Learning Curve with Yvonne

My 82-year-old friend, Yvonne writing down instructions on how to use the computer, while on the phone to her daughter in Melbourne

A while ago I posted about my dear friend, Yvonne, who is 82-years-old and with whom I watched movies every Saturday afternoon while in South Africa. You can read this post here.

Over the months I'd suggested to her that she acquire a computer. If she did, I would teach her how to use it. She spoke to her daughter in Australia, who has close contacts with the owner of a large cattle feedlot just outside our town. This gentleman then tasked Angus (my younger son) who is the IT manager of the company with the entire project, including teaching Yvonne how to use it.

When I told him on the 20th of December that I was teaching Yvonne on my laptop until hers was ready, he made it top priority to have it ready before Christmas. By the afternoon of the 24th of December, Angus had installed her desktop with the Wireless Internet connection. I had been teaching her for the past fourteen days. She is a bright student, and had earned her living as a typist before she was married. There was no "hunt and peck" method with Yvonne and soon she was totally confident on the keyboard. She wrote down every instruction I gave her, which I later typed out for clarity. Within a short time she was able to open her own e-mail account, read mails and reply to them. Angus also set her up with Skype which has opened up a whole new world for this gracious old lady. She now speaks to her daughter in Melbourne on a daily basis and actually sees her on the screen.

I have just had a Skype call from Yvonne and it was wonderful to see my dear old friend again. When I was delayed in Addis Ababa on Friday, Grant Skyped her and explained the situation. Speaking to her today, she wanted to know all about the day I spent in that city.

Yvonne came to Marquard in her twenties to marry Ronnie, a Jewish batchelor with a trading store on the corner of the main street. He had been born in the shop (originally his parents had had a house attached to the back of the premises) and we all said he would end his years there. Together they ran the business until Ronnie became ill at at eighty and had to close up shop. He still ran his business informally from his home at the top of town. My house is opposite the one they had occupied for fifty years.

Almost seven years ago Ronnie passed away and Yvonne moved to a neat little home in the retirement village.

I have written an article in the provincial newspaper about Yvonne and her new hobby. I know there are many bloggers out there who belong to the silver-haired brigade and are as good as, if not better than the youngsters on a computer. In our town, however, this is not the norm. To my knowledge, there are no other octogenarians in our town who use the computer, so Yvonne deserves an accolade for this amazing accomplishment. (Any local townsfolk reading this mail, please correct me if I'm wrong)

I wish her many hours of enjoyment on her computer. It is a wonderful stimulant for an elderly person and I am very proud of her achievement.