There are things that crack me up!
I was in a staff meeting this week with some of the most wonderful people in our company. We were putting the final touches on our 2020 events this year, and I said to one of the girls, “Carbon me on that, please.” She looked at me and said, “I don’t know what you mean!”
I asked if she had ever wondered what the cc and bc mean on the emails that we send and receive. Only us older people knew the meaning of carbon copy and blind copy. So I explained the process of typing paper and carbon paper and the back sheet that we learned to handle in high school. I really felt so old. Really old.
I can remember the total frustration of taking timed typing tests so that we could make a good grade on typing 60 words per minute with no errors. Oh, my goodness—talk about stress! Then there was the tedious process of using the liquid white coverup for our typing errors.
Now let me say this, while they do not know what cc and bc means, they can all type on their telephones at warp speed using two thumbs. And they love to text rather than speak by phone.
Much to my surprise and delight, my grandchildren know how to FaceTime me. Now what that means is they can call, and it activates the camera so we can see each other. Merciful jingles, I look like a sad person and totally plain with no makeup at the hours they call. The first time they called, I had no idea what I was doing. They finally said, “Hit the button Gigi!” I finally got it.
It is so refreshing to be around young people or people who get all this technology of today. I just shake my head sometimes and long for the days when pen and paper were the best communication devices we had for leaving messages or notes. But the speed by which I can talk to my grands is so wonderful, and hearing their voices and seeing their bright faces is marvelous.
I only have one letter from my grandmother Norton that has survived these years. It was a note in a birthday card where she told me that I was so special to her. Isn’t that the best feeling in the world? Today, let someone know they are special and that you love them. It will change their day!
(Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash)