I’ve been writing this column for a lot of years, and I always get a lot of positive feedback when I mention my mom.
When I meet readers in person, they inevitably ask how my mom is doing.
But now, I’m going to write a bit about my dad.
My father worked in the finance business, for Montgomery Ward and then a few banks, ending up at Shell Oil’s credit union in Houston.
Just as dad was getting to retirement age, he was being pushed a bit to use the computer a bit more.
I remember helping my parents buy and set up a Dell PC back in 2005.
I also remember a phone call from Dad who was trying to learn Microsoft Excel. He’d brought home a tutorial on a CD. He’d put the CD into the computer and couldn’t figure out how to get to the content.
It took a few minutes for us to work our way through the options before we figured out he’d inserted the disc upside down.
We still laugh about that.
When mom got her first iPad years ago, Dad was a cautious observer. I’m not sure he saw the point — at first.
After a while, I got a call from my mom, who told me: “We need to get your dad his own iPad. Every time I come into the living room to look at my iPad, he’s already using it.”
So Mom bought Dad an iPad 2 for his birthday, and all was right with the world.
Fast-forward a few years and Mom and Dad are both on their second iPads.
Now when we go visit my parents, after we’ve talked and eaten dinner and settled down for the evening, Dad is likely to grab his iPad and ask me to sit down next to him on the couch to he can show me a funny YouTube video or a recipe for a BBQ sauce he’s going to try.
Mom and Dad have both found technology nirvana with their iPads.
My sister bought them an Amazon Echo Dot for Christmas, and I’ve helped them set up a few smart light bulbs with switches that can be turned on and off by voice command through Alexa.
I asked how things were going with the Dot, and Mom told me she was getting used to talking to Alexa and that she’d signed up for Amazon’s music service so they can just ask Alexa to play their favorite music.
She said Dad was still getting used to Alexa.
A few days ago they were getting ready for bed when Dad said to Mom, “Ask that girl to turn off my lamp.”
You can ask her yourself, Dad.
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ABOUT THE WRITER
Jim Rossman writes for The Dallas Morning News. He may be reached at jrossman@dallasnews.com
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