Glowing screens. Flashing lights. Chiming alerts. The modern age is indeed amazing in its plethora of technology. There is almost always “an app for that.”
Then there are those of us who cling willfully to the past. I am writing this blog entry in my notebook with a pen (my favorite G-2 gel pen, itself a technological wonder). And until September of last year, I had a paper calendar. I’m not referring to wall-calendar type . . . one still hangs on my wall for quick reference and enjoyment of the attached scenery. But a spiral-bound calendar that functioned as my second brain. The type that you would find in the day planners so popular in the 1990's and early 2000's. And I stubbornly refused to give it up despite my husband’s pleading (and often disparaging) attempts to convince me to let go of such “ancient” technology.
So what changed my mind? Several things, honestly, but mostly a diabolical and long-reaching “plan” on the part of my computer-savvy spouse. Slowly and subtly, the frog boiled in the caldron of Google-based applications and smartphone convenience.
First, I made the jump to a smartphone, inheriting my husband’s older model when he was able to upgrade. It was a direct reaction to the birth of the twins and wanting game apps to play during the hours (and hours) of nursing or the preschool apps to distract my eldest during doctor visits now in triplicate. But still I resisted – my second brain would not be sacrificed!
Then as I re-entered the world of working (from home) and teaching Kindergarten to my eldest, my schedule began to fill again. I added in a long-held dream of attending dance classes and the need for more childcare for the minions (ie. adorable offspring). I succumbed to my husband’s desperate cries that I needed to put the events that affected him onto his Google calendar. He had “already made me a calendar” on the account.
So I updated his calendar with what he needed to know. Now I was basically maintaining two calendars. But still I kept my paper calendar. I was used to it. I had it on hand on my desk. It had always been there.
So what tipped the scale? Ultimately, my Firstborn (and I am not convinced that she wasn’t paid off). She began first grade . . . and art class . . . and dance class . . . and co-op . . . and AWANA . . . and . . . Suddenly, I needed another calendar! She has more weekly events than I do (except she has me to get her to all of hers).
And I caved. I didn’t often take my calendar away from my desk, but my phone traveled everywhere. To the dance studio; to dr. appointments; to church; to my families’ homes. Additionally, Google calendars can create as many “calendars” on one page as I need, color-coded even. One for Hubby, one for me, one for Firstborn . . . holidays, birthdays, piano schedule, business . . . and most recently, a calendar just for the twins (oh, my!). My updates to the calendar are instantly available to Hubby and accessible from my desk computer or my too-smartphone. The overwhelming convenience and increased organization (always a plus for me) quickly made me a believer.
There were still pangs for my abandoned calendar. It took a month for my muscle memory to stop reaching up to the shelf whenever I needed to check a date. And I had to learn how to adapt the Google calendar to fit some of my more specific needs. There is still something about the joy of holding a pen and letting the ink flow, in circles and non-linear thinking doodles, that can’t be replaced with a sterile line of computer code. But this time (and he shouldn’t get TOO used to it), my Hubby won.
Then there are those of us who cling willfully to the past. I am writing this blog entry in my notebook with a pen (my favorite G-2 gel pen, itself a technological wonder). And until September of last year, I had a paper calendar. I’m not referring to wall-calendar type . . . one still hangs on my wall for quick reference and enjoyment of the attached scenery. But a spiral-bound calendar that functioned as my second brain. The type that you would find in the day planners so popular in the 1990's and early 2000's. And I stubbornly refused to give it up despite my husband’s pleading (and often disparaging) attempts to convince me to let go of such “ancient” technology.
So what changed my mind? Several things, honestly, but mostly a diabolical and long-reaching “plan” on the part of my computer-savvy spouse. Slowly and subtly, the frog boiled in the caldron of Google-based applications and smartphone convenience.
First, I made the jump to a smartphone, inheriting my husband’s older model when he was able to upgrade. It was a direct reaction to the birth of the twins and wanting game apps to play during the hours (and hours) of nursing or the preschool apps to distract my eldest during doctor visits now in triplicate. But still I resisted – my second brain would not be sacrificed!
Then as I re-entered the world of working (from home) and teaching Kindergarten to my eldest, my schedule began to fill again. I added in a long-held dream of attending dance classes and the need for more childcare for the minions (ie. adorable offspring). I succumbed to my husband’s desperate cries that I needed to put the events that affected him onto his Google calendar. He had “already made me a calendar” on the account.
So I updated his calendar with what he needed to know. Now I was basically maintaining two calendars. But still I kept my paper calendar. I was used to it. I had it on hand on my desk. It had always been there.
So what tipped the scale? Ultimately, my Firstborn (and I am not convinced that she wasn’t paid off). She began first grade . . . and art class . . . and dance class . . . and co-op . . . and AWANA . . . and . . . Suddenly, I needed another calendar! She has more weekly events than I do (except she has me to get her to all of hers).
And I caved. I didn’t often take my calendar away from my desk, but my phone traveled everywhere. To the dance studio; to dr. appointments; to church; to my families’ homes. Additionally, Google calendars can create as many “calendars” on one page as I need, color-coded even. One for Hubby, one for me, one for Firstborn . . . holidays, birthdays, piano schedule, business . . . and most recently, a calendar just for the twins (oh, my!). My updates to the calendar are instantly available to Hubby and accessible from my desk computer or my too-smartphone. The overwhelming convenience and increased organization (always a plus for me) quickly made me a believer.
There were still pangs for my abandoned calendar. It took a month for my muscle memory to stop reaching up to the shelf whenever I needed to check a date. And I had to learn how to adapt the Google calendar to fit some of my more specific needs. There is still something about the joy of holding a pen and letting the ink flow, in circles and non-linear thinking doodles, that can’t be replaced with a sterile line of computer code. But this time (and he shouldn’t get TOO used to it), my Hubby won.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete:<) I too made the switch a couple of years ago and love having my iphone as my second brain. It automatically syncs with my lap top, thus saving time from entering data twice. Nice. I am now truly spoiled, and better suited to not forget what on the agenda for the day.
Delete