Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Brain Damage in the Electronic Age- A Thanksgiving Post


The Rogue Speaks:

So many things are obsolete these days--records, and record players have all but disappeared, having gone the way of tape players, VCR's, 8 Tracks, etc. One can now open and close blinds or drapes with a remote control, turn on lights, and unlock doors, and start one's car from inside the house. We have become slaves to the electronic age. These things are supposed to make our lives easier. Convenience has come with a price, however. It has destroyed a portion of one's brain, and has stripped it of the knowledge of simple everyday things that served us well for hundreds of years.

I had an appointment at 11:45 today to get my hair cut. At 11:22, I went into the garage to get into my car. The door would not open. It was locked, and because I always leave my car windows open when I park in the garage, I reached inside to unlock the door. Nada! Nothing! I am still locked out! Then I reached in and put the key in the ignition and tried to start the car. Nada! Nothing!

I raced into the house and called to change my appointment, and then called AAA. They were out within 30 minutes. They had replaced my battery only a month ago, so they knew right where I lived. He asked for the keys to my car. I handed them over. He then TOOK THE KEY AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR. I felt like a blithering idiot! Not once did it ever occur to me to USE THE KEY! My brain has been damaged by the electronic age!!




He checked everything out and the car was fine. He surmised that the proximity warning device had been accidentally activated by a PACK RAT. Funny, because while driving to Target a few days ago, I heard a strange noise in the back, where I am always hauling around paintings, and art supplies. My heart stopped! I was terrified that at any moment a pack rat was going to jump on my head from the back seat, and begin gnawing on my face, causing me to wet myself and wreck my car. I quickly parked and gingerly starting rearranging things in the back. I found nothing there, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one hiding somewhere.

So this is my thought for Thanksgiving: I am thankful that even in this electronic age, there are still the simple things in our lives that will work for us when electronics fail us. If only we can remember to USE THEM!!!

27 comments:

Have Myelin? said...

Oh this cracks me up!

bluzdude said...

I don't have a single friend or family member whose telephone number I know. I'm lucky if I can remember my own now, due to speed dial and cell phones.

On the bright side, it makes more room for things like rock band members and movie credits.

OK, I don't know those things any more either, but I can look them up!

JJ said...

Judie: Funny, funny, funny! Not so funny - my wife's car has no key.

ChrisJ said...

One day someone will re-discover the pencil and be amazed that one end has an eraser!!!

Once when the power was out I phoned a friend to pick me up on her way to work (back in the days when phones were permanently connented to the wall!!!). Only later did the penny drop and I realized that I could pull the release and open the garage door manually. I felt quite foolish for a bit.

Vicki/Jake said...

Mwahahaaa! Now I don't feel so, ummm, unelectronicallyeducated.
Hope you have an awesome Turkey Day Judie, just don't forget to check the electronic digital thermometer so the bird won't still gobble:)

Judie said...

Now here's one for you! If I had Pat Robertson's email address, I would send him a BLISTERING one for a remark he made about having macaroni and cheese at Thanksgiving. He asked Condi Rice what she was taking to a Thanksgiving dinner and she told him Macaroni and cheese. Pat Robertson asked if that dish was a "black thing." , NO YOU DERANGED MORON! I am taking mac and cheese tomorrow when we go to our daughter's. I got the recipe out of Cooking Light, and the ingredients cost me $37!!! While shopping, I also got a great deal on two 13 lb turkeys-$3.12 for BOTH, but that's another story.

Jo said...

oh I can relate big time ... great story Judie, and Happy Thanksgiving to you!

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

Oh Judie, it happens! I have done worst..

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

carol l mckenna said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family ~ hugs and namaste, Carol ^_^

Cher Duncombe said...

Happy Thanksgiving Judie! May all your devices work when possible and all of our brains remember basic functions. We have all been there. :)

Francisca said...

Surely that cute thing on the tire is not a pack rat, Judie! But seriously, yes, I agree, too many buttons to push can make us mentally lazy. I once saw a girl (under 18) use a calculator to get 2 x 2.25! Fortunately, I have an active dislike of buttons (except this keyboard)! May you and yours have a day of abundance!

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Don't feel bad. I had to get a rental car while mine was in the shop. It was one of those three cylinder Geo Metros, sort of a lawn mower for the highway. I had no idea how to open the door, no key fob. I stood there staring at the car. It finally dawned on me to use the key.

Mac & Cheese a "black thing?" Really? I wonder what he would think about our collard greens? LOL

Oh, I'd love to see your pack rat. I've got a soft spot for mice. My cat's don't, they tend to bring them to me but rarely alive.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tracy said...

You have just made me smile thank you
What on earth will my Grandchildren be using in 30 years time

KM said...

How funny! Of course I am sure it wasn't too funny for you. I could follow your whole story because I have had a similar mishap and could not get my car to start until I did some changing of seats, opening of doors and resetting. :)

Annesphamily said...

Hi Judie! I loved seeing Jenny and Steve and being able to meet them in person! I felt like a rock star! Steve shot some photos of all of us and it was a fun time altohugh brief. I hope I make it out that way again and can meet you! I find you so amazingly funny and serious and interesting all wrapped up into one! I too wonder about this electronic age and the fact that we allow machines to take over our lives! We still play rummy each and every night to keep the brain sharp! I sing the same songs I sang to my kids and grandkids to my first born great grand! He is such a light in my life I was feeling awful today and they walked up the driveway and I scooped him away from his mama! Ah...no more pain or sorry feelings for myself! Just gooey love for a baby as small as a perfectly wrapped gift! Only way better! I hope today was a blessing and bountiful good time for you and yours. Love and Hugs Anne

anitamombanita said...

ah, the good old electronic key. we have a love hate relationship, for sure!

Neil Killion said...

Hi Judie,
Loved this post! I believe we've got to fight back. I recently saw a stat that there were more mobiles in Australia than there were people (same for the US I imagine).....yet I don't personally own one. I don't wear a watch.
I'm a paid up member of the Dinosaur's Club and proud of it. Did you see how audiophiles are turning back to the turntable and records because the sound quality is better.
Keys are meant to look like keys and you put them in locks and turn them..at least they will work that way. Happy Thanksgiving

Shreya said...

Happy thanksgiving :)

http://www.iredeem.blogspot.com/

Pondside said...

That made me hoot out loud! It's better even than my aiming the car remote lock at my office door, and not understanding why it wouldn't open.
*sigh*

Gattina said...

Of course we are now so intelligent that using a key to open a car doesn't even touch our brain !
But honnestly I don't mind that my garage opens just pushing on a button especially when it rains, then getting out of the car USING a key to open the door and being wet til my bones, lol !

Leovi said...

Thanks very original. A simple power outage can cripple the entire vehicle. The electronic age has its disadvantages. Greetings.

THE SNEE said...

LOL, The analog age was indeed rich with innovation and brain power. I live among pack rats. That means I always have a right tool for a job. If only I could find it! Happy Thanksgiving Judie.

Stacia said...

Such a funny story, though I'm laughing with you! =>

Pearl Maple said...

too funny and too true
we have so many auto gizzmos running our lives we don't get to contemplate the act and make the most of our days
happy thanksgiving to you

Ames said...

Ha ha! Welcome to the club! :) You I know every on of my friend's phone numbers but not my own. By the way, what is a pack rat?? :)~Ames

Steph said...

It's fun to laugh (with you) and all that you have said is so true! Thanks for this delightful and humorous post. It brightened my day.

Jenny said...

I am sooo, soooo, soooo laughing WITH you...I promise!

It's been quite a year, hasn't it?

And it continues!

BUT...

Think of it as preparation for post-apocalypsic electroniclessness.

Huh?

Okay.

Never mind.

Pack rats are creepy.

I'm glad it didn't getcha!