Saturday, December 13, 2014

Those Senior Moments

     Kaching!  Kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching!

     It was like being at a slot machine as it was paying out--the old-style ones that actually pay out in real coins.  Except I wasn't at the casino.  I was at the local library, the antithesis of the type of loud and rowdy establishment where such sounds are welcome.  At a library, it's just annoying to those quietly reading nearby.

    What I was trying to do was to pay for print copies of my annual holiday newsletter.  The library has a very nice color copier where my Xmas letter photo collage could actually feature people with real flesh tones, and not chalk-faced zombies or blue-green aliens from another galaxy.  But for some reason the printer didn't want to take my money and spit it back out coin by coin into the returned coin slot.

     The printer displayed a specific set of instructions that appeared on a small screen for those wanting to make copies.  You had to enter your library card number, your "pin" number, the print job you wanted, your method of payment--and you had to do it in the correct order.  I thought I was.  So . . . I tried again, putting my money in more carefully at what I was sure must be the correct order in the procedure.

   Kaching!  Kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching, kaching!

   When I collected my eight quarters from the return coin slot I noticed someone next to me.  It was the librarian.  "Can I help you?" she asked.  So I explained my dilemma.  She pushed some buttons, the same ones I'd pushed but she did it more quickly and in a different order.  Then the printer took my money and gave me my copies.

   *Sigh*

     It's moment like this that make me feel that I'm joining the ranks of seniors.  When young people are accomplishing ordinary tasks in such a manner that makes you say to yourself, "Now what did they just do?", it's distressing.

     Now that I'm fully retired as of a couple weeks ago, and my wife is going to join me herself in less than a week, I guess those senior moments will become more commonplace.

     I'll be one of those guys I see at the library muttering to themselves as they try to figure out something on the computer.  I'll be one of those guys I see at Tim Horton's, enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee while discussing topics ranging from the olden times to politics of today.  I'll be one of those guys working out at the recreation center, either chatting up the pretty receptionist or discussing who's missing from their daily workout and what medical maladies that may have instigated their absence.

     And I'm speaking from experience, just the experience I've had the past two weeks since I left the part-time, temporary job I'd had for about a year and a half.  I'm not trying to be critical here.  The older gentlemen I mingled with were not annoying, crude or unsociable.  But I'm just not ready for all that yet.

     Maybe I'll just go back to work.

   


 
   


   

7 Comments:

Blogger Carine-what's cooking? said...

don't feel bad Dave-remember I have always deemed myself a complete techodweeb. sigh-take my smartphone. somehow, I keep doing something to delete my "weather" app. I've pleaded w/ Steve to teach me how to put it back. don't know how I do it to begin with-but I digress.
it happened for the umpteenth time yesterday. He fixed it and flew off to visit his sister. guess what happened this morning??? Now I have no weather app again, until he gets home Monday night. :-(

1:17 PM  
Blogger Lee said...

I think it's time you got stuck into the Christmas spirit, Dave...of the liquid kind, I mean! :)

5:15 PM  
Blogger Big Dave T said...

CARINE--At least, this I'm guessing, the weather in Arizona is a little more predictable than Michigan. No tornados or blizzards and such.

LEE--That's such a great idea. I haven't had a good cocktail in quite some time. It might be time to break open my Trader' Vic's bartender's guide.

3:13 PM  
Blogger Carine-what's cooking? said...

it is-no blizzards here!

8:46 AM  
Blogger Mrs. Dike said...

Perhaps you're getting so old that you can't remember the last time your Wolverines didn't make it to a Bowl game?

Come tomorrow, Texans will know the difference between a SPARTAN and a skunkbear, for sure.

MSU will kick some Cottontail on New Year's Day
(Said in a thick Texan drawl);
As Michigan, ad nauseum,
Brags on getting Harbaugh.

If you want to have an easy time remembering when your team last won a (Super) bowl game, perhaps you should consider becoming a SEAHAWK fan?

Happy New Year! Blessed Epiphany, Dave!

10:38 AM  
Blogger Carine-what's cooking? said...

LOL, snow (some anyway!)! Happy New Year to you and Wendy!

12:58 PM  
Blogger Big Dave T said...

MRS DIKE---That was a great comeback for your Spartans against the Bears. Wondered why you didn't wait till afterwards to brag. Methinks you weren't too sure your team would prevail. I'm not too sure about your Seahawks either (and we won't even talk about your Mariners). Yes, it's been tough to be a Wolverine this year but now that we've become Ann Arbaugh, maybe that will change. Hope 2015 brings joy and happiness your way, so long as your happiness doesn't detract from mine.

CARINE--Thanks, Carine. Be careful driving in that snow. We've had some serious accidents around by us. People aren't slowing down!

5:49 AM  

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