I think we inadvertently empowered our mother even more than she already is – we helped her buy a cell phone. Now she can call and check up on us from anywhere in the nation!

Our mother is a typical 86-year old gray-haired lady. When she expressed interest in knowing more about my cell phone, I showed her how to use it.

She hated how small it was, and how hard it was to punch the small buttons. She had no interest in all its fancy gadgets, like the built-in camera and menu functions. They were too complicated and confused her.

However, she fell in love with the idea that she could take this small device with her when she traveled, and she could use it to check up on her grandchildren (and us) from wherever her travels took her.

I told my older brother and younger sister about mom’s interest in a cell phone. They were about to drive mom to Florida to spend the Winter months and decided that mom needed a cell phone while in Florida so she could "stay in touch with us." It sounded like a good plan at the time.

I was concerned that mom would buy a cell phone and enter into a contract with a phone company, and then she would decide she didn’t like her cell phone after all, just like she hated my little cell phone when I showed it to her.

Apparently, my brother and sister found her a cell phone that fits well in her hand, is easy to use, and that she sees well. I say this because my mother has become a little "songbird" on her cell phone. She never puts it down!

Now, this all may change if she uses more minutes than she is allowed each month under her cell phone contract. I say this since I know she will object to paying the high costs of overage charges. She’s not used to that with her home phone.

In the meantime, mom is very happy making cell phone calls to her grandchildren (and us) just to check up on what’s happening. She has long talks with her sister and brothers. She claims they are the ones who are "long winded".

What a world we live in today. When my mother was a child, there was no telephone in their house, let alone the idea of a cell phone. When my grandparents did get a home phone, it was on a party line. Young people today don’t even know what a party line is.

It’s another lesson learned. Modern day gadgets are a blessing. And, perhaps a little bit of a curse?

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