A lesson in humillity. . .

I've upgraded my cell phone to the kind that receives and sends e-mail, can text more easily, can Twitter, tells me how the market is doing, and even has a GPS app. Not so terrific is the fact that there isn't a real keyboard anywhere in sight. Everything is done on screen , they tell me, through the heat of your fingertip. Yeah. Riight.

Have you ever sat next to a 12 year old with one of these phones? They are texting away with their two thumbs while looking in the other direction, talking on the phone and eating a McDonald's hamburger, all at the same time. I refuse to believe I am not as smart as a 12 year old, but let me tell you, this has been a humbling experience.

It's taken a few days but I seem to have mastered the e-mail situation, both reading and replying. Can't vouch for my spelling.. .that damn virtual keyboard! I must have very hot fingers, because 50% of the time the wrong letter pops up. I can take photos and send to my computer (see photo of Ginger, asleep on my desk and annoyed that I woke her with the flash). I can also answer the phone just fine, if I realize it's ringing. I was used to the melody on my old phone and tend not to recognize this new one just yet.

My real problem seems to be making a phone call. The nice young lady in the Sprint storedownloaded the phonebook from my last phone. . . and by the time I scroll through what seems like a thousand names, to find who I'm looking for, I've forgotten who I'm calling. Under A, for instance, I have four people named Allan, and under S, several people named Sergio, all with no last names and all with different phone numbers. I think I need to do a little housecleaning in that departmen

My old phone had a "quick dial" function and I knew the location of those ten numbers by heart. I also knew how to find anyone else in my contact list. I'm sure there's an easier way of doing this, but this morning, in the car, I desperately needed to call Benard before he left for Costco, and couldn't for the life of me find him in the "People" list. Since I needed one hand to drive and two hands to actually try to dial his number on the virtual screen, I gave up trying. (I tried sending him a "virtual" mind message, but I doubt that it worked.)

I taught my daughter and my grandson to always say "yes, I can" to something new, and then figure out how to do it. And boy, am I trying to live up to that wise advise. It's an interesting exercise. . a few minutes ago I found that I can actually watch CNN news on the phone. . .amazing.

Now, if I can just figure out how to find your name in my "People" list, I'll be glad to ring you up and tell you all about it.

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Photo caption: Photo taken from my new phone and whisked to my computer! The wonders of technology!

Sharing your Six Word Memoirs. . .

Dear Blog Readers: Your response to my call for your "Six Word Memoir" has been great. Some of you sent more than one, so I've taken the liberty of choosing my favorites from anyone who sent multiples. Here's a new one from me to start it off:


I blogged. You responded. Many Thanks. . . . . . Joan Spector


Experienced more than I ever imagined. . . . . . . Nancy Haynes
I'm here. I'm happy. I'm content. . . . . . . . . . . . . Susie Chase

Honor. Kindness. Family. Doggies. Health. Cash. . .Lorna Swartz

Poor little planet. Peopled by idiots.. . . . . . . . . . .Irene Arnold
Perspicacious, positive, pithy, peppy, playful, Paula. . Paula Rosenblatt
Father, friend, brother. Aloof to others.. . . . . . . . Howard Gold
Blessed, grateful, loving, happy,serious, witty. . . . . . .Crystal King

Much laughter. Some tears. Great life. . . . . . . . . .Judy Levine
Lucky twin. Thankful for beautiful life. . . Muriel Sonnenblick Perry

Twin, loving, family, sharing, happy, living. . Jean Sonnenblick Saklad
Learn, listen, love, create, and enjoy. . . . . . . . .Louis
Look! My life is an open book!. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bill Adams
I believe. I can. I do. . . . . . . . . .Alice Goodhart

Backward, no. . Forward, maybe. Today, YES!. . .Faith Sandstrom
Life is a journey, not a destiny. . . . . . . . Jill Permutt
Life is many wins, some losses. . . . . . . . . . . .Ralph Spector

Still looking for peace and tranquility. . . . . . . .Andrea Anker

I took the road less traveled. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Kaplan

I am great mother and friend. . . . . . . . . . . . .Robin Rubin
World's most self-absorbed egoist. . .unbelievable!. .Dan Samuels
If you're okay, so am I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Benard Rosenblatt
Born to do it. Did it!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Allan Krieff
Did the right thing. Was wrong. . . . . . . . . . Ray Holt
Spread joy, reinforcements, dare to care. . . . . . Pat Soto

You only live once. Let's party!. . . . . . . . . . .Doree Fromberg

Lucky lady, living life I love. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Chichester


And finally, in the immortal words of Mel Brooks. .

It's good to be the king!

I need your thoughts. . . .

I was listening to Public Radio the other day and there was a woman being interviewed who has written a book called "The Six Word Memoir". It's a collection of thoughts by famous and not so famous writers. Here's what Google says a Six Word Memoir is:

A six word memoir is a statement that tells a story about who you are and how you live your life. . .it expresses your identity, personality, emotions, personal interests, wisdom, beliefs, professions and experiences. It can be anything you want to say. . .but you must say it in only six words.

Hmm, I thought. How would I describe myself, and in six words, yet. Makes you really stop and think. OK, here's what I came up with for myself. I'm not sure it's important if you recognize me. . .but here we go. . . .

Adventurous lady. Don't believe I'm eighty.


Great life. Many loves. No regrets.


Mother's writing gene. Shaped my life.


Run, Joan, run. Time's running out.

While I was coming up with my own list, I asked a few of the people closest to me to send me their six words. I loved my nephew Bobby's response that Julius Cesear said it best. .

"I came. I saw. I conquered."

Do you think Julius knew he was uttering a six word memoir????


It's an interesting exercise and it does take some thought, but I've decided to ask all of you who read my blog to take a few moments and send me your six words. There's no cash prize for the best memoir, and I won't even print them if you don't want me to, but I would love to hear what you have to say about yourselves. ( And besides, I'm curious to see which one's of you respond. . I'm taking bets with myself on this one!)


I'll close with my sister's rather profound six words: I think, therefore I am, Fran.


Start thinking, guys. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!!!

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