mother nature is a man and other observations..

Frustration! Not So Terrible

When I lived in New Jersey a lifetime ago, I always assumed my washing machine and dryer would live forever. We had Maytag and that was their reputation. So while I didn’t take humans for granted, I did take my washing machine and dryer very much for granted. As a matter of fact, they are what I miss most in New Jersey….except for a rare few people I love from my other life with my wonderful husband. When occasionally my machines stopped performing, I would call a service person and like magic they were fixed. Now I live in an apartment in New York City, and machines are in laundry room and not my responsibility.
So what is my responsibility…….. is me, and the machines that have to keep working? My phone and my computer.
The last two days I have been on the phone trying to get information re Medicare and Aarp. My iPhone and computer. Yesterday I was only on the phone for five hours and got very little info that I needed. Voila, they told me to call Social Security which I did, and was told the wait would be over one hour. Just to myself I said f this and hung up. I literally was on the phone for five hours with no satisfaction. I also gave name and date of birth about thirty times.
Today was a different issue. No internet connection on phone or computer. I immediately called my provider which happens to be Spectrum, hoping it was a location issue. That’s easy since its their problem and would be repaired or whatever it requires to fix and all will be fine. But alas it was with my modem and router. I should be embarrassed to say I didn’t know one from the other. Actually, I don’t know the difference or I didn’t until today. I was on the phone with Apple and Spectrum for several hours but with a huge difference. I owe huge gratitude to Ally at Apple. She was knowledgeable and extremely patient. She even called me back when we were disconnected. She also realized it wasn’t an Apple problem, but with my modem and router. So I called my provider and to my surprise, got someone immediately willing and able to help. I also had a quick lesson in those two mysterious boxes. Very easy now to know the difference. Don’t know if you can relate, but when it comes to wires and taking them in and out, and unplugging devices, I get very nervous and think everything is going to just disconnect and will have to wait a week to find out what I did wrong. Oh, didn’t want to forget that Ally said if I have a problem to please call her and she gave me her contact information. A miracle in my opinion. Now I’m beginning to feel like a tech genius plugging wires in and out and nothing is blowing up. Spectrum advisor was very helpful and extremely patient. Issue solved. She asked if I would take part in a survey and the end of the call. I know it sounds so easy…..five simple questions and you do on your phone..1-10 is your choice to answer. 1 not satisfied to 10 totally satisfied. Here’s the tricky part…they tell you how to do 10. I have no clue and end up giving a 9. At the end of survey you can leave message and I have left the same message several times over the last few months. “I meant to answer 10 on all questions, but not sure how to put in so leave 9. As you can see the tech part of my life is not where my strengths are strongest.
So today not as frustrating… When I think of what’s going on in this county and the rest of the world, I realize spending hours on the phone is pretty easy compared to trading places with anyone else. I have a friend who is helping in a country across the world where people are starving and being murdered. Over the years, gratitude has taken over any real complaining. It’s part of the mindfulness experience of how to live….if you’re fortunate to have the choice.