Decisions, Saying So Long to Old XP

Dear Maysea,
It’s been a rough couple of weeks around these parts, sort of like Rev. Billy Graham’s old program “The Hour of Decision.” We all know not to worry, because everything always works out fine in the end, but getting there is really rugged. Making decisions has never been a strong suit of mine, as you know.
Two unrelated items, seemingly, were enough to cloud some of spring’s nicest days: slowly nearing that magical “65” number then having to decide on a new computer operating system. I’m not ready for either, but, you know, Maysea, sometimes your hands get forced.
Our good bookkeeper, who also tends to insurance around the office, broke the news that Blue Cross and Blue Shield had to know, post-haste, if I was going to go on Medicare or keep my health insurance. Wait, I thought, that doesn’t happen until August. You know me, never do today what can be put off until tomorrow. So, having make such a seemingly monumental decision in a snap was … nothing short of mindboggling. Honestly, it put me in a funk, a tail-spin. All of a sudden, my mind was clouded with a zillion options. And I’m not good at sorting out things in the future. You know, I’m a “here and now” type person. No sense worrying about tomorrow, I might not be here. Such things were not in the “answer” column.
Microsoft Windows XP went kaput April 8. Hackers will target every bit of your personal information. Imagine, some virtual bandit reading next week’s Compass Points before it’s printed. That takes the cake. The wise men from around America said, “Well, you can still use XP, but…” What they meant was, it’s like going to the Boardwalk with your wallet hanging out with a Post-it note that says, “Take me, credit cards and all.”
That was just what I didn’t need when trying to make a life-changing decision about Medicare health insurance.
Even a bike ride on Saturday didn’t soothe my nerves. I kept telling myself to forget it all, enjoy the blue sky and fresh air in my face. That worked for the first three kilometers, then Medicare and Windows XP popped back in the frontal lobe.
You and I, Maysea, are not alone. We both are not technically-minded, and the old computers we have work just fine. Then, some whippersnapper from Silicon Valley comes up with a brainstorm to sell more computer programs, and Whoosh, out to pasture goes everything we knew and loved about computers.
The trusty Gateway 5.5 Profile (it was probably one of 100 Gateways made) suited me fine. It was all in one, had a huge screen, and worked like a champ, on the XP operating system. I could read email from you, Maysea, and from the likes of everyone else who sends me stuff, most of which the old Gateway would trash. Then, there was my Dell Latitude 610, a terrific little laptop I snapped off eBay for $90. Works great, trouble is, it’s Windows XP. So, like the Saturn Ion I traded when I got my Chevy Cruze, I was scared to drive anything they quit making.
I read all sorts of technical gurus’ insights as to what I ought to do about my computers. You know how cheap I am, so my first thought was, “See if you can get some new operating system to work the old machines.” Well, thanks to the Windows on-line helpful guide, after I ran the program, it just about told me to commit my old faithful computers to the big electronics dump in the sky and buy something that would run games and movies at lightning speed.
Maysea, you and I don’t play games on computers, and when we try to watch movies, even on TV, we fall asleep; so to lay out cold cash for a computer to watch movies was as foreign to me as trying to learn German.
I thought about really going “cold turkey” from the Internet, only use the computer at work. After all, didn’t we grow up and old without the aid of computers? Sure we did. We enjoyed life more in those carefree days before having to check emails every so often. Yes, I know, young folks of today don’t even do that anymore, but you and I, when we think we’re on top of the world, we don’t want to switch.
Well, thanks to help from Ginny Tomlin at the county Veterans Bureau and Colleen Bingham at the Department of Aging (I can’t believe I called there about Medicare, but I did), and both were absolutely terrific.
After more angst than trying to decide which breakfast cereal to buy, or what kind of bread to select (that’s not easy, you know, Maysea). They’ve got more cereal now than when we were kids. Remember, corn flakes, Cheerios, Wheaties, Sugar Pops and raisin bran? Now there are more brands and selections, it’s mind boggling. Same with bread, nuts, whole grain, honey, oat bran, Oy!
I know you’re about running out of patience with me. So I’ll let you know I opted for Medicare, but I’m putting off making plan selections “until tomorrow.” I was so peeved at Microsoft, I opted for a Chromebox that operates in “the cloud” with Google programs. I’m told it gets me away from nasty hackers and having to upgrade programs all the time.
At least I made decisions, and that’s good enough for right now. Old friend, Gateway, old pal, Dell, we’ve been through a lot together. We’re buddies, it breaks my heart to say “Aloha!” but I gotta do what I gotta do.
Medicare? I’m going to do my best to stay healthy so I don’t have to make many more tough decisions. I’ll be “in the cloud” soon enough! Stay happy, stay connected.
Your friend,
AL