay. Just gonna roll with it, ya know? I’m still thinkin’ I’m too old for this crap, but not too old to laugh at myself. HA! Thanks all ya’ll!
Thanks Lyle! How is it that we struggle so at getting rid of our Stuff??? I’m glad I’m not alone in this…
I get all warm and fuzzy inside when I see clips of black and white television news without tickers along the bottom of the screen. Strange, but true. I sometimes wonder if someday kids won’t be able to understand what’s being said to them if they aren’t plugged into two or more audio/visual devices???
Good to know there are folks who still appreciate a simple life. 🙂 Thanks!
I just had to drop by and say that I really loved your post Patti…:) I’ve been living life simpler for the past few years and surprisingly, it is a struggle…really should be the other way around. Well that’s it. Just wanted to add my 2 cents. Take care and all the best.
Lyle
You are such a funny girl! Loved this post. Who knew we would be using “The Twitter” and The Facebook” LOL! I’m glad Nicole got you started or we would never have met. So yes it’s nice to disconnect sometimes, but I love connecting with friends like you too.
(((Hugs!)))
Celene
Thanks Celene! Do we have fun on the blogosphere or what! Yeah, I’m glad we got to meet, too. Hopefully in person soon???