Our recent snow storm was heavy and wet. Between plows and workers, our cul-de-sac was cleared. MOSTLY. One huge pile of snow blocks a path by the garage, making it impossible to get my dog easily to grass. So the obvious solution I have tried includes walking a different route. My dog doesn’t complain too much about that. For me though, I love to easily get to the park. When I have complained or mentioned this to friends, I hear how minor an issue this is, compared to all of the broken tree limbs, down power lines and missed work others suffered.
The good news is that each day I shovel a bit away and soon I will get it cleared!
A little over a year ago, we were told to stay at home and hunker down as this novel virus invaded our community. It was and still is a time of uncertainty and worry. Very soon I realized that the companionship of my wonderful dog was not the same as seeing my friends and family regularly. Then a friend discovered Zoom and suggested that four of us meet for “breakfast” on a Monday morning to start our week off on a positive note. The first time we met (online, of course), and I saw their faces I was so happy. I could feel my mood lift and a little more light enter into my life.
We have been meeting regularly on Monday for breakfast to discuss big things and small things and just see each other. It has helped me stay sane. An added bonus has evolved as we realized how Zoom could help others ease any sense of isolation and loneliness. PAFC is now into its third Zoom project connecting people to other people and to activities and interests that are now online. My participation in these projects has allowed me to remain engaged with and contributing to my community.
Zoom has actually enabled me to connect more often with those I care about. I hope when things are back to normal we will still meet for a weekly breakfast.
Contributor: Cherrie Thornton
Yes, as the title implies, this is a "b---- about BOTS" post. But at least my gripes here stand a chance of being read by and responded to by a living creature.
My issue is with the phrase "Contact Us" that is commonly posted at most all of our favorite digital haunts.
When we click that button with a question or concern, our little automated BOT friends are ready to help ... if our question is phrased with the exact words that the BOT understands.
If it's not ... well, you know what happens next. We get the seemingly endless "Did that answer your question?" popup. Because if it didn't answer the question, there's no chance of attracting a human being's attention.
The double jeopardy for older adults is that a gripe about BOTS may be written off as an "old person vs. technology" moment.
Well, I'll suggest, as an older adult who isn't a Luddite and consumes lots of digital media, that I think it's just plain crappy customer service these days. Some of our high-tech darlings (FB comes to mind) are among the most profitable companies, yet they spend nothing on customer service.
In "the good old days," when we, the consumer public, had a concern about something, we could "reach out and touch someone." Believe me, one of my former responsibilities included handling escalated complaints in the cable industry, so I know what a frustrated customer call is all about.
So here's just one high-volume digital user who wishes BOTS would retire and be replaced by living creatures.
Sadly, I've heard too many anecdotes of grocery store disputes about mask vs. no-mask. Like most things, the answer lies in the middle, so here's a thought about taking the tension out of a public confrontation.
I politely mentioned to an unmasked person at the grocery store that maybe they had forgotten their mask. When they began their "I have my rights" rant, I signaled a timeout and simply said, "Hey, I'm OK with your freedom to do as you like in private time. But I'm guessing that you don't have a daughter in cancer treatment who appreciates protection against the spread of the virus."
As I said that, I eased away and sort of waved off a continuation of the dispute. And we were both good with that.
But then it occurred to me -- "What if people who DON'T have a daughter in treatment used a line like that anyway?"
If it takes the tension out of a dispute, then is it too disingenuous? Hmm.... 😷
Here's a tip about a tip. It's a small gesture on my part, and it's only applicable if, like me, you have the means to do it.
But that "essential worker" that you encounter in your drive-thru food experience? Well, at risk of sounding a tiny bit political, I'll just say it's "interesting" that amid COVID we're OK with declaring so many minimum wage workers as "essential."
So here's what I like to do. When my yummy food is handed through the window, I like to hand back a $5 bill or even a $10 along with a sincere "thank you" for that person's "essential" service.
Their smile of sincere thanks is way worth it.