Not only that, but the technological work-arounds to satisfy the social distancing guidelines are something of a struggle. Have you all seen the Progressive Insurance commercial where they are trying to have a Zoom meeting and Flo has her nose right up against the screen and someone else's dog is barking and another person is muted?
I've lived that. Invariably, I am the one who is muted but talking a mile a minute. Then I figure out I'm on mute and I lose my train of thought and can't even start over. It's good that we have these electronic tools to use, but I wish I was more savvy about it. What happened to me; I used to be kind of tech savvy?
I remember when we were kids and VCRs were the new thing. My dad always like to have the newest thing, so when my parents bought one, it was top of the line and expensive. My brothers and I were told in no uncertain terms that we were not to touch that VCR because of it's expense. That was on Sunday.
Fast forward to Friday--so five days later--and Dad wanted to record Dallas but couldn't figure out how to program the machine to do that. What to do but ask one of the kids to do it.
Fast forward another 40 years, and I have an expensive tablet that I use for entertainment, and Cubby--who just turned 6 years old--is the one I turn to for advice. It's amazing to me.
There are other things that Cubby is teaching me. She can have her CrabbyPants on when she goes to bed on a given night, but without fail she wakes up smiling and happy to greet the day. I need to remember that each day is a new opportunity to be happy and grateful.
She teaches me to find joy and awe in the most simple of things. A bubble, a flower, and a hummingbird in flight can make her eyes go wide and her hands cover her mouth in pure delight. I often forget that in my busy days of work and obligations so much that I don't even find the joy in something as monumental as good health or gainful employment.
What do I teach her? I teach her how to put her finger in her mouth and make that popping sound like a champagne cork releasing. Not quite so impressive in the grand scheme of things.
She teaches me patience, especially when I'm trying to explain something to her that seems simple to me but is completely alien to her. "Gramma, I'm only 6 years old...I don't know everything you know." Wow, cut off at the knees by a kindergartner. Sometimes the truth stings.
But most of all Cubby constantly reminds me that unconditional love is the epitome of the human condition. If she hears me being judgmental or what she terms as "mean" to or about someone, she will look me in the eye and ask, "Does Jesus think that way?" Whoa Nelly, can we can mature thought process?!
There is a long-lived saying about the wisdom of children that goes "Out of the mouths of babes," and it rings true generation after generation for a reason.
May we never be too old to relearn lessons of love and tolerance.
Images used: www.society6.com
