Bena Mae’s Kitchen: I do not text-message

 I don’t tweet and I don’t twitter. I leave that to the birds. And most of all, I don’t text-message.

I’m happy to remain stuck back here in the horse and buggy days of the internet.  That accomplishment is enough for this graying old grandmother who learned A-S-D-F-J-K-L-simi-colon on an old Royal typewriter when I was in the eleventh grade. Where you had to use mathematics to center a page and an eraser or whiteout to correct a typo. I can still remember my typing teacher as she called out “don’t forget to throw your carriage,” only she pronounced it “courage.” And the class would snicker.

So I feel that I’ve come a long way since that old Royal typewriter. And I remember thinking that I had really graduated when I moved up to an electric IBM. But comparing the IBM with the computer was like comparing a T-model Ford to a new Jaguar. No centering, and with spell-check, no typos. What an innovation for lazy people.

But the onset of the internet only brought on more new-fangled products that had to be learned in order to stay abreast with modern equipment that is changing by the day. Too much to keep up with, I decided.  And I wouldn’t know the lingo if I had to tell a young hip high-tech clerk at Staples what I wanted if I needed help. So I’m intimidated by all these fancy new devices and I have no desire to learn how to use them. I do well to answer my cell phone.

It’s a given that young people are not as good at spelling as we oldsters who learned the basics in grammar school.  Back then it was stressed along with the 3 R’s. Somewhere along the way, its importance fell by the wayside with the onset of electronic gizmos that did our spelling for us. Also, I’m thinking that one of the detriments to good spelling may be caused by the use of shorthand in text messaging.  I cite the following as an example:

4getn u is hard 2 do, 4gtn me is up2 u, 4gt me not, 4gt me neva, but don’t 4get, we’re gr8 2gether

Translation:  Forgetting you is hard to do, forgetting me is up to you. Forget me not, forget me never, but don’t forget, we’re great together.

And what is this need for staying in contact with one another every minute of every day? Is having the appendage of a cell phone attached to one’s hand, one’s ear, a modern day version of a security blanket?

Thank you folks for letting me run on like this. Just venting.

Hve ur self a gr8 day.

This cranberry salad goes well with either ham or turkey and one to keep in your recipe box.

Cranberry Salad

2 cups whole raw cranberries

2 oranges, peel removed

1 cup sugar

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1 (3.5-ounce) package pineapple-flavored gelatin

1-1/2 cups pineapple juice

In a food processor, grind cranberries and oranges until chopped finely. Dissolve gelatin in half of the pineapple juice which has been heated. Add rest of juice, sugar, nuts and ground fruit. Pour into gelatin molds and refrigerate until stiff.  Serves 10.