A Public Message

I really like this new Pope.  I like the fact that he speaks in concise sentences, and I understand what he is communicating.

But this week, he threw me a curve.

He does not believe we  (his people)  should be too immersed in our computers.  And I know, just know, he is talking about me.

My immediate reaction is, “But Your Holiness, I don’t drink, well hardly ever, and I never smoke.”

And I can see him shaking his head in a negative way.  And even though he is not speaking “ex cathedra,” I know he is right.  Almost like my Dad saying, “Anne, enough of that.”  And of course, I would listen.

I don’t feed on social media; I don’t secretly pursue the Internet, but I have realized for quite a while now I am in the throes of an addiction,.  My morning begins with the mandatory black coffee now accompanied with the IPad.  Every newspaper I know is read and soon accompanied with the second cup of coffee.

No longer do I wait for the mailman.  Indeed not, now I wait to hear the friendly Bing on my IPhone and IPad announcing mail.  Unfortunately, it is mostly from Amazon or Company Store or other sundry merchandisers.  Seldom anything personal, but still I must read it immediately.  It has become compulsive.  So indeed, Your Holiness, you are correct.  I am immersed in the computer world to a dangerous degree.

There have been few truly urgent phone calls I have received in my lifetime.  Those are deeply engraved on my heart, and will never be forgotten.  However, I respond with such anxiety to each Bing, a stranger would have reason to believe I was on Putin’s phone list.

I suppose the addiction began about 30 years ago when my Husband asked me to pick out a piece of jewelry to celebrate a significant moment we shared.  I asked if I could have a computer instead, and he complied.

That was three decades and three laptops ago.  Since then there have been several Kindles, two IPads and about six months ago, I added an IPhone.

The last acquisition is utilized to check my phone messages (few and far between) along with my Eail, consisting primarily of advertising friends.

I have reread the Pontiff’s message relating to the Internet and Computers several times, and while my name is not mentioned, I do wonder if someone has reported m.  And deservedly, so.