Have you checked your email today? When my sister who lives in Colorado got a new computer a few years ago, I asked her what she named the computer. My grandson thinks computers need a boy name. However, I know university professor who calls his computer Susie. Not sure what he named the latest computer he purchased.

Does this sound a bit strange to the faithful readers of this warm thoughts column? Do you remember when America was referred to as a “she” by former President Reagan? Ships have been known as being female, “Steady as she goes,” and, “She's sailing great captain!”

When it comes to computers, I am not a scientist. My grandchildren are far more computer literate than I am. So this week, I will share with you 12 signs you've had too much technology:

Number one: you've just tried to enter your password on the microwave.

Number two: you have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

Number three: you call your son cell phone to let him know it's time to eat. He emails you back from his bedroom, “What's for dinner?”

Number four: your daughter sells Girl Scout cookies from her website.

Number five: you chat several times a day with a stranger from South Africa. But haven't spoken with your next door neighbor yet this year.

Number six: your grandmother clogs up your email inbox asking you to send her a JPEG file of your newborn so she can create a screensaver.

Number seven: you pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home.

Number eight: every commercial on TV has a website address at the bottom of this screen.

Number nine: you buy a computer and a week later it's out of date and now sells for half the price you paid for it.

Number 10: you consider second day air delivery painfully slow.

Number 11: you get an extra phone line so you can get phone calls. 

Number 12: you start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)

Have you had too much technology? Do you have to ask your children and grandchildren to teach you? Recently, I gave a lecture on Biomedical Ethics and wanted my tape recorder to tape the lecture. Just guess what happened? The battery died after the instructor introduced me! And you may also be surprised that I seem to think better typing these warm thoughts columns on my old IBM typewriter more next week.

Thanks for your comments and gems of thought for this weekly column. Another warm thought: “Never miss the chance to read to a child a story,” by Maxwell Kato.

Warm Thougths from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner

April 14 2005

Published in the Marion Record

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I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina