We Discover Something That’s Been Available For Years,  & other news from the throes of Dotage

Recently, we acquired new phones. It’s been an ordeal for my husband who had his old phone for 15 years. It’s a whole new world for him. My old phone was somewhat more recent so I’m a bit better, but not up to the position of “tech support” that he expects me to be. 

The new phones came with a free trial for “Apple Music” which neither of us had on our old phones. This feature enables us to call up any song we desire. It’s most distracting. Think of a song? Boom! There it is.*  It’s especially engaging for a person who’s dreams have theme songs and who wakes with one line or refrain repeating itself in your head. Breakfast,  “Alexa play Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane” on Apple music.”

“Standin’ on the corner. Suitcase in my hand…”

The kitchen is narrow, but I take my husband’s hand. We are not in public, so I can lead. I move in tightly, lift his hand and swing under his arm. I fall back into his embrace. He indulges me while he watches his toast. 

“Alexa, play “Searchin’ by the Coasters on Apple Music.”

“Gonna’ find her…”

“Now by the Beatles…”

“Oh, yeah, searchin’ every which a-way, yay-yay.”

My husband and I are not good dancers. We dance in public occasionally if there;s a song that moves us because…well, we’re old and we just don’t care. In the kitchen with no one watching we’re magic.

Technology can be frustrating. I might direct the GPS to lead us to a new coffee shop and get directions for driving instead of walking which takes three times as long to get there before I realize what I’ve done. 

But when it works, it makes you want to dance. 

*Note to Apple Music:

You left out a version of “By the River of Babylon” by a group called Evangeline. I love this song so much that I keep an old phone (two phones ago) just for this group. Please make them available.