THOUGHTS OF DROPPING OUT OF THE HIGH TECH WORLD

"Oh, Nana, you've gone high tech!" This said by a grandchild after I spent thirty minutes trying to type in those tiny letters on this device called a "smart phone." That title intimidated me from the beginning.  Why couldn't Apple have named it, "I'll Be Kind to-- fill in the blank with an age category or computer literacy score? Example: I'll BE Kind (to)Little old Ladies with a Computer Literacy score of +1(she can turn on the computer). Okay, let's move on from the phone(really it's a computer in disguise) to the desk top as opposed to the laptop. I've been asked why don't I just have a laptop?  I tell them it's very simple...after raising four children, including a set of twins, I don't want anything that might have to sit on my lap!(Just kidding great-grand's)

This desk top was born into the highest tech family.  I'm sure it could trace it's lineage way back into the fifties at least. It's ancestors go back to adding machine days.  That's just an aside.  What is important now is they have developed on the fast tract, long passing the liberal arts majors and those who still cannot set their digital watches.

Did you ever say to your children, "Don't you give me any back talk. You're the child and I'm the adult(meaning I'm smarter than you are)."  Well, you can't say that to a computer.  They are smarter and if you haven't realized that, you don't spend a lot of time around one. Now this desktop is a beauty--it is all in one piece--no ugly tower to take up room.  No, this has the CPU (shocked that I can use that term?) built into the monitor, therefore it requires less room. Everything is good so far--let's keep going.

I think there is something evil inside that lies dormant for days, even weeks, sometimes months, and then it strikes with a vengeance. Passwords suddenly become obsolete, whole posts disappear, along with chapters of books, never to be recovered. No amount of pleading, or crying will bring them back.

And then there are the strange sounds which emanate with no warning.
It sounds as if someone is frying chicken inside it's workings.  I figure that some day it will blow up.  I'm uncertain at the present time if I want to see the carnage.  Perhaps a good purging would help!

I suppose I know more than I think I know but it is never enough. I won't give up because my parents' voices ring in my years.  "Never give up."  But they never had to deal with a computer! 

Darlene Eichler--always open for a computer lesson.

Thank you for taking time to read this post.  Your comments are welcomed.

THE KITTEN CAPER

Some people are just naturally mean. They have no redeeming qualities. Not so you say...the worst criminal in the world has at least one positive quality.  Perhaps, if you put him under a microscope and studied him for days, you might find something positive to say, "oh, he has the richest red blood cells." But we are not talking physical traits but living...everyday living and interacting with others... the second most important commandment--love your neighbor as yourself.

Now I don't mean to get preachy but this Kitten Caper started with a mean man capturing a mother cat and calling the authorities.( This man is known to go to church every time the doors are open.)  At times he has left the cages sitting out in the rain and cold hours before they were picked up by animal control He has to know that some are people's pet who live in his neighborhood. but he has no feeling for these animals

I was called by a friend who lives across the street from the neighbor whose garage became the safe haven for the kittens.  The garage door had been left open giving the mother cat easy access. The young woman heard a faint meowing and hurried with a flashlight to find what she suspected.  Yes, there were five tiny kittens with their eyes not open. She is an avid animal lover and immediately the seriousness of the situation hit her. The mother cat must be found. She looked all through the neighborhood and finally was told by one person that she was almost certain she saw the animal control people pick her up.

She was in a panic.  Who had time to feed these five kitten?  The animal shelters couldn't take them.  They didn't have enough staff to feed five less-than- a -week-old kittens.  The Shelter in North Myrtle Beach did send out an email seeking volunteers to feed them.  No luck..

I'm a soft touch for kittens and I knew I must try to help. I didn't have anything that could be used for feeding so I made a trip to Petco. They saved the day with special milk and bottles and nipples just for that purpose.

When I arrived my friend was upset thinking one of the kittens had died. The others were crawling over this tiny, still one.  I quickly retrieved it and began to  try to rub some life into the tiny creature. A few times he took a deep breath and raised his head with great effort.  I knew he was not fully developed and it would be a blessing when he took his last breath  But it is natural to hope life will continue.

In a short time the young lady from across the street returned with good news.  Her sister who lives in North Carolina would take the kittens!  She prepared the little meowing balls of fur for the trip.(  The lady in the pet store said that keeping them warm was important).  She made the little weak kitten a bed in a shoe box

I was thinking how I wish we had a video of the afternoon activities to show the mean man next door. Although, I doubt that it would have touched his cold heart.

On the third day I could wait no longer.  I called to check on the five kittens.  The little one died that first day after  arriving at the kind sister's home. The others are doing well and their eyes are open.  It takes forty-five minutes to feed them and  they eat every two hours. Such a sweet, patient young woman!  You are an angel!
Darlene Eichler, Cat lover and author of "Where's the Kitty?"

Feel free to write your stories of pet rescues.

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BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME

As some of you know teaching memoir writing is one of my passions in life.  Everywhere I go I see a potential for incorporating a new idea into my class. Sometimes it is just a new twist on an old idea. Just a few weeks ago I was in Southport, North Carolina n a wonderful gift  shop.  I started browsing among some books written by local authors.  Soon a lady walked over and introduced herself as a writer. One of her books piqued my interest after she told me it was a memoir.  She said that she had fourteen friends from childhood who kept in touch and had reunions over about fifty years. Eleven out of the fourteen contributed something to her memoir.  Here was another way to construct one's memoir.

 I was in the right place at the right time.

This past week-end we went to Bedford, Virginia for a family celebration.  I'm a long distance member of the Bedford Museum and have wanted to tour it for a long time. The Director was not there that morning but several nice staff members guided us to the special displays. After we finished the self guided tour we went to the gift shop.  The two women who had seemed to be going at the same pace as we were had arrived a few seconds ahead of us. The attendant began showing me books she thought I might be of interest to me.  One was a beautiful book of paintings done along with a memoir. Another aid for my teaching!

 The right place at the right time!

Then she said, "this lady did the book." It was one of the ladies we seemed to be following. We began to talk about writing in general and her book in particular.  I bought a copy and she bought one of Trunk Tales.  Both books are set in Bedford County.

 It was the right place at the right time.

On Saturday morning we headed to the family cemetery after stopping for some flowers. As we arrived and parked behind the church, a man came out the back door. He was cordial and walked over to ask if he could help.  We told him we were visiting and I was reminiscing about spending my summers in that area and attending the Church beginning as an infant. Soon it became known that he is the pastor of the Church. One thing led to another and he realized that he knew my sister and brother-in-law who run a bed and breakfast in town. He has two young grandchildren.  He was delighted to get a signed "Where's the Kitty" book?

 Another right place at the right time!

It seems to happen more often now.  Could it have anything to do with being a senior citizen?  It's possible.

MY HOMEPLACE-THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.