When did I become so inept?

A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas

When did I become so inept?

As far as I can tell, I am the same as I was 20 years ago when my daughter was born.

When did my driving become too slow?

When did my technical skills become so outdated?

When did I begin saying, “the wrong thing”?

I suddenly feel like my extra-long extendable Swiffer duster trying to reach the cobwebs in my brain. Is it me that has changed, or is it the world around me?

Son: “Mom, why are you driving so slow?”

Me: “I’m going the speed limit.”

Son: “No, you’re not.”

Me: “Yes, I am.”

And why does he care? He is going to get there. He didn’t seem to mind my driving for the past 16, or so, years. Why now? Is his world so supercharged by fast food, fast internet, and fast social media communication, that the minuscule difference in ETA is now an issue?

I just turned 59, knocking on the door of 60, how is that possible? In my head, I am 25, minus the “consequences be damned” element. Life expectancy in 1937 (the year my parents were born) was 58 for a man and 62 for a woman. Yikes, that just sounds mind-blowing.

I don’t feel like I have one foot in the grave.

On the flip side, the thing I am clearly better at is 70s and 80s trivia. I can identify the weird objects posted on Facebook, like manual ice trays. I know the lines of random songs, and if the power went out I could still charge someone’s credit card on a slide imprinter.

The other day I had my son and two of his friends in the car on a trip to Berkeley. Because my music was not good enough my son connected his playlist to the car and guess what? it was all classic rock songs. I knew all the words. Take that, Gen Z!!!!

Have you noticed FASHION has revisited the seventies? I used to wear those bell bottoms. Levis 501 jeans were always in, and puffy jackets? Hello, the seventies are calling and they want their clothes back.

So it was 50 years ago, and according to the generational statistics, we have almost cleared the slate of people who remember.

Does that make me irrelevant?

No, of course not, I am still paying the bills. Haha. College, Medical insurance and bills, food, clothing, and housing. But aside from that. It is right and good that the older generations keep the newer ones in line.

Is this just a stepping stone in the generational timeline? Did my parents experience the same thing?

Until they were age 10, I knew everything.

Age 10-20 They know everything

Age 21-40 You realize how much you really don’t know

Age 40-60 You watch from the sidelines like a coach trying to give pointers to send them in the right direction, not being able to play the game yourself, but sharing the benefit of your experience.

Age 60+ You don't care what you don't know.

“LIFE IS A SUCCESSION OF LESSONS THAT MUST BE LIVED TO BE UNDERSTOOD.” -Helen Keller

So maybe it’s not that I am so inept, it’s just that the next generation hasn’t realized how great I am yet.

Maybe it’s a good thing that, "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

(Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)

I would hate to know that someone who was inept was running the show.