Can we talk?

Just When You Think You Know Someone

         I'm discovering things about my father I never knew. He's 86. He's still evolving.

         He wants to write a book. He's not really into the writing part. He wants to tell a story, and let other people read it. He's always been a story teller with his halting speech. We've heard the stories so many times, we help him along or prompt him. But they're usually stories about country life back in the 30's and 40's. He can keep an audience spellbound with his simple stories. But that's not what he wants in his book.

         He wants a book about the people he's known and worked with. He thinks they're fascinating and should be know by others. He claims he's worked with 3 preachers (not the full-time kind, but regular working guys called to preach), over a dozen alcoholics, country people, including from the hillbilly areas, and many others.

         So now he's computer shopping. He's interested in the WOW computer for seniors. But it's over a thousand dollars for a desktop, and the keyboard looks normal. The screen is 22", and the images can be enlarged. So it's aimed at Web surfing, not typing with stiff, arthritic fingers. We found one similar to it at the local branch of an office supply store, for about $400 less, Of course, we could get him a micro-cassette recorder, if he would just use it, and my brothers and I could type it orderly. Whether anyone read it or not besides a few personal friends wouldn't matter. He'd have the satisfaction of writing it.

         He's never had a cell phone, but so many people around him have one, that he's thinking about a Jitterbug. I can't get him to read from a Kindle, but he wants to get modern in other ways. Maybe it's time for him to retire. He can stay home with some new technology toys, keep up with his yard work, and go to the senior luncheon once a month. We're afraid he'll sleep all the time and waste away. But he goes to church every week and sees people. If he adds in these new hobbies, and does the outdoor stuff, he'll be okay.