My daughter-in-law Jll always tells me that of all the grandparents, I’m the most technically competent. That’s setting a pretty low bar, I assure you. It’s true I am able to text. I read books on Kindle. I rely on the Apple navigation system to get me from Point A to Point B. I understand the concept of streaming. All of the above are true AS LONG AS NO CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE PROCESS,

But by its very nature, technology is in constant change. Whereas Generation X, Y, and Z-ers are probably so excited when Apple comes out with an update because it means that their phones are going to do new, very cool things that will enable them to improve their lives. I, on the other hand, get sweaty palms and start grinding my teeth the minute Apple notifies me that there is an update. While it may be life-changing for most, for me it just means I’m going to have to figure out how to flip the camera on my iPad while talking on Facebook following its most recent update. I still haven’t learned how to answer a call when I’m on another call, so flipping the phone might be challenging.

For the past month or so, I have been in a particularly difficult technological situation with Dish at its very center. It started when they had a fight with Channel 9 in Denver, and took their ball and bat and went home. They knocked them off their roster, that is.

I complained about this earlier, and got lots of suggestions dealing with installing antenna. I’m familiar with that concept, because we have an antenna at our AZ home. When we first bought the house in 2010, that’s all we had for a few months. An antenna generally works great, except for the fact that you have to be present to watch the show. I love my DVR so much I would invite it to Thanksgiving dinner if it was human. Nevertheless, when we got to AZ a month ago, I turned on my television, pressed the source button to the antenna, and nothing happened. Apparently, wind conditions over the summer made my antenna unhappy. We eventually got it worked out so that we can watch the programs live. And somehow, some way, I’m able to access Dish Anywhere using the Fire Stick that Bill bought last year. The thing is, I have no idea how it works. I know what to do to get to Dish Anywhere, but I don’t know why. As long as it’s working, I don’t have to know why.

When I bought my current computer a year or so ago, I couldn’t figure out how to transfer my Microsoft Word software to this computer. What the heck, I thought. I just bought it again: Microsoft 365. Once I figured out that it was internet-based, it has worked pretty well for me, particularly since my life doesn’t involve a lot of Word documents. However, Sunday afternoon, Bill asked me if I could type something for him. Oops, I mean keyboard something for him. When I went to get onto Microsoft 365, I could no longer do so. I don’t know why, but I assume they have improved the application, and everybody but me is happy about it. I am not happy, because I can’t figure out how to make it work.

I know technology is King, but I wish it could be just a bit static. But then I haven’t even figured out Tik Tok.