Good things take time

Twenty minutes. That is how long I spent trying to get my cable television to turn on. I call the cable company. I talk to a tape recorder that finally gets me to a human being. If I have any ability, it is to think very, very abstractly. I cringe when I am around handy concrete people. They fix things and run the world. Don't count on me to do that.

I ask them to help me to be able to see television. That's not too complicated, is it? The friendly and capable person said to try this strategy. No. Let's try this one. No. Well, this might work. No. What is the label of my remote? No. Even though I give him the correct manufacturer's number. No. That didn't work either. I suggest the remote needs new batteries. I find AA batteries and put them in the remote. No. That did not help.

Finally, we try something else and it works. The television works. It changes channels, the sound can go up and down. I am a happy guy. I asked the cable person, 'Do you know how we fixed it?” No, he said. It must be a miracle of technology. At any rate, it works. I hope that this conversation is being recorded because he did such a good job. The next day, I turn on the television. Does it work? No.

By now, I try one simple trick. Rather than using the remote, I go to the television and push a button that says 'power” and it turns on. I push power, change channels, and turn up or down the sound. How about that? However, the set connects to five or six other technologies and if you know what you are doing you can do things like connect to a site in Australia.

So for those of us who think abstractly, this is our baby. In fact, let's change the 'dumb” or 'smart” to 'abstract” or 'concrete”. That sounds better for those of us who are challenged.

As time goes on, some 'abstracts” gently move to 'concrete” and then humbly go back until they learn more. Any day now, I will move to the 'concrete” and bedazzle my family. However, it may take awhile or a long time or a long, long time, but I will do it. Did you hear me? I will do it. It is just that good things take time. That means a long, long, time.

' Joel Snell is professor emeritus at Kirkwood College. Contact: joelsnell@hotmail.com.