Embracing Change

Change can be difficult for many, but it doesn’t have to be. Just ask Dick Harp, our OLLI director. He shares his humorous yet educational experience of adapting to modern technology.

I regret to report I have succumbed to constant pressure from my grandchildren and have finally moved into the new and modern world. I am now the sorry owner of a new Apple iPhone 7. I was constantly being teased about being “old fashioned” whenever I pulled out my old and lovable flip phone which worked very well for years and never gave me any problems. In a senior moment of weakness, I agreed to go with my grandson to a Verizon store and purchase a new phone. The salesman explained a few features and then told me, if I encountered any problems, to simply print out the operating instructions which are available on the internet.

Adjusting and Adapting
The first problem I had was trying to fit the new phone into my “phone pocket.” Didn’t fit. It was all downhill from there. I tried to call my favorites. Didn’t work. After spending a frustrating day trying to move into the new world, I looked up the instructions on the internet and began printing. I ran out of paper and then checked to see how much more printing was necessary. I am certain there were at least a thousand or more pages that still needed to be printed after which I would spend a few years studying the instructions. I should mention there was no table of contents or index to guide me to what I needed. My grandson told me he would come to my rescue and teach me how to use the phone. I have no idea how long that will take.

Learning from our younger generation
I mentioned my problem this morning to our youth program leader at church and she suggested I visit her religious education classes which are for the teenagers in our parish. She told me they could teach me everything I needed to know in a few minutes. That certainly didn’t make me feel any better. Amazing what one might consider when desperation sets in.

Perhaps we should offer an OLLI course to teach our members how to use the new telephones. In the meantime, I am off to a teenager’s religious education class. I hope they will be kind and gentle on a senior who doesn’t adjust very well to change. I really miss my flip phone.

Hope to see you in class soon.