Unplugged ...

I am technologically challenged. I don't have an i-anything, or e-anything (is there a difference?). I've never sent a text in my life. I don't have a gadget to keep track of what I'm doing or where I'm going ... I borrow my mom's (not-so-smart) basic cell phone when I drive places, but rarely use it (except when I pocket-dial my sister-in-law by accident - not sure how THAT happens!). I don't know techno-lingo, and am baffled by techno-speak (when I first heard the terms "3G and 4G", I thought perhaps they had started making bras for toddlers!). I am perplexed by people who are so busy documenting every minute of their lives to people who really don't care ... that they miss life itself.

I was driving on a winding country road the other day, taking my brother over the hill "the back way" to the hardware store. The day was clear and beautiful, and I was enjoying incredible glimpses of Mt. Hood and the Cascade mountains as I drove. My brother had his attention focused on his e-whatever gadget. Here is a summary of a bit of the conversation we had ...

You'll love this app I have.
Oh yeah?
Yeah. It's a map app.
Cute.
I plugged in the GPS coordinates from home and it's telling me where we are now.
I already know where we are now.
Seriously - it even has the name of the road we're on!
I've been driving this road since I was 16. I already know the name of the road.
Well check this out - it can pinpoint where we are to within 10 feet of the car!
Well I can pinpoint where we are right into the car itself - and I can see MORE than 10 feet from the car!
Some of the roads don't have names.
Yes they do.
Well technically yes, and as soon as we get to where there's a signal the names will show on the app.
Maybe I should pull over so I don't get lost in the nameless wilderness.
(sigh) You're no fun.
No, I guess not.

Maybe someday I will get one of these whoosiwhatsits gadgets ... until then, I don't really see the point.