MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023 LIFELONG LEARNING (MAYBE)

 MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023 LIFELONG LEARNING (MAYBE)

I’ve been thinking about Dr. Augusta Nelson.  I had Dr. Nelson for Freshman Composition I and II at Winona State (and got “C”s in both classes.  I had three C grades and two of them in Freshman Composition!!).  

And, somehow, I needed a literature course, so I took Dr. Nelson for Introduction to Literature.  Now, I was thinking we’d get some English literature (Shakespeare, Dickens, Bronte, or Hardy); some world literature (Don Quixote), and then some American literature (Mark Twain, Longfellow, Thoreau, or even Steinbeck or Hemmingway).   But no, Dr. Nelson picked Socrates as our literature.  

So, I sloughed through Socrates (written mostly by Plato).  At least it wasn’t in the original Greek <grin>.  

And I learned.  And, maybe I learned “Don’t judge a book by its cover” - or judge something because of the unfamiliar nature of the material.  

Over the years I have read and tried different things.  Sometimes willingly, and something not quite as willingly. 

Four years ago I went to a knitting and crochet group at the Georgetown Library.  I only did crochet - and I haven’t mastered it, but I did some last week (after laying off for a year), and while not very good, it was relaxing.  (I was listening to the orchestra rehearsal).

Five years ago, I saw a sign for a senior bridge group.  I had “kind of” played bridge with my parents fifty years ago, so I showed up and have been playing bridge almost every week since then.

I also saw a sign “We are off our Rockers” - for Granny Basketball, so I showed up to play Granny Basketball.

I found a meetup group for women meeting for coffee once a week, and I’ve been loosely affiliated with them **

I bought a tent and went camping last year and again this year.  Sleeping on a cot in a tent maybe isn’t my favorite thing to do at age 75, but it isn’t bad. 

I’ve joined Facebook and Twitter (and occasionally looked at some of the other social media groups - but have stayed with these two.  I actually was a pioneer with Facebook.  In the early years of Facebook, you had to have an .edu address - as it was created for college students - and thus I got on Facebook with my students.  No, I haven’t done TikTok (and probably won’t).

 

About two years ago I had a friend request on Twitter.  It wasn’t anybody I knew and I’m generally reluctant to accept such requests.  The friend (Katherine) a couple of times dropped me a DM (direct message) saying “hi”.  I have a lot of “friends” - especially on Twitter - that I know little about.  About three months ago, Katherine asked how I was doing, and we struck up a conversation.  All of a sudden, Katherine and I became “best friends”!!!  We’d DM each other 20 to 40 times a day.  I learned she did analytics and put on some seminars - and lived in Lisbon Portugal.  About three weeks ago, Katherine asked me if I wanted to do some investing.  (Yes, Karen, that should have been a RED FLAG).  I’m not really interested in investing.  For those who know me better, I’m willing to believe that “God will Provide”.  My ex got our joint investment portfolio (and our house)  in our divorce and so I live on my Social Security, my South Dakota Retirement, and the little I get from my part-time job.  And, I’m happy.  And, I am very frugal - cheap!!  

So, somehow I have invested in Crypto Currencies (aka “Bitcoin”).  I am a conservative investor - don’t put more into an account that you aren’t willing to lose.  I still don’t know much about investing in cryptocurrencies.  My friend Katherine seemingly has done well in that market.  Four days ago, I transferred my investment to her - so she can invest it.  I told a friend that I had signed over money to a friend I met online from Portugal - and the friend I was talking with rolled her eyes and looked at me like I was the last known idiot on the planet. 

My friend Katherine has been frustrated with me (I’m sorry Katherine).  I did an ACH (automatic clearing house) transfer - but that took several days to clear - and she thought (encouraged, begged me, insisted) that I do a wire transfer - that required me to work with my bank. (thanks Brittany).

So, a mostly unknown but sweet friend from Lisbon Portugal has my money.  She can keep it if she wants - or she can invest it for me (again, it isn’t big money)!!!.  

So, Karen - get to the point!!!  

My former students paid “tuition” to take my classes and to get a degree.  I’ve been taking a “class” in modern money transfer and modern cryptocurrency investing.  At this point, I think (if it was a class), I’d be getting a “C”.  But, I’m getting out of my comfort zone.  I spent some “tuition” (and it may never pay off - or it might pay off well - enough to finance my trip to Portugal next summer!!!)

The point is that I’ve been forced to learn something new.  Have you learned something new lately?  Who knows, maybe I’ll listen to and learn rap music and hip-hop music next!!!

But, I HAVE TO keep pushing the envelope, I HAVE TO keep learning and growing.

And, I have to keep learning that LOVE DOES WIN

And, that LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, ©, May 21, 2023