“Old Woman With A New Baby”

By Nancy M. Hall

I have been watching my friends use their iPads and enjoying the pictures and messages for over a year. At Christmas, we all seemed to be convinced that I was ready for one of my own. I was given some money toward its purchase. I was advised to go to the Apple store in Greensboro. Being fully emerced in bringing the Second Spring Arts Festival to fruition,  there did not seem any time to make the trip and check things out. Besides, I was not sure I could trust my own knowledge to pick one out. Attempts to connect with a niece or friend to guide my purchase were not successful.

Finally, last week a friend wrote specific instructions on what I should have on my iPad. Though I preferred to go to the Apple store, I decided to go to Best Buy to make my purchase. After all, it was the place where I bought my latest computer and most importantly, I had a contract with the Geek Squad.

So last week, with my friend’s list in hand, I summoned enough courage to go to the Best Buy store. I found what was on my list with one exception. I wanted to double check with my friend, which I did. On Saturday I went to purchase my iPad. I had hoped to get the same employee who had waited on me the first time, as I found her very understanding. Unfortunately, I learned she was unavailable as she had been called out side to administer first aide to someone. A young man waited on me and was told I could use a check or credit card. I preferred to use a check which was rejected by the bank. Was this an omen? So we tried a credit card which went through without a hitch. Because of the long line waiting for services with iPads and so on, I decided to ask a Geek Squad technician to come to the house to hook up the router to my e-mail. As I left the store with my three pieces of equipment, so help me, I felt I was carrying out “my baby”! It would be the following Tuesday before “the doctor” could come and get me connected.

So,  the Geek Squad tech came and I am connected. But I am very hesitant, less I make  a mistake. I am told to just keep playing with it as “it is very straight forward.” I learned that I have enough memory to last the rest of my life. I learned that there is an Apple rep at Best Buy, so I will need to get an appt. with this person. I also learned that the Shepherd’s Center is sponsoring Tech Savvy sessions. So, the question is, am I too old to learn this stuff? What I have been preaching about old people learning new skills will be tested. I hope the next musings will come to you via my i-pad! Oh, should I name it? Send me some suggestions if you have named your i-pad.

I am nancappy@msn.co “an old woman with a new baby”!