Breaking the age barrier

Most retired people are alien to the world of compurters and do not enjoy the fruits of technology.

Mouse, cursor, taskbar, icons, and a barrage of terminologies swirling in my mind 24x7. Nagging doubts of whether it was worth it kept creeping in. I was daring into the world of computers in my 70th year.

Till now, I was leading a content retired life. Reading, music, golfing, television and the joy of being amongst a happy family, helped me enjoy my life. My woes began when my daughter, my only child relocated to Hong Kong. My wife and I could not bear to be out of touch with her for even a day. Long distance phone calls were prohibitive. We constantly worried about our daughter and her family. 

As a solution my son-in-law presented me with a brand new laptop. Operating it was a distant dream for me. The thought of even starting it sent shivers down my spine lest I forgot the shutting down procedure. I signed up for a three months computer course. Rang up and disturbed my friends children at odd hours to clarify the simplest of doubts.

Went into shock when my laptop warned “this program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.” I had a choice. To persist or throw in the towel and loose touch with my daughter and grandson. I had to conquer. I had to vanquish my fears.

With the training, each day I felt more confident. Now, I have entered a new era. I am computer savvy. We share our grandson’s play dates as if we were there. We share stories together on face time.

We read his report card with pride and celebrate after seeing his swimming certificate.  We swell with pride on seeing our sportsman son-in-law’s trophies won at regular intervals. My wife has long conversations with our daughter on audio face time-all for free ! We are once again part of each other’s lives. Once again a happy family. 

Now, I pay all my bills online. Purchase cinema and theatre tickets. Buy air and train tickets. Do all the bank work. Order grocery. All the hassles of daily chores have vanished like magic. The computer has entered as a miracle into our lives, and brought joy.

Today we live in an age where the internet has made the world a global village. Access to information and knowledge is instant. Social media connects us to literally thousands of people. Distance poses no barrier to be part of the lives of our near and dear ones.

The colony we live in is for retired people. Most of us have one or more children abroad. Many have not ventured into the world of computers. They do not enjoy the fruits of technology. My wife and I try to spread the word of the whiz-bang miracle called the computer. 

I ask them “why should the young have all the fun?” Change is essential. We must change with the times. We enjoyed the past era. Let us make most of the new age. Let us be part of today’s younger generation. Let us also have fun. Let’s break the age barrier.