Great Auntie Took A Techno Break, Sort of...

I was rather shocked to discover it had been more than a month since I last posted a rhyme. 

Now I distinctly recall intending to make weekly posts. As a matter of fact, doing so was (and still is) part of the "grand plan" for Great Auntie and her good works.

But where did my time go? Oh my!

I distinctly remember spending most of my time at the computer. There were hours spent writing new rhyme, short stories and nostalgia bits that some would consider fiction. There were hours spent researching "how to's" for everything from self-publishing and e-commerce to image editing and file transferring. There were the minutes (and sometimes hours) spent trying to decipher and interpret what needed to be done differently when the yahoos, googles and facebooks of the world unilaterally decided to improve the quality of my online experience. Then there were all the minutes spent trouble-shooting when something on the computer, printer or scanner didn't function properly (despite having done so minutes before). And the minutes consumed by the rewriting of lengthy emails intended for recipients accustomed to reading 145 characters (or less) as well as for those whose preferred second language is emoticon. And the minutes required for completing online forms that promised to take "minutes" yet consumed far more. So much time spent in front of a screen...

What I learned was quite different from what I originally set out to learn -- how to create online products. I learned that I still didn't know "enough" to do the technology things that others found simple and easy to do. It would seem that I have a technology deficiency ... a left brain that goes on vacation ... a sense of logic that is quite random in terms of deciding when it will choose to appear and function properly.

Fortunately, there were also those hours and minutes this summer when I simply said, "ENOUGH!"

And I was glad of it. 

This summer, there were many boxes and bins filled with family memorabilia that needed physical (and not technological) sorting. And each container held memories worth thinking about and sharing. But when I came to the bins containing some of my son's favorite childhood toys, I remembered something important.

When my son was a little boy, computers and cell phones were not so demanding of my time, my attention and my energy.

Back then, computers and cell phones were built with "off" switches. And I used 'em.

It's been a wonderful summer, my friends. If you haven't done so already, make the time to say "ENOUGH!" and give yourself (and your favorite kid) a techno-break.

You'll be glad you did.

See you in September if not before!

Great Auntie, The Tall Tale Teller of Minnesota

(land of 10,000 lakes and several loons)

School is Out !!

School has now been out for a couple of weeks. Some neighborhoods are filled with the sounds of children laughing and hollering. They ride bikes, trikes, scooters and skateboards. There are basketballs being bounced ... soccer balls being kicked ... baseballs being slammed into the air (which hopefully will avoid landing, as they have in the past, in the middle of one of my windows). Small dramas are invented ... games designed ... pecking orders established and leaders defined.

Soon, kids will start summer school, go to Vacation Bible school, participate in community sponsored recreational programs, travel to camp or spend their days in scheduled activities provided by the local childcare center. Some kids will have their eyes glued (from dawn to dusk) to the TV, computer screen, cell phone or electronic game station. Others will be searching for ways to occupy their time (with some getting into mischief) and keeping themselves amused until parent, guardian or older sibling arrive home from work.

Right now, there appears to be a bit of a lull in the scheduled activities and programs of community organizations, local schools and churches.

And the kids who are running around outdoors all seem pretty doggone happy about having some time to play. They look a bit more rested than on the mornings when they waited for the school bus ... seem a lot more relaxed than they were at the end of each long week of school.

They look young.