Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Technologically-Challenged

I love my mom and dad to death.  I really do.  They are absolutely hilarious with all of their naive ways, and my dad is one of those people that if he thinks the task is too complicated, he's just not going to do it.  He'll find a much simpler way of just not doing it.  Don't get me wrong, my dad is one of the hardest workers I've ever met - deeply motivated and dedicated.  And I have to admit, Dad is a lot more savvy with certain tasks than I'd expect, knowing how "let's-keep-it-simple" he is.  Here are a couple examples of how my dad keeps it real...

1.  My dad is the guy that after he and my step-mom set up a joint account on facebook, he calls me one afternoon while I'm at work.  I was busy so I couldn't answer and he leaves me this voicemail that goes something like this:
"Haley, it's your dad (like I don't know his voice after 26 years… love him).  Look, I'm on this facebook thing and these things keep comin' up on my screen and I just want to get rid of 'em.  Stuff like people wanting me to get them some animals, and then something else about a farm, and all this other daggum stuff and I just don't want to do it.  I need you to talk to Liz and get this straightened out.  Love you, babe."

2.  My dad is also the guy you call back, and on HIS voicemail greeting, he says something like this:
"Hey, this is Hal.  Call me back."
… Not "leave your name and number", or "Sorry I missed you - I'll be sure to return your call"… he just doesn't even want to check his voicemail.  Call the man back!

This is sometimes common among those that weren't raised in the computer and internet era… aka my mom.  Now she's actually pretty good with a computer, but beyond that.. I'm always scared to get her things for Christmas that requires her to be the operator of anything else electronic.  I'm pretty sure she still has no idea how to use the MP3 player my brother got her 2 years ago.  I found a pretty basic GPS for her last year, and I think she's used it once.  She told me that was the trip where they set it to moo (yes, like a cow) every time they passed an exit with a gas station and that was the most fun they had the whole trip… and I'm pretty sure she was serious.

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