Day 111 ~ “iPhonics”

Apr 21, 2014  

My first:  I held a 45 minute “learn about your iPhone” session with a 92 year old man.

My friend Norman had just gotten a new iPhone from his son and was showing me how fancy it was.  The things he was “teaching” me were obviously the basics that his son had taught him. He was showing off his “favorite” phone contacts of which I was one, but the teacher in me wanted to demonstrate more of what his phone could do…come on, it’s an iPhone!

I had about 3 hours of work to do at his house, but I wanted to take time to make him feel more comfortable with his new toy. I would show him how to do something, then ask him to do what I just did. After all, most of us learn best by DOING. In comparison, he builds rubber band powered model airplanes. I explained that I could “watch” him build 20 airplanes and still not be able to build one myself. He eventually would have to say to me “now sit your butt down here and do one!” He laughed.    

I texted his son in Florida to get the password so I could hook Norman up with Google. His son texted back saying that was “way over the top” for what his dad could manage. Now I understand that there would be a learning curve that Norman would have to get around, but so what! Give the guy a chance! I wanted so much for him to experience something new. Wonder where I got that notion from! His son sounded pretty adamant about not giving Norman any more than he could handle. Oh, well. I’m not taking on the role of buttinski.

Later when Norman came back from his breakfast outing, he thanked me again for taking the time to teach him more about his phone. I told him to express what I had done for him to his son. My intentions were honorable… to help Norman and to educate him. He has a brain! Why do younger people forget that?

I hope as I grow older (and older) that the “youngsters” in my world respect me enough to challenge me so that I realize my potential and serve my purpose…until the end.