It’s hard to remember the days when there were only rotary phones, record players, and the three national television stations; when it was exciting to own a transistor radio and listen to the Beatles — anywhere, and an 8-track player in your car so you could pop in an 8-track tape and listen to the latest hits while cruising the “gut” on a Friday night.
That is what we grew up with — before the widespread use of digital technology. But those young whippersnappers who were born after 1980 grew up in a very different world: Commodore 64 computers, dial-up modems, shoot-’em-up video games, smartphones, YouTube, Netflix on-demand streaming, email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and on and on.
Since we have had to adapt to this new digital world, we are called digital immigrants, compared to those born after 1980, who are digital natives.
(These are oversimplifications. Many young people lack digital skills beyond entertainment and social media, and older adults, while often preferring traditional methods, are often highly proficient with technology.)
As digital immigrants, we may exhibit characteristics and attitudes that differ from those of digital natives.
• We are more likely to retain pre-digital habits, such as phone calls and in-person meetings, rather than instant messaging and social media, and prefer printed materials to digital ones. (Are you reading the printed version or the online digital version of Columbia Gorge News?)
• We view traditional media, such as newspapers and broadcast television, as more reliable news sources than social media platforms.
• We are more cautious and may initially struggle to adopt these new digital advancements.
• We would rather learn through structured, step-by-step instructions, whereas digital natives tend to learn through intuitive experimentation and exploration.
Although you may find these new digital technologies frustrating, confusing, stressful, irritating, annoying, exasperating (have I said enough?), there are many benefits to using digital tools.
• You can reduce isolation by using video calls, social media, and email to help you stay connected with family and friends — and in the future your own personal robot?
• Telehealth services can improve your access to healthcare and enable remote doctor appointments, which sure beats driving up the winding streets to OHSU on the hill.
• You can do your banking and order groceries online to make it easier to stay in your own home.
• And learning these new digital tools can enhance your cognitive function and mental agility.
To learn more about living digitally, there are several online resources. One highly recommended online program is AARP’s Senior Planet, designed for older adults. YouTube is also a valuable source for free, step-by-step online tutorials. And if all else fails, you can ask your grandchild — a digital native.
We may be digital immigrants, but gaining the skills to use technology for communication, health, and daily tasks can enhance our quality of life and independence. But did I mention it can be frustrating?
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Brain Tease: The letters below represent words that are connected in a sequence. You must identify the next letter in the sequence. For example, if the clue is M T W T ?, the answer is F (Friday) as the sequence is M (Monday), T (Tuesday)…
1. T T T F F S S ?
2. F S T F F S ?
3. O T T F F S S E ?
4. Z X C V B N ?
5. J F M A M J J ?
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The 19-year-old American figure skater who won the USA’s only gold medal was Peggy Fleming. I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Mike McFarlane, Donna Mollet, Bruce Johnson, Dave Lutgens, Rebecca Abrams, David Liberty, Eva Summers, Pat Evenson-Brady, Jess and Kim Birge, Rhonda Spies, Judy Kiser, Rhonda Spies, and Kirby Newman-Rea, who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
And last week, while reading “The Corral Turtle Mystery,” I missed Rebecca Abrams, Doug Nelson, and Kathy Smith.
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The 2026 Winter Olympics have concluded, but here is one more Winter Olympics question. During the 1980 Olympics, the USA team of amateur players defeated the favorite team, which had won five of the previous six Olympics. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what country did the USA beat that was dubbed the “Miracle on Ice”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with a picture of the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York.
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Well, it’s been another week, trying to savor every moment. Until we meet again, the game’s not over until the whistle blows.
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“I used to think getting old was about vanity — but actually it’s about losing people you love. Getting wrinkles is trivial.”
— Joyce Carol Oates
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Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
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