Be Careful What You Wish For...

Technology has certainly come screeching into society in a very big way! Confident people immediately embraced it, children were taught computer skills in school, and those resistant to change refused to acknowledge it was here to stay. A select group was brought along kicking and screaming. In that last category and taking one step at a time...is my brother who has now officially yelled out , "UNCLE!!!"

About fifteen years ago, I remember him patronizing my 'Let me show you how easy 'emailing' can be with a positive attitude'... watching him type an email...against his will...

"I don't know exactly why I have to type this message because telephones are a terrific way to communicate. But, here it goes."

Now he emails, texts messages on his cell phone, and ....are ya ready for this???

Yikes!!! HE SKYPES!!!
My computer has had a dormant skype camera covered by a bandaid because I really had no use for it. And then my niece [his youngest child] went to Ireland for the first semester of college, and suddenly he had a new laptop with skype, learned how to use it, and began bugging the Bejesus out of me to : Get with the program!!
This was turnabout fair play!!!

As he was enroute this past Labor Day weekend to my house to visit Mom, I downloaded skype and removed the bandaid...Ouch!! Then when he began his promo, I said,

"Already done and ready to go!!"

I think I may have detected a mental 'victory dance' as he smiled, "Really!!??"

The kinks have been ironed out, [translation: I eventually located the button that turned my side of the camera on.] And let me add that the skype camera is not necessarily the most flattering portrayal of my face and chin...[ I see chins...]
Then I put the computer on Flo's lap, and her eyes got huge, and she had the 'deer in the headlights look'. She didn't know what to make of it, or what to do. This morning when I was at MOW [Meals on Wheels], Tessie said it best with,

"Think about the changes that she has seen in her 98 years. It must be unbelievable to her!!"

Fast forward to today:

Mom woke up at 6:30 wide-eyed, talkative, and in altered states.

She had no fear or hesitation as she skyped with my brother, and then chatted with the smiling, familiar faces in his office, too. She has known them for 25 years and hasn't seen them since she moved to NY three years ago. Things began churning in 'the windmills of my mind'.

"Hey! How about rounding up the biddies for a skype with Flo? They could drive to your office and we can reconnect a whole bunch of smiles!!"

Oh boy...The barn door was open.

I have learned to be careful what you wish for a couple of times.

I have always wanted to live by the water. When I bought my house, I was happy about the football-sized play area [for my son and his friends] across the creek. The creek! I do live by the water.

Then I was wishing for a companion of sorts when my son went off to college and I was suddenly feeling the quiet of living alone.

And an amazing rescue dog showed up needing a new home. Gracie!!

And I thought to myself...Perhaps I need to be clearer about what I wish for, 'cause I kind of meant someone to hold a conversation with and share laughs and stuff...

Presto!! My mother moved in with me!!

I rest my case. Be very, very careful in what you wish for...I know that I am!

And I'll bet that's what my brother is thinking as he is shaking his head and setting up Flo's skype schedule.

Do you think he is wishing that the bandaid was still there??

Nah!!!