It’s funny how absolutely clueless some older folks can be when it comes to technology. My parents are two such people.

My mom has had a cell phone for just over four years now. The only things she knows how to do on it are: dial a number and call, answer a call. That’s it. She doesn’t know how to check her voicemail. She doesn’t even know how to use the built-in address book. So each time she wants to make a call, she has to manually punch in the number every time and press ‘send’. In fact, she took an old index card and wrote her important numbers down on it, and then scotch-taped it to the back of her cell phone. Funny, huh?

Today my dad decided that he needed a new cell phone. Not because he wanted the new coolness, oh no. He needs a new phone because, like me, he is practically deaf–the phone he has now is not very loud. He also wants a phone with better reception. I suggested he get rid of his old Nokia (4 years old at least) and get a phone with a protruding antennae, like a Motorola. He looked at me with this profound sort of look of both confusion and fear. The thought of him having to do these things by himself, well… He practically begged me to come with him down to the Cingular store today. I knew I’d have to choose the right phone and do all the talking with the salesperson, but I don’t mind. It’s a nice chance to spend some time with my old man–and I love technology anyway, so it wasn’t so bad.