santa cruz wharf

26 February 2010

Blueberry. A conversation with my Mama.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about this new technology I keep hearing people talk about? “

“Which one?   The Google one?   Buzz?”

“Um…no…I don’t think its Google… that Blue Berry?”
(she scrunches up her brow and does a little head shake)

“You mean like Cameron has?  His phone?  His Blackberry?
It’s Blackberry….not a Blueberry“

(I scrunch up my brow identically…and while I am mentally dreaming of pie….I start to detail the difference between a Blackberry, an Android and the iPhone)

She stops me mid-sentence. 
“No no.  It’s not a phone. But I don’t know why a phone has to do all those things.  Why can’t it just be a telephone.  I don’t want to text.  I don’t want to take pictures. I’m not downloading the top forty”

I try and repress my typical exasperation with this conversation…which we have had dozens of times. My response has been come a worn mantra. 
They aren’t really telephones with special features you know.  They are handheld computers that you can ALSO get phone calls on”

Mama doesn’t  repress her exasperation as well.
“I’ve heard your argument before. A thousand times before.  But why can’t I just have a telephone?” 
I think because I embrace smartphone technology she holds me partially responsible.

”Well…You could get a Jitter-Bug telephone. 
Those are only phones.”
I’m smiling now…laughing quietly

”Those are for old people”
She’s ticked with me now
”Just tell me about the Blue Berry”

“I don;t think there is a Blue Berry”
I’m trying to figure this out
”Do you mean Blue Tooth?”

“Ummm….maybe. Blue Tooth.
That must be it. 
Yes.
What is the Blue Tooth?”

”Short distance radio wave transmission…it’s the technology which makes all the wireless earpieces work. Hands free cell phones”

”No…that’s not it…”

”Well…okay…then I’m not sure what you are talking about.”

”It is Blue…um…Blueberry….Bluetooth…Blue…something”
she’s totally exasperated now.

”Maybe it’d help if you told me what you are talking about.  Where did you hear about it?”

”Apparently all the DVD’s are obsolete now.  Just like all the VHS tapes we STILL have.  Now we have obsolete tapes and obsolete DVDs and two machines under the TV with the cable box.  Do we have to buy ANOTHER machine???”

Ahhhhh….finally, I have a lightbulb moment.

”You mean BluRay!!!”

whew!

18 comments:

Sandee said...

Bwhahahahahaha. This is going to be me in a very few years. Okay, I'm there now. I don't have a cell phone and don't want one. I don't watch television and don't want to. I am no longer the geek since I retired. I love the freedom.

Have a terrific day and weekend. Big hug to you and the Teamster. :)

Linda said...

I hate to tell you this but I think your mom has a point there regarding the Blue-Ray and how all of the VHS tapes and DVD discs are going to be obsolete as well as the machines that play them. Reminds me of eight-track and cassette tapes not to mention actual honest-to-goodness vinyl - antiques all it seems! Of course, I guess it makes me somewhat of an antique to remember all that!

In the meantime I'll keep trying to figure out my new iPhone!

Mel said...

LOL

I love your mom!!
I just DO!

Mimi Lenox said...

That is priceless! And a keeper.
Tell her I'm just as confused.
This should come as no surprise to anyone.

The Teamster said...

i heard the conversation in the opposite order....

how old are we?

I, Like The View said...

I'm still dreaming of a yummy fruit pie!

(-:

Desert Songbird said...

*snicker* Yeah, that phone for "old people." I think of that when I remember just six months or so, my SIL got my MIL a cell phone. Mom has been insisting that she doesn't need one because she's always with Dad, and HE has one. My SIL said she didn't care and was getting one for her anyway. In fact, SIL said she'd pay for the service.

Yeah, you got it. Mom uses that phone ALL THE TIME.

You should tell your mom that not all the time to people dispose of technology. We have, and I kid you NOT, hooked up to our television in the family room, a DVR, a DVD player, a BluRay player, AND a dual deck (DVD/VHS). Hubby is such a geek. *grin*

Travis Cody said...

You mean there's no pie? Drat.

We've been considering a cell phone upgrade, but we don't know what to buy. And we have not yet converted to Blue Ray, although I'm sure we will eventually.

Technology moves too fast!

Jeff B said...

OK, I'm laughing now. Mostly because I've had similar conversations with my mom too.

Spadoman said...

I got all excited. I want "just a phone" too! I don't use the technology and don't want to. In some circles that makes me old, but it's not that I don't know what it is, I just don't want it!
I see my spousal unit texting my daughter, and they go back and forth for an hour. I mean, you can press a couple of keys and actually talk to the person and say and ask what you want to and get a response immediately instead of waiting for the return text. I'm just sayin'.
Love your Mom. Like most of us wiser folks, can't see the sense of it all.
By the way, it's about the money.

Peace.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Katherine...this is PRICELESS

I am sitting here laughing hysterically...

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye.

Odat said...

LOL.

Peace

Erika Henderson-Morse said...

You can NEVER say anything about the technology conversations I have with my mother because you have the same ones with your mom. I had a similar conversation on Sunday with my mother about registering her Gypsy for her Cricut. She started talking about software and it became one of those times where I wish she lived next door so I could just go see what she was talking about. The Cookie is lucky to have such a technology savvy mama.

Mel said...

I've no doubt you make the 'cool mom' list.

I, on the other hand.....LOL Am a good babysitter?
(that's all a manipulation on my part, of course....LOL)

((((((((((( katherine ))))))))))))

Marilyn said...

Can you imagine what it'll be like when we get to be that age? I'm scared. Things are changing sooo fast. Just hanging out on you tube makes me realize that I am already an obsolete old person and my hair isn't even gray yet.

Mel said...

Happy Bunny Day!

Just sayin'....

(((((((( katherine ))))))))

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

WHERE AM YOU?????