I’ve always called on hubs to help me with anything to do with wires and wiring. He is a whiz at diverting music to any room in the house and can rig up a printer with a computer before I’ve even finished getting rid of the packaging let alone broken out the instruction manual.
I dislike having wires all over my desk so he rolls them up into neat bundles and hides them for me. When I’m on a furniture moving jag, which happens every few month, he patiently helps me resort all the plugs and jacks I’ve unplugged in my efforts to manage the relocation alone. In all this I still don’t understand the term, “wireless.”
When computers and email first came on the scene he jumped on the bandwagon and was streaks ahead of me in terms of re-booting, restoring and upgrading. He gently nursed his desktop along for many more years than it’s life expectancy and by so doing I overtook him with the acquisition of a MacBook.
I was skeptical as to whether I would get on with a mouse, hard drive, speakers and keyboard all present in a 12″ x 14″ package but I gave myself two months and after six was no longer mourning the loss of my larger screen, separate mouse and even pad and pencil.
I did all my creative work on the laptop and was loving it. That was six years ago.
With our imminent move to England I broke it gently to my electronics whiz hubs that he would have to leave his desktop behind, it was a bit of a dinosaur not to mention the size and weight, since all we were allowed was one 50lb piece of baggage each.
He bought himself a brand new laptop, added an exterior mouse and started using it before we left so that he wouldn’t feel the separation so badly.
Surprisingly he and his laptop are not compatible. They are both strong willed and I hear them bickering in the next room.
He mutters loudly while trying to pick up a Skype call as if the caller can hear him frantically scrambling to plug in his headphones and adjust his mic while clicking on the icon to connect. Theirs is an ongoing battle with the volume and reverberation.
While saving a document I hear adminitions,
“Where did you go?” and “Darn it, you were there a minute ago!”
“Goodbye!” the computer chirps in the middle of the morning when he’s just got started.
“Why are you signing off already?” I’ll ask from my office,
“Because for some reason it shuts down after a certain amount of time and I can’t find out how to change it!” He’ll say.
I think after seven months they have become mates, reconciled to each other’s idiosyncrasies.
A few months ago our youngest bought herself an iPhone and offered her father her now superfluous iPod Touch.
I encouraged him to take it, this tiny digital device has to be used completely on its own terms. I thought it would be good practise for the iPhones we’ve promised ourselves when we return to America.
I’ve had mine since Mother’s Day last year and it took me a while to realise its full potential. I still don’t have earphones so the music isn’t something I do on the train, but everything else is a go!
I text all my children, here and in the U.S., talk to them on Skype, carry albums of music around with me, make notes on the little notepad and take photos and video on my walks. I check my email at home without having to get on my computer…it’s just so handy!
Hubs is navigating his way through the technology slowly but surely uncertain that a device which can fit in your hand can be completely trusted. He tends to park it on the bookcase, turned off,
“To save the batteries,” he says.
“Have you got your iPod with you?” he’ll ask as we leave for the station, “I’ve got mine so I can text the children on the train.” He’ll pat his pocket.
I look at him,
“If I can find…what’s it called?” He waves his arms around in the air.
I wait.
“Internet in a cafe!” He clarifies.
“What can you use your iPod for when there is no WiFi?” I quiz.
“Taking notes, listening to music, if I remember my headphones, Skyping…no! Taking photos?”
He’s getting there!
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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