Musings on Going Online: or Why I Like My Wine Next to My Computer

My ability to just sit down and write a quick essay has been on the wan. It has been months since I have last blogged—certainly not because of a plethora of travel—on the contrary, I have been a total homebody for a year—nor because of some illness or other negative causes. It seems to be a case where my mind is becoming clogged with all sorts of unrelated thoughts that never quite connect. I blame my computer and cell phone.

I usually began my mornings with a cup of coffee in one hand and my phone in the other, checking out emails and headlines from one of my numerous “news alert” aps. I used to just make a mental note of a couple of things of interest and quickly moved to delete others. That was “then.”

“Now” it’s a different story. I read one alert, and it triggers me to look up some background info, which leads me to other facts that I vaguely recall, which then leads me to Google other sites, and along the way I see references to other topics that are of another interest, which leads to a more in-depth Googling of those, and before I know it, I’ve pretty much forgotten what it was in the first place that began the inane quest! I hate to tell you how many hours can be lost that way. It really is a form of addiction. It also muddles one’s mind and I find a few drops from the vine settles one’s nerves.

Same principle occurs when one goes online to Amazon Prime. Let’s say you want something like Pussy Willows. I have always liked them and needed to replace a tall vase of very old ones which have been reduced to looking like a rather dusty brownish bunch of half broken branches. Well, I had no idea that could be so complicated or that one could have so many choices. I had to check out whether I wanted real or artificial ones, which species and color (who knew they came in different colors), pre-lit (if so, whether with batteries or plug in electric), the particular length of branches, and what price range I was willing to pay. The lesser the cost, the lesser the blooms (or to be correct, “Catkins”). I felt I needed to go to user reviews to read what other buyers thought of their purchases. There were even several videos available to look at! About two hours later I decided my need for a glass of wine to clear my mind was more urgent then making a final decision. I’ll keep my original pussy willows for a bit longer!

There’s also the fact that whether we “oldsters” like it or not, the world today is online for most purposes. I wanted to see a detailed explanation of what my dental insurance covered. I went online to pull up my policy and discovered that the info I thought would get me into the site, wasn’t right. Therefore, I had to “register” anew. The first required entry left me totally confused as it asked for my employers/company name. Now I have been retired for more decades than I would like to admit, so that left me a bit stymied. After looking at my insurance card, I took a wild guess and entered FEDEMP—it was the only letters on the card —and was especially pleased that it was accepted. (I was never a federal employee, I am the widow of a Military person and they were brought into the FEDEMP grouping a few years ago.) I dutifully entered the rest of the info and just as I was self congratulating myself, I was told they were sending me a voicemail with an access code number. Voice mail? I have had emails and texts sending me a numerical code but never this. I gingerly tapped okay and my phone rang in the other room. Thankfully I got to answer it in time and had a piece of paper and pen next to it. I wrote down the code, then raced back to my computer to enter it before the time allotted expired. I did eventually get into the pdf pages I needed, but all that online business was unnatural to me and stressful…Yes, a glass of wine for medicinal purposes was consumed.

I listened this morning to a gentlemen’s podcast as he talked about “twelve things old people do that annoys others.” I apparently am a BIGTIME annoyer, because, imho, I think he was a bit nutty! Somehow, me thinks he does not live in a retirement community as I do, amongst many who are octogenarians and nonagenarians(90’s). We have spent our whole lives adjusting to changes—from the tail end of the depression, thru’ multiple wars, the ultra conformity of the 50’s, the days of segregation, the feminist movement, the violence of the 60’s, the social changes after “The Pill," the growth of the military-industrial complex, the rapid, innovative technology that brings us instant communications worldwide,—I could go on forever. Yes, the only constant in the world is change, but give us oldsters a break—let us be able to share our memories of a different way of doing things, of having “old fashioned ideas," of calling things as we see it, of being proud of our resiliency, and reaching a point where we are maxing out our days of even wanting to adapt to change! One day those who find us “annoying” will be the” annoyers.” Actually I was annoyed by listening to him but it was morning, so too early for a libation. It’s afternoon now, so bottoms up! Cheers!