Tech Blessing & Curse

Life before 1982 was so easy.  My cordless typewriter started up instantly. No device recharging necessary.  It got me through school, mostly with A's.

Soon our world changed.  I loved my first portable PC, purchased in '82 with the hope it would empower my business decision making as the traveling salesman promised, but I struggled to get a printer working with it.  The 64K and 5-inch monitor worked fine for me.  (Wish I had kept my first typewriter as a backup.)

Computers and I share a long history; I won't add details in this fast post. It's sufficient to say, for Kay and me, technology is a blessing and a curse. (She used a lot for school teaching and grading, as you can imagine.) Maybe we're not alone.

Why do I bring that up?  I write right now on a new laptop PC without a mouse or working mousepad since it quit an hour ago.  After turning the machine off and restarting, which is a reliable fix on other devices, it went from a frozen pointer to no pointer ... like it's getting worse.  So far, I'm getting by with a keyboard; if that quits, I'm done.  Fortunately I used computers for years before the mouse was invented and software started moving users away from the keyboard, where I've always tried to keep my hands in home position as I was taught in 8th-grade typing class.  Keyboarding, as the name evolved, is so simple.  Amazingly, despite that programmers' mentality, many keyboard shortcuts still work for me!  The younger generation has no clue to what they're missing.  Seriously -- how would life (as they know it) go on without a touch screen?

Thank goodness for the Internet.  We email, Google-search, and get around with Gmaps.  The Church programs at the office work great for our Michigan Detroit Mission.  If we had our router with us, and paid $50/month for Internet, I could write this on Blogger from anywhere in our little apartment and post it without going to Dunkin' Donuts or the office. (Yes, I've done it here at home with a tablet and iPhone "with data", but my mobile skills are too limited.)  Whatever.

How I miss my big black clunky typewriter.  They just don't build 'em like they used to.

Here & There, Now & Again

My companion Kay and I have been writing an email off and on since last Sunday night.  Mostly off, as we are busy learning and working the mission office, here and there.  (Some is done at home with snacks and drinks in our cozy apartment.)  Every now and again we find a few moments to add and edit on iPad Notes.  If and when we finish, it will copy and paste to gmail for family and friends who wait patiently to see how we're doing in Michigan.

Sister Cannon and I are feeling our age alright.  Thank the Lord, she's a trooper and saint!  Now and forever, with love to all.

Preparation Day

Saturday is a special day.  It's the day we senior missionaries get ready for Sunday.  The young elders (contradictory words to some outside) and sisters wait till Monday for their "p day" (considered "play day" by some, I posit).  Regardless, preparation day allows time out for cleaning the apartment, doing laundry, organizing, shopping, and (very important) emailing family.  Of course, handwriting letters is still an option, as I did weekly for two years in Argentina, but I doubt many realize how precious paper can be.

Senior couples may get to know the territory by touring the entire mission area (southeast Michigan in our case).  After doing home chores yesterday and shopping close by our apartment complex, Sister Cannon and I enjoyed a road trip to Birmingham and Clawson, farther northeast than we have been in this pretty, great state.  Our excuse was to buy her a notebook at Staples, but I really wanted to explore and see what's out there.  Our good fortune of owning a small Buick is noteworthy, given our assignment to Detroit.  It blends in better than a BMW or Honda, even without the "Pure Michigan" slogan on its plates.

Something interesting: before the trip: our daughter in PA raved about Aldi, a chain of small grocery stores she loves there.  Upon arriving at far-out Staples, we found ourselves parked right by Aldi next door!  (We had never seen one before.)  Entering Aldi, it was obvious why "less is more" pleasurable and simple -- unlike a Walmart Supercenter, if you know what I mean.  Staples was especially good to us, providing much more than expected.  So Kay loves Aldi, and I love Staples.  Browsing office supplies there, I ran into a friendly Christian brother who thought I was an employee, until he read "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" on my black name tag.  He kindly welcomed me to Michigan, and said he belongs to First Unity Church nearby.  We had a nice chat.  I wish I had thanked him for being a good example of how courteous and kind the people of Michigan are to us newcomers.

Next on my list for the area was Salvation Army Family Store.  Kay gladly drove me there, as she was the driver all week while I played the navigator.  We complimented the clerk for having the nicest Salvation Army we had ever seen.  Finding a framed painting of an Amish country scene was serendipitous.  ("The Amish [people] are known for simple living ..."  -- Wikipedia.)  Though smaller than we needed above our long couch, it is the perfect shape and calming theme for our plain apartment.  Luckily we had bought picture hangers at our neighborhood Ollie's Bargain Outlet that morning.

Having stocked up on groceries, we avoided fast food on the way home from our adventure.  (That is determined discipline for me, a hungry hombre.)  After a warm walk in the sun, a "p-day" pizza in the oven became comfort food to complete a peaceful day.

(P.S.: Blogger type size problem with text written on new Google Keep notes on new tablet -- sent to gmail, copied to Notes on iPhone7, then copied to post. 

Fix later. (No importa.)

Words Cannot Describe

I'm wondering ... how can I describe this great state of Michigan, given my feeble vocabulary and little phone keyboard I have to write with?  (Sorry -- the old laptop quit just before leaving home.)  Sure, a picture I add later may be worth a thousand, but even this cool camera cannot do it justice.

Green everywhere, generously rainy.  Some days with perfect weather -- couldn't be better!  Flat terrain, missing mountains.  Touching four of the five Great Lakes.  Clear view of Canada across the river from Detroit.  Nice people ... courteous, kind, cheerful.  Plenty of diversity and universities.  An abundance of wonderful churches.  I hear most folks also have some interest in sports.

The missionaries serving the people of Michigan are extraordinary.  Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are seeing lives change with love and daily miracles.

Life is good where Sister Cannon and I call home now.  Be happy, and keep in touch!  With love.

Moved to Michigan

What a trip!  Driving from the MTC (Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah) to our new home away from home state ... took five days to "enjoy the scenery along the way."  Kay & I could write a book, but this log wants to be fast.

About 40 years ago, I opened a free checking account in a new bank near my work.  I have kept  the original through several mergers, and it is now in a prominent bank in Michigan with branches near our current home.  I mention it because Nina, the young branch manager in a township along the way, nicely helped us with a warm welcome to this beautiful state.

The long trip came close to its end Tuesday with a dash through heavy rain in rush-hour traffic.  We exited the freeway to catch our breath and find comfort food in a bakery, where donuts did it for me.  (No, this blog is not about fast food.)

Our little apartment is not far from the office of Michigan Detroit Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Assigned temporarily to work there, we have been blessed with two days of training and opportunities to meet other "Michiganaries" who share our love for the Savior and His gospel.  Everyone here is so helpful and friendly -- how can we feel overwhelmed by all there is to learn?

A regional devotional last night with talks by new members was inspiring, followed by my favorite healthy treat: oatmeal raisin cookies.

How sweet it is!  We are grateful for family, friends, and all that our Heavenly Father has given us.  May you find joy!