Gossip as teacher

[susandennis]

My neighbor, Ann, is obsessed.  Our neighbor (he lives down the hall in between my unit and Ann's), Peter, is the first violin with the Seattle Symphony and has been for 25 years.  For 20 of those years he's worked under a conductor whom he says has consistently harassed him.  Several years ago Peter sued the conductor and the manager and I think the symphony.  His trial finally starts Monday.

On Friday, Ann was in here to share newspaper story about it.  When they retired in February, she and her husband got their first computer and Clearwire.  They are slowing picking up the tricks.  I sent them a note Friday evening explaining - very briefly, now to find items about Peter on Google. 

This afternoon - my door was open and they dropped in after their Saturday afternoon movie.  They tried my instructions but didn't really understand.  No worries, I told them... come over here and I'll show you!  I showed them how to find addresses with maps.  They are good students.  They have very short attention spans so lessons are short.  They only want a little bit at a time.  And they are amazed at everything.  It's kind of cute.

Plus,  on Friday, Ann was telling me that Ron made them go to this driving class so they could save 15% on their car insurance.  (AARP)  I never heard of it before and asked her and she said very dismissively, "oh you can't do it, you are too young.  you have to be 55."  I told her I was 58 and a half and she was genuinely shocked. 

I'm guessing I was the gossip at the far end of the hall on Friday night!