HER TECHNOLOGY + adjusting
MOM, TECHNOLOGY AND THE NEW NORMAL BY JAN KURTZ
‘T
ouch the screen if it’s gone black and it will come back,” I guide my mom through her first lesson (and mine) on the new tablet, purchased so that she can Zoom. “Like this?” she tapped without any results. “That was your fingernail. Use your fingertip,” I suggest. The screen flashed on but quickly went black again. “Maybe you have to swipe left.” This time, the home screen came into view. But, now what? Yes, now what? That burning question being asked in every language on the planet these days! “I used to think about how difficult it must have been for folks to go from horses to cars,” Mom sighed. “This is much worse – on so many levels.”
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her voice | fall/winter 2020 • share your voice with us
“The difference between then and now is the speed of changes,” I noted. “Now we’re adjusting every hour. This is a steep learning curve for everyone.” On March 14, I traveled to Eau Claire to celebrate my mother’s 94th birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, despite the dark cloud of impending doom. The warning was clear. “Don’t visit your elders.” With that, my son and family wisely canceled, but I trekked on. By March 15, events were being canceled. In that unimaginable moment, there were no facts to rely on for decision-making. In the days to come, we channel-surfed through a bombardment of bad news. We foraged between the CDC regulations, the administration’s mixed messages and Dr. Fauci’s stern and straight science, hoping to find solid guidelines.
