I had to rub my eyes in disbelief when I opened my inbox this evening. An email. From my Dad. In hesitant prose as if he was not sure if I would actually get it. As if wondering how the text that he typed in his box could reach me all the way to London. I could actually feel all these thoughts in the way he typed those small sentences enquiring about my health. The workload. Whether I am taking care of my health or not. And the abrupt bye after he typed all that he wanted. The small and large caps. A different size and color in between as if he was experimenting and having fun with the options. The exploring of a child. I felt like I was in heaven. He who was totally against even taking an ATM card or taking the online banking option from his bank. He who didn't bother with the internet or laptop even though he must have seen me glued for hours on the puter since a decade.
Before I left for London, I spent two whole days teaching him the simple way of operating the laptop, using the explorer, checking if the connectivity is on, some simple diagnostics et al. And then set up an email account and showed him how to type in the url, username, password and send an email. Did a couple of dry runs but I was never convinced that he would actually use it. I actually showed it to him so that he woudln't be too hesitant about picking up the phone to call me and worry about telecom costs. Taught him as an alternative to contact me anytime. Took more than three weeks for him to send the first mail but the hook is in. I feel so complete in some sense. For finally teaching him at least one thing. Having the sense of introducing him to something totally new in the 65 years of his life.
And finally his 8 sentences. Some without fullstops. And some marked in commas. The unfamiliarity and attempt to convey his thoughts. All was overwhelming so I quickly typed an email and sent it instead of pondering too much. And then let it sink in me. Woohoo.
Current Music - Boney M - Daddy Cool
6 comments:
Oh thats such a sweet post....glad to know that ur dad emailed u. :) I can totally understand the sense of surprise in here.
I think he's loving it. There was another one in the box when I woke up this morning. And look's like he is raiding my library. He was sharing his thoughts on The Secret :)
i know .. i know ....
parents (esp dads) really enjoy exploring something ... all these years, they let themselves get bogged down by bills, kids' education etc .... and start growing dull.
And when the new discovery also leads to contact with their child, then .. :))))
Hey, this is very sweet. My dad worked for the telephone department. So, he always found calling me up faster (and cheaper to him) than typing emails. He uses the laptop cos all his retired peers have one and plays game with his grandchildren or watches movie only.
he doesn't email still. Maybe I need to go to London :-) I remember a few lines scribbled in a piece of paper with the demand drafts that I used to get every month when i was in hostel. Treasure them still.
i think with me ,it's my mom.this time when she was visiting me i taught her email and she totally took to it.all these years she was jealous that my dad was net savvy and she wasnt and she was so thrilled to learn to email.Now she keeps emailing me 2 liners all the time ' missing u lotz, luv mummy' itz the cutest ever :) and i immediately respond to her 'missing u too mom' :) ah, the joy of teaching something to someone who once taught me ,priceless...
Oh, my heart is so warmed by this post. Wonderful son to teach him how to use the computer. I hope this brings you closer together. Loved the part where you wrote that he experimented with colors and fonts!
Post a Comment