Reading the New York Times, March 11, 2015, this Grandma got a chuckle at the article about Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Charles Schumer being among those who rarely or never send or receive email, and seemingly use this as a point of pride. This is, of course, part of the media frenzy over Hilary Clinton’s use of only one device and one email address for business and personal use when she was Secretary of State.
However, the article, “Storing Emails from These Senators Would Be Easy, If They Ever Send One,” by Ashley Parker, enlightened this Grandma on how even our government leadership is still in the “flip phone” age. Or is it just the men, surely many grandfathers, for whom “eschewing email can be seen as the ultimate status symbol – second only to sending someone to fetch your lunch.”
Is it only the grandmas who are “hands-on,” getting our own lunches?
I understood and loved the following part of the article:
“And Senator Claire McCaskill, Democrat of Missouri, said she was “in awe” of her colleagues who did not email. “I can’t imagine how I could do my job without the ability to communicate on a constant basis,” she said, looking up from her iPhone 5 – with an extended battery pack – to answer the question.”
“Now admittedly, I have seven children and eight grandchildren, so that’s also a consideration,” she said. “I’m multitasking most of the day, helping somebody figure out how to negotiate with their landlord at the same time I’m trying to go to a hearing.”
“Other lawmakers offered a more droll take on their colleagues’ decidedly low-tech tendencies. “Yes, of course I email – I’m modern, I’m contemporary, I’m hot, I’m hip,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, who at age 78 recently announced her plans to retire at the end of her term. But, she added, “If they want to cling to papyrus and stylus, they can.”
It is a 78 year old woman who described herself as modern, hot and hip! Too bad she is retiring. She sounds too modern, hot and hip to retire. Is it only grandmas who want to be modern, hip, contemporary, and yes, hot? It may be that it is only politicians protecting themselves? The article concludes:
“Politicians used to be taught `don’t write if you can say it, don’t say it if you can nod,’ ” Mr. Feehery said. “`Don’t email it’ is the updated version, and a very smart way to avoid embarrassment and possibly jail.”
So, is it a grandma thing to realize that in order to communicate with the younger tech generation children and grandchildren, one must become technologically savvy?
This Grandma thinks the answer is yes, but there are even more important reasons for grandmas to go tech. Between pride and status versus joy, this Grandma picks joy. Those in the “flip top caucus” are missing the best part of grandparent life now. Tech is a way to connect with grandchildren for them to teach us how to use our devices, update them, teach us tricks of use. It is also a way for us to enjoy hours of sharing time together, play games together, and watch them enjoy their technology. Even the now four year old has taught me things! Most importantly, this long distance grandma loves FaceTime. Seeing those precious faces, hearing their voices and watching their lives brings such
Joy,
Mema
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