I'm tired of learning new things

I have always resisted the saying about old dogs and new tricks. I knew that it was prejudicial and unkind. What's more it wasn't true. When it is applied to humans it has been proven false through history. Look at some of the great minds of our world. Many of them did some of their most significant work in their later years.

I was an avid fan of new gadgets for years. It was no trouble at all for me to learn how to type, then to use an electronic typewriter, which seemed to be the ultimate resource. My electronic typewriter is only 18 years old but it has been sitting in a closet for at least 10 of those, because it became obsolete when I learned to use a computer with Microsoft Word, e-mail, printing capabilities and probably lots more that I don't ever use. Oh yes, I can't forget the games. (Free-cell and I have developed a very intimate relationship through the years.) When something goes wrong on my computer I argue against some things that are suggested to improve my machine. I am happy with it just the way it is -- when it works the way it is supposed to, that is.

Then we progressed with our telephone system. We had phones we could carry some distance from their roots and continue talking while putting away the dishes from the dishwasher, or putting a load of laundry in the washing machine. Then we decided that the new cell phones would be a safety measure for me to have since I travel by myself quite often. We got a nice simple set that I could use in most places I travel. I could punch in numbers, get a response and hang up after talking. I could also receive calls with a little musical note and talk, then hang up. Now we have a new cell phone system. It has everything on it you can imagine. I could take pictures with it (if I knew how). I can speed dial everyone in our family and my daughter in-law has put all these numbers in the phone for me (if I could remember which keys to press for which recorded number). It can record voice mail so that when I am traveling out of the service area a message can be left to hear later (if I knew how to retrieve the message). In short, I am in mourning for my old simple cell phone that provided security but didn't have dozens of other gadgets, It's not that I can't learn to do these things. I just don't want to learn anything more right now. Just as soon as I master one technology, it becomes out of date. We move on to a more complicated way of doing the same things, with many more things thrown in with it.

I have heard some people saying that the much-touted IPod is now being replaced by something newer. I think it is that weird thing we see sticking out of people's ears. When I first saw a young man with one of those I felt sorry that such a young man had to wear such an oversized hearing aid. When I expressed my concern to another young person I was told in a courteous (but oh, you poor old soul) manner that it was a communication device. I didn't even bother to remember the trade name. It won't matter in a few years. Something better will come along.

Do, you see, it's not that I can't learn all these new tricks. It's just that these new tricks will so quickly become old tricks that I don't see the benefit of going through the learning process.

If they'd come up with a device that will prepare a meal without me doing a thing, I'll learn how to use that!