There was a time in the not too distant long ago when it came to most things around the house I could solve problems. I might not know right off how or what to do, but most of the time it just took some American ingenuity to figure most things out. But not anymore. I don’t know if its technology that has passed me by, or if it’s an age thing. All I know is when things come up that need doing, I can’t seem to get to the bottom of the problem. Heck, I can’t even understand the question a lot of the time.

The other night, my wife asked me a perfectly legitimate question having to do with some minor problem with the workings of the computer. I advised her I would look into it and let her know what to do, HAH! I gave myself a headache the size of Texas just trying to understand anything about any of it. Finally after putting her off for two days I said the words we both would become so familiar with; I don’t know.

I wanted to get rid of some clutter but I soon found out that every step forward meant two steps back. I couldn’t take care of one thing without finding a home for three other things. Two weeks into the project my wife asked me, “How is the clutter project coming along?” My response, “I don’t know.”

In the old days when you bought a new television you took it home, plugged it in, attached it to wherever you got your signal, and shazam, you were watching television. Now I use one remote to turn on the television, one remote to turn on the satellite box, one remote to turn on the sound system, and if I want to watch a movie I have to use the game box controller and continue hitting buttons until somehow I hit the right one that gets me to the movies. When we are through watching television, I go through the process in reverse. It’s no wonder people are willing to pay thirty or forty dollars to go out to watch a movie after going through that maze!

I think I understand now why more kids are staying home when they grow up. It’s not the economy. It’s because without their kids, mom and dad would have to resort to reading a book under a bare light bulb. That is if dad can find the switch or have to resort to “I don’t know!”

I’ll be right back.