WHOEVER coined the phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” got it wrong. You ean teach an old dog anew trick all right: it just takes a littl more paticnee on the part of both the teacher and the pupil. There are few things in life more inspiring that watching our elders (and I'm talking senior citizens here folks) grasp hold of modern technology. Take, for exam- ple, my dad, retired guy and Papa to my kids, who is stumbling into the computer age like 3 toddler in a tov store. I watch his big fisherman's hands fumble with the mouse, which he jerks in slow, awkward movements from prompt to prompt on his computer screen. His reading glasses are perched on his nose as he sits at atten- tion, completely focused on the task at hand. Every now and then he lets go of the mouse to scratch his head or adjust his glasses. He is ina foreign country without the language. Te was a subject long under debate, this getting a computer for my dad. He isa self admitted “old dog” with Friday, January 30, 1998 — North Shore News -— 7 _iveniures with www.dad.com a passion for fishing, and he couldn't relate to what this new technology might de tor him. “I manage just fine the wav I do things now” he rationalized, shrugging the idea off. But the idea would not go away. Every time he came over to my house he asked me about my computer. Had 1 ever visited any interesting fishing sites? Was there any information about fishing boats on the Web? Could anybody go “online” to get tide charts? Last month, with a lot of encouragement and my promise to help him learn the ropes, he bought himself a computer, installed a new phone line, and rook his first excited steps into the world of high technology. He is 3 willing pupil and he grasps the basic concepts fairly quickly, The rerminolo- gv is a little slower in coming. He phones me every time he runs into a snag, which is many times a day. Ir FP do nor answer he leaves messages that sound like this: “Shannen, F can’t get my thingy to move. Call me immediately.” Next message, delivered five minutes later in an exay Perated voice reads: “Shannon, the doohickey is chugging away but the thingy’s on the blink. Call me.” Another message, tollow- ing the last one by seven minutes and sounding even more urgent says: “Shannon, this cotton pickin’ computer must be on the tritz. TP think we should take it back.” We spend hours getting him sorted out. He needs an e-mail address. He aceds a password. He needs to be walked through the steps to do evervthing several times. He needs a lor of artention and he needs it right now! When I finally tind the time to sit down at mv own computer, T sort through my e-mail. There are seven new Messages, siv from iny dad and one that is my monthly bill. The phone rings just as | settle in to write. Lighten up Ms. Smith, Close to home is a laugh Dear Editor: Shannon Humphreys’ Close to home col- umn is terrific — where is Trish Smith's sense of humor (Jan. 23 letcer to the editor)? As I was reading Shannon Humphreys’ Jan. 23 Close to home article, [ was thinking how terrific her weekly colunin is and that I should be writing a letter to the editor expressing how much I enjoy her wit and humour. Imagine my surprise when I turned the page to find Ms. Smith’s criticism of Ms. Humphrevs and her column (Jan. 16, Close to home —- Life in the fast lane). When I read that Jan. 16 column, F took it an entirely different way to Ms. Smith. Those of us, who, like Shannon Humphreys, are very involved in our communities as mothers, busy career women or volunteers, and are also aware that we are aging a lite. can appreciate Ms. Humphreys’ wonderful sense of humour as she Writes about subjects that we can relate to. Shannon Humphreys doesn't owe an apol- ogy to anyone! But Trish Smith needs to light- en up and see the humorous side of life! Keep the good work, Shannon. Your column is excellent and Im still laughing at the Jan. 23 one, as [ did at the fan. 16 one that Ms. Smith finds so appalling! Jean Lawrence West Vancouver DAYCARE ... “We know Paige gets lots of quality attention from three qualified ECE staff.” “Low child to staff ratio was a priority for us.” “Child’s Discovery daycare is a licensed child care centre with the comfort and warmth of home.” CHILD'S DISCOVERY DAYCARE fer children 2: 2132 = N. Van J 9650116 “Did vou get my e-mail?” he bellows over the phone line. “Yes, Dad, E got vour ¢- mail. All six of them.” “Hooras” he laughs. works.” “OF course it works, Dad.” Etell him. “This is the “90s.” Ten minutes later the phone cings again. “You did- wet send me any iaail back,” he complains. He is tke a voung girl expecting mail trom her lover. When he opens his ¢ mail program and there is no new mail he feels unloved, insecure, and confused. “Dad, [ just spoke to you,” [rell him. “Send me e-mail now.” he orders, “so T know this thing works.” I send him the e-mail. Ten minutes later the phone rings again. cn : é PRIVEBES \ ~~ FEPOVEBIKESDEE KESl 97 Kona 97 Kona 97 Kona 97 Kona 97.Kona 17 Kona 7 Kona: 97 Kona 97 Kona. 97 Kona. raeeneseeas iE E wz: a; 4310: Gallant Ave., North\Van” ~ “Tlost all my addresses in my ¢-mail address book.” he moans. “Dad, you only had two addresses,” T remind him. “Come over here and put them back in,” he whines. I go over again, My mother is worried about him. He hast been fishing ina week. He misses his naps, he stays up late, he is mucking around on his new computer all the time. He is having so much fun “surfing the net.” All services fully warranty approved he bas cen. vinced my brothers to join the World Wide Web too. This morning my vounger brother called me from work. “Pye gore email now Shanny,” he tells me excited: h. "How do I send some- thing to Dad?” In the time it takes me to walk him through the process on the telephone, 1 could have picked the message up from him and delivered it to my dad in person. I'm beginning to wonder it being computer literate is saving me any time ac all. Cooling System Service Complete rad fiush dius od & filter cnange, including ail matenais 1362 Marine Drive 980-9115 Mon-Sat 8 O0arm-6 O0prn, Sun. 9.00am-5:00em Expwes Feb. 13,98 97 Kona‘ King\ Kikapu Ful suspension Sale . Sale Sale, Sale : "Sale Kilauea.” UP cull'suspension — Muni Muta Fire Mtn’... Lava Dome’ Hahanna © 1918 www.covebike:com Sale: DEEP COVE BIKE. SHOP IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN DEEP COVE WHERE ASTRONOMICALLY LOW PRIGES ARE THE Law mM Wor. oso Lan Ges tT Lo beriday 5 10am-9pm