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Grateful for Technology
Lowell Sheppard • May 1, 2020
It's May 1st and we're entering the fifth month of 2020 with COVID-19 embedding itself in our global consciousness. I, for one, am grateful for technology that enables humans to connect. Even the simple telephone is vital at times like this.
Here are notes of two telephone conversations I have had with my 91 year old mother. One just a few minutes ago.
☎ April 2nd:
I try to phone my 91-year -old mother every day. She is in a 'retirement village' in Canada. She is currently in lock down, the result of one of the health workers being diagnosed with COVID-19. My recent conversation with her went like this.
| Me: | Hi, Mom. How are you? |
| Mom: | Fine, but every time I step out my door a male voice yells at me, 'GET THE HELL BACK TO YOUR ROOM!' |
| Me: | Ahhh . . well they are wanting to protect you and others from the virus. |
| Mom: | I know. But, it sure is boring. It is not good when an old woman has nothing to do. [Said with a chuckle] |
| Me: | Hey, why don't you do what many others are doing around the world and go out onto your Balcony and sing. (She loves to sing.) |
| Mom: | If I did that (she said sternly), they would come and lock me up! |
| Me: | No, they wouldn't. People would love it. You will be giving joy and hope to the world! |
| Mom: | What would I sing? |
| Me: | How about? ... Somewhere.... |
| Mom: | [She suddenly breaks out in song and went straight to verse two]
Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh why can't I? |
Photo courtesy of my sister Faith Sheppard Bateman.
☎ May 1st:
It’s May 1st in Japan and I just finished my daily call with my 91-year-old mother in Canada who had been confined to her room for six weeks, and now allowed to walk around the inside of her building, but not allowed outside or to receive visitors.
Our conversation finished this way...
| Mom: | Do you have the virus? |
| Me: | Nope! |
| Mom: | My TV has it. |
| Me: | Oh?! |
| Mom: | Yeah. The Virus is streaming across my TV all day long! |
| Me: | [ Chuckle ] |
| Mom: | I would like to kick the ass of the guy who invented the damn virus! (Spoken with the reprimanding tone reminiscent of how she would speak to me as a naughty child) |
| Me: | Me too, mother. Me too 😞 |
| Mom: | And you can quote me on that! |
And, you can quote me on that!
-Lowell's Mom
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