Featherdusters

How can you tell if your brain is turning into mush? It is even possible to know before it's too late to stop the process? Can the brain get "dumber" over the years? Less sharp, less quick, more prone to just going "duuuh... I dunno..."? Is this the reason to the very strange behaviour we sometimes see in our parents - that their brains just aren't functioning as well as they once did? It's a bit scary to think about it, that sometime in the future my children will wonder if my brain is having trouble connecting. I will call them and ask about this new electrical device which isn't functioning the way the manual says it should. Yes, I have turned it on. What do you mean 'light'? There's no light there. I'm telling you, there's no light! Oh... it's underneath it... No, no it's not turned on. Thanks! Then I will hang up and try again. It has to work. Of course it will work. It's not working. Yes, I turned it on. What do you mean 'plugged in'? And so it will continue until the end of my days. I know, because I have these conversations with my parents on a daily basis.

Me: What's the problem with the laptop?
Dad: It's not working.
Me: Are you sure? It was working fine when I had it.
Dad: I get a welcome screen where I'm meant to put in a password, but when I type all I see are dots.
Me: Dad, it's meant to be that way - it's a safety thing if someone should look over your shoulder.
Dad: Oh, okay. Thanks!

I believe that anyone who work in customer support should be forced to work a day with their parents and teach them about computers. There is absolutely nothing more frustrating than explaining things over and over, but the joy when it works without any questions is lovely. Oh, I feel sorry for my future children... oh, so sorry...