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November 2, 2006
My mom has found her inner-Gadgeteer!
My mother and grandmother are going on a road trip to Charleston this weekend. Unfortunately, mom is deathly afraid of highways and interstates so she avoids them like the plague. When she realized it would take her an extra 2+ hours to get to
Charleston by back roads she decided to brave the interstate with the help of my portable GPS unit for turn-by-turn directions. Now you must understand that my mother
is not tech savvy at all. She still takes pictures using a film camera
and wouldn't know how to turn on a computer if her life depended on it.
We aren't sure but we don't think she knows how to get the voicemail messages off her cell
phone either. Knowing this, I was a little concerned that the GPS would be too complex for her. I decided to prepare a printed tutorial with photos and detailed instructions for her to use when she's alone on the road. I also took a day off from work to teach her how to use it.
Much to my surprise she took to that thing like a duck to water!! I think the new-found freedom to go where ever she wants without the fear of getting lost helped a lot.
She has been practicing with it this week to get used to it before the trip and has even
named the woman's voice that recites the directions. She named her Bella - this is
derived from the loud bell sound that goes off right before the
next turn. She has even begun arguing with Bella when it tells her to turn somewhere she doesn't want to turn.
I only wish I had a picture of her wagging her finger at it in
protest... 
I'm really proud of my mom and see this as just the beginning of her inner-Gadgeteer coming out in full force. If I'm not mistaken a GPS unit is now on her Christmas list. It's just a matter of time before she's using a digital camera
and downloading the latest Food Network recipes off the internet. Go Mom, go!!
Have fun and be careful!!
Posted by pixelbrat at November 2, 2006 8:20 PM
Comments - Sorry, new comments are not allowed after 5 days of entry date
I wondered who the hell Bella was!!! Go mom! It's about freakin' time!!
Posted by: Christy at November 2, 2006 10:11 PM
I will reserve comment at this time - just kidding. Good for her. Trying to find something when the corner does not look like it did years ago is difficult. I am a big user of Hertz Never Lost - just got back from Tampa and covered over 300 miles - me and the Never Lost.
Let us know if she makes it back home.
Love Ya!!
Dad
Posted by: Dad at November 3, 2006 7:25 AM