Plug Ins

The world is a mass of plug-ins. The phone plugs into a wall thingy, the cell phone rests in a charger while the charger is plugged into something else. Then there are apps that figuratively plug into the phone. And that’s just the phone and cell phone.

Computers and their myriad auxiliary components plug into the computer or each other. In a dizzying array of options, plugs fit into receptacles. The male and female end of each cord, have many shapes, sizes and specifics, each dictating where each plug is properly received. But then, there are so many choices that cords are easily confused. Misconnections occur and then functions cease their normality.

Add to this the age of 81. Now unplug everything for a move to another location and attempt to reassemble the entire system accurately!

Today a college aged granddaughter will arrive to set me straight, and I’ll report how well she did. But I suspect it will be done in a flash all the time she wonders why I couldn’t do it.

Well, howdy, I’ve been an early adopter of technology for five decades now. Adapting to new technology today requires me to forget tons of acquired knowledge in order to install in my brain what the new requirements are. Younger folk don’t have to do that. At least that’s how I think of it; it makes me feel better, don’t you know?

So far, we have not talked about plugging into TVs, sound systems and whatnot. I have both whatnots, and I can’t for the life of me understand where each plug goes! I have the TV working, but its additional sound system is not yet plugged in. Then there is the stereo system, surround sound system (which I’m not going to use) and the DVD player. I’m sure there are other items begging for installation, er, plug ins. For now, I am forgetting them just to retain some sanity.

I hope Kira can help me with those as well, but first the computers. I managed to plug in the laptop to its sound system and the printer. I think that is as good as I can produce now. The larger computer is the challenge and the one I use the most. That’s also where the book manuscript lies unedited.

At least this morning both of the computers are arranged properly on my computer desk. Now to make them work there.

More later as progress is proclaimed.

Well, that was Sunday and today is Wednesday. Kira made quick work of my computers. Very quickly I might add. Then she moved to my TV sound system. Done quickly again. Then the massive and old stereo system. She crawled all over the floor, peeked behind several components, tried several plugs and in a short while managed to have Mozart's Requiem sounding throughout the apartment. What a joy!

Kira is a junior at DePaul University. She is majoring in entertainment management (music) and will be interning this summer. I am very proud of her many talents and capabilities. For me, that includes knowing about plug-ins!! Thank you Kira!!

February 12, 2025

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