Comments on: Telling Time

By: Rona Maynard

Rona Maynard — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:21:08 +0000

I’m proud to have found a bracelet watch so comfortable, I wear it to bed. I count out my change (another no-no, according to that book). I’ll be 60 next month. For what the party is likely to cost, I could probably go to Provence. But that’s the part of the price–and the reward–of living like a more or less grownup person.

By: Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart

Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:54:49 +0000

I would have to agree that some of the mental gymnastics used by Baby Boomers are amusing. BUT, I’m from Gen X, so that could be the cynicism talking.
I haven’t worn a watch since about 1998 when my assistant editor told me it was like strapping anxiety to my wrist. There is a clock in my car and a clock on my phone, so a watch seems useless anyway.
I must be stuck in the middle because I think leaving inane voicemails is a clear signal someone is older, but I believe concise, effective ones are good.
And, I am indeed of the generation where everyone going out for someone’s b-day means we all pay for our meal, plus a portion of the b-day person’s too.
I do find that as more pals use twitter and facebook that individual emails get less frequent. It’s like mass communication for our personal masses.

By: Anne Gibert

Anne Gibert — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:17:54 +0000

I am so mired in oldness that I don’t recognize many young people I should know. They all look alike to me, and they speak too fast and use funny words and talk about TV personalities and shows and ipods. They have no idea who Harry Truman or Lyndon Johnson were.

By: pajamadeen

pajamadeen — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:12:44 +0000

_Guests_ ... _invited guests_ pick up the tab?!!! I'm out of it too, then. Surely Miss Manners would consider inviting guests and expecting them to pay to be quite rude. Oh, I forgot. Probably no one reads etiquette books anymore, either. Whatever happened to that old saying, something like this: "Good manners are the grease that make the wheels of human civilization run smoothly."

Email is passe? The post office will be delighted to hear that!

By: Almost Slowfood

Almost Slowfood — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:11:25 +0000

I have to say I don’t wear a wristwatch, hee hee, but I do carry a bag and I guess I don’t generally pick up the entire tab, but I totally would if I could. However, never would I invite people out to pay for me… Yikes.

By: ruthpennebaker

ruthpennebaker — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:06:46 +0000

I am so out of it that pretending to be young would sap all my remaining energy. But at least I can send an email attachment.

By: MarthaAndMe

MarthaAndMe — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:34:38 +0000

Everything you said resonated with me! My teen daughter thinks watches are outdated – and so are purses by the way. How, pray tell, do you carry that ever-present cell phone and your wallet then I’d like to know! She is always being invited to friends’ birthday dinners at restaurants where the tab is split. It seems nuts to me too – in my day if you had a birthday party, YOU picked up the tab for your guests. Email is also outdated by the way – you text or use Facebook for digital communication. My daughter’s AP English Lit teacher told us she talked to some college professors and asked what kids needed to learn before college. He said they don’t know how to send an email attachment because none of them use email! So now sending an email attachment is one of this week’s assignments – for a grade – in AP Lit.

By: Cindy A

Cindy A — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:04:57 +0000

Oh. My. God. I leave voicemails, wear a wrist watch, and would never expect invited guests to pick up a tab. I’M DONE FOR.