Learning with a Screwdriver and a Prayer

Learning is involved in every area of our lives. We may not be involved in formal education, but we are still learning every day. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Well, this “old dog” is currently googling how to mow a lawn without losing a toe, so I’d say we’re making progress.

Life has thrown me a new role: solo caretaker of our home. When my husband was alive, he’d say, “Don’t worry, honey, I’ll handle it.” And I didn’t worry until he wasn’t here to handle it anymore. Luckily, I have family members who know their way around power tools, garden secrets, and the mysteries of home maintenance. Plus, Mr. Google and I are becoming very close; he’s like my new bestie who knows everything but doesn’t judge.

Now, if we could just talk about technology. I thought I was pretty sharp until I realized the world runs on apps, passwords, and mysterious “clouds”, none of which I can physically find or fix. I’m convinced tech skills are like learning to ride a bike: easier when you’re young and still bounce when you fall. I know so little about it that I don’t even know how much I don’t know.  There is a certain amount of muscle memory needed, and I don’t have those muscles yet.

I’ve always needed to understand the why behind things. It’s how I make them stick in my head. But today’s learning seems to involve being shown something once, then expecting you to perform and remember it. My memory must be broken because it doesn’t work that way.

Even the instructions now feel like secret codes. Reading a Standard Operating Procedure is like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube, blindfolded, underwater. If I could somehow upload all my nieces’ knowledge into my brain via USB, I’d do it. Until then, I’m just here, learning one confusing, hilarious, hair-pulling day at a time.

So here’s to late bloomers, lifelong learners, and anyone who refuses to let a little thing like confusion slow them down.

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