My Mother used to read from A.A. Milne to my sister and me. Christopher Robin would often refer to Winnie the Pooh as a “bear of very little brain”.
I often feel that way too.
When I was asked to write for Chadds Ford Live, I was advised to open a separate e-mail account to go with this blog. Another e-mail account?
I have an account at work for business communications and one at home for friends. I am also on the Sanderson Museum web-based communication site for board members to share information, work files, messages and comments.
Recently an old friend wanted me to join her Facebook list. From experience I knew it would just give her another opportunity to send more photos of her precious, adorable grandchild. So I politely declined and replied only, “Let’s keep in touch through old-fashioned e-mail. Luv, Sally ”
A few weeks ago another friend e-mailed an invitation to join her Twitter account where the basic question is, “What are you doing?” What am I doing? …I’m busy working and I don’t have time to answer your tweet about what I’m doing. So again, I politely declined and replied, “Let’s keep in touch through…”
I instantly delete e-mails from three friends and two distant relatives -the ones where the subject is prefaced by “ Fw: fw: Re: re: re: re:.” I know if I open it, there will be pictures of darling chubby cheeked cherubs, Valentine hearts, bouquets of daisies or American flags.
The message invariably tells me I am a special person and if I forward this message to nine friends within seven minutes I will receive a blessing in the next 24 hours. If I break the chain, something catastrophic will befall me.
I‘m glad my welfare is so important to them.
When I was writing my masters thesis in 1977, my research data was run on computers with infinitely less power and memory than the one now on my desk. They were the size of large cargo shipping crates and were kept in a cold room to prevent over-heating.
I first experienced the forerunner of the “modern” PC when I was teaching in the mid 1980’s. The teacher gave the faculty evening workshops in a small classroom full of Macintosh Apple IIe’s to introduce us to what she was teaching the 6-9th graders.
And yet one evening last month I still found myself on the phone to “1-800- Dear God in Heaven -- Help Me DELL Support" almost in tears as my anti-virus program had expired and was running fake virus checks assuring me that all was fine. But now my computer was “infected” with a clone/spy virus. So the tech took control, “cleaned-up” my computer and installed a new anti-virus program from half-way around the world. But just in case, I called my bank, cancelled my current credit card account and got a new number.
I went into my favorite Chadds Ford mega pharmacy the other day to get a new 2GB USB drive to back up some files. I knew who to ask…the 17 year old kid behind the check-out counter.
About Sally Denk Hoey
Sally Denk Hoey, is a Gemini - one part music and one part history. She holds a masters degree cum laude from the School of Music at West Chester University. She taught 14 years in both public and private school. Her CD "Bard of the Brandywine" was critically received during her almost 30 years as a folk singer. She currently cantors masses at St Agnes Church in West Chester where she also performs with the select Motet Choir. A recognized historian, Sally serves as a judge-captain for the south-east Pennsylvania regionals of the National History Day Competition. She has served as president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates as well as the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford where she now curates the violin collection. Sally re-enacted with the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment for 19 years where she interpreted the role of a campfollower at encampments in Valley Forge, Williamsburg, Va., Monmouth, N.J. and Lexington and Concord, Mass. Sally is married to her college classmate, Thomas Hoey, otherwise known as "Mr. Sousa.”
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