Stranger Things Have Happened

When I was quite little I would always say thank you when automatic doors would open for me. Hey, I may not have fully understood the mechanics of an automatic door yet, but I knew to mind my manners.

Establishing that I have a history of going above and beyond when it comes to "door opening etiquette", I find it troubling how often people take this and other common courtesies for granted. Forget about just saying thank you, people these days go so far as to get aggravated when someone does not hold a door open for them, as if it were a requirement.

So the next time you are the recipient of a kind gesture, even in the case of an automatic door if you wish, acknowledge the courtesy with a thank you...minding your manners is always appropriate and goes a long way.

27 Minutes...

Technology in a word: cool...two words: very cool. Admittedly easy to say as a baby of the '80s.

Enter my grandparents...just a couple of kids in their 80s.

Although they are not the most tech savvy duo, they have always had cool gadgets. To their benefit, they have a doting granddaughter willing to teach them how to use them.

Over the years, I have color-coded remotes with stickers, optimized audio output of various equipment, and, a favorite of my grandfather's, programmed in-car garage door openers.

One day I received a phone call from my grandparents. They had recently been given a progressive scan DVD player as well as several choice DVDs that they were excited to watch with my great aunt and uncle. My Grandfather asked, "LIZ. We are trying to watch this movie. How do we do it?"

What a loaded question.

At the time I was away in college and could only help them by phone. First I assembled my team. My great aunt would put the the DVD in the player. My grandfather (keeper of all remotes) would stay on the phone for instructions on buttons to push. My grandmother would keep the flashlight steadily focused on the remote control. And, my great uncle would watch the screen for visual progress.

27 minutes later...roughly the amount of time spent buying popcorn and watching previews in the movie theater...voilà! The DVD menu was successfully navigated, and the feature film began for their viewing pleasure.

Lesson learned. If four 80 somethings want to watch a DVD, it requires the instruction of one twenty-something, a line of communication, a flashlight for vision assistance, and a mere 27 minutes.