The legendary and lovely Gloria Vanderbilt, now in her late 80s. recently was interviewed on television by her son, Anderson Cooper. With her charming and childlike naïveté, the well-known socialite-designer-writer has never made any secret about having had a long and varied string of lovers over the span of her 88 years. With her irrepressible vibrancy of spirit, she is, as her son says, “Confident her next great love is just around the corner.”
Oh, that I had such confidence! But, while I have not had a string of lovers and expect none now, I’ve had many friends. And now I have a wonderful new one. My elder son and his lovely wife introduced this friend to me. After many subtle hints and innuendos, they called me one day to inform me that they would be dropping by soon with a surprise. I fear that the surprise would be the computer they had been hinting at for some time. I held my breath, and with my usual list of excuses at the ready (no aptitude; no need; no reason; no money etc) I prepared for the worst. Soon, there they were — not with a computer or even a laptop, but with an I-Pad.
I tell you it was love at first sight.
But would it be mutual? Would this about-to-be new friend overwhelm me? Intimidate me? Be impatient with my “machine challenged” ineptness? My awkwardness?
Not to worry.
Would it be easy to operate? Yes! Only two buttons — even I could handle that. My soon-to-be best friend and I took it slowly at first. To facilitate a few small details, it was necessary for me to call my son or daughter-in-law only three times; they assured me I was not a pest. After all, it was their idea: They wanted this new relationship to be a success.
As matters progressed, they began inquiring discreetly about the relationship’s progress; then, realizing that it was going well, they began pointing out new sites they thought I might enjoy.
And I do!
Like a personal Delphic Oracle
There is an inexhaustible supply, ranging from food sites with recipes (and good ones, at that!) to magazines of all types (I enjoy the New Yorker), newspapers and specialized, even esoteric sites — you name it, it’s there.
Soon I was able, with one finger, to punch in what I was looking for. Then, as if by magic, it appeared instantly, even if it was not spelled correctly! It was like having my own personal Delphic Oracle, encyclopedia, library, Ouija board, tarot card reader, college professor, travel guide, theologian, historian etc…all in one.
I was hooked. And loving it.
As the time sent on my son began inquiring about my “I-Pd Adventures.” Among countless others, I have told him about my I-Pad Adventures returning to my beloved, far away Cape Cod, to the famous Abbey in Italy’s Monte Cassino, to tow of my favorite hotels in Paris, to the ancestral New England home of my father, to the elementary school I attended.
I have check out hours and locations of restaurants, sometimes scanning the menu in order to make an informed choice and to know how much money to take. Sometimes I have ordered take out. I have brought up on my amply sized, 9.7-inch diagonal screen, missed television programs and films I wanted to see. I have had thrilling personal poetry readings by the velvet voiced Ronald Colman (Shakespeare’s sonnets) and the (at his best) Richard Burton (“The Hound of Heaven”), among others.
Exuberance of the dynamic ballet, “Don Quixote,” was an over-the-moon delight, and so was Rachmaninov playing his own compositions.
I could go on forever, but before I forget, let me add that I have also located two friends from whom I long ago became separated as we went in different directions on the river of life.
If people confined by age, illness or infirmity would look into and open up to getting an I-Pad, it could transform their life. An I-Pad brings the world to its user, in the user’s time and place, at the user’s pace. Neither intrusive or expensive, neither heavy nor space consuming, an I-Pad as one’s best friend can eliminate loneliness and boredom.
Someone has written the following:
“Ode to an I-Pad”
Be there forever new best friend.
Be there forever world without end.
Possibly your own, new best friend is indeed just around the corner. If so, go for it!
Marie Martin Hall is a Magnolia resident.