A Lesson In Humility

A lesson in humility learned

I guess I have to admit I was pretty complacent about the relationship I shared with my ipad until I met Hannah.

On a recent trip to San Diego, I had the distinct privilege of sharing two days with this amazing 9 year old blonde beauty. My son and Julie, his wife, were working and Hannah’s parents also had commitments, so it was an perfect opportunity to spend some long anticipated time together.

Hannah was first of her generation to enter our family. A great granddaughter of our hearts, her birth came just a year before fate intervened. The patriarch who had hoped to welcome the new princess in person was no longer able to make a cross country trip.. Consequently, while pictures were shared, and stories told, to our mutual sorrow, their paths never crossed..

Of course, in the years that followed, she and I have met frequently on my annual trips to the west coast, but time alone shared together; not until this trip. Admittedly, I did so want to make a good impression on this youngster. Of course, I brought gifts for she and her cousins. However, what I really hoped to achieve was that this very young lady form a good impression of her elderly east coast relative. Perhaps what I truly yearned for was to be considered not a relic of yesterday, but alert, knowledgeable and aware of twitter, texting and technology. Not a valid interpretation, of course, but an image I was striving to perfect.

And to my utter dismay I instantly failed games, on the 9 year old level.

It was absolutely humiliating.

I showed her my KIndle library, vast and impressive I believed, but not to this 9 year old youngster.

I told her I shopped from Amazon, and she shrugged. Not impressed.

And so we returned to the game, and she smiled sweetly and indulgently at my lack of ability.

I showed her the mini puzzle I do daily on the NY TIMES. Again, she was slightly bored and tactfully suggested we try the game again.

Once more, I was unable to reach even the level achieved by her six year old cousin, and so graciously, my young instructor thought it wiser if we returned to watching Hook on Amazon, and kindly said, “Maybe next time, you will do better.”

I wonder does the Genius Bar offer instructions for elders learning to play internet children’s games, or am I alone in this quandary?