I laughed until I hurt J's feelings. She said she had to go home and sweep the floor and clean out the refrigerator. After she had commented on what she had to do three or four times and since there are five cats in the house, I asked, "Why don't you dust mop the house?"
She was truly puzzled, "What's a dust mop?" I could barely drive for laughing, and laughing! Every time she asked, "What's a dust mop?" I started again, incontrollable laughter.
Finally, she was hurt. "Why don't you just tell me instead of laughing at me?" "Do you mean like a Swiffer?" Sorry, but that made me laugh again.
Am I so old I am using out-of-date technology, so old a grown woman has never even heard of it? Should I trade in my horse and buggy for something more modern?
When I finally told her in a moment I could manage not to laugh, she said, "Oh, one of those?" No, she had never seen one, never, ever! I think she is still hurt and mad at me. Part of my laughter was a sort of "OH, no, I am old, what a faux pas that discloses my age."
Your turn
Has anyone ever NOT known what something was that you thought was common knowledge, not old-fashioned, not esoteric knowledge? AND, did it make you feel sooo old?
It isn't quite the same, but my grands didn't know what a telephone party line was, or about tv antennas on the roof or about sidewalk roller skates. Feeling old? Nope. I like my age. I can just be myself and have no need to try to impress others as I might have when younger.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am not trying to impress anyone at all. I came by this knowledge honestly and over the years. At least dust mops do exist, at least in my house.
DeleteThere are so many things that are antiquated and my son will probably never know how to use. Even worse there are things my granddaughter will never see. Except maybe in a museum
ReplyDeleteAnne,
ReplyDeleteSo true! With the rapid advancements in technology and proliferation of new devices, it will take a large museum.
When my oldest daughter was in high school her youth group did a project cleaning an older home that was used for inner city projects. Someone else was sweeping and they told her to go get a dustpan. She had no idea what they were talking about! In her defense we had only had carpet her entire life so we didn't have one in the house.
ReplyDeleteladybug,
DeleteI suppose she would not have known what a dust mop was, either.
My parents didn't have call waiting on their home phone. Years ago, when my son was school aged he was trying to call them and got a busy signal. He had no idea what it was or why the phone was making that strange noise!
ReplyDeleteOne,
DeleteThat is funny. It gave me a good laugh. Thanks.
That is really funny, but sadly true. Sometimes I think that the younger the generation, the more oblivious they are to cleaning in general. I own a store and my younger employees simply can't understand why I insist on the floors being constantly cleaned and buffed. They are okay (at best) with keeping the rest of the store clean. It is still an upward battle.
ReplyDeleteClifford,
DeleteYou own a store that is about cleaning floors? Then, that should be enough excuse to keep the floors clean! Plus, I hate shopping in dirty stores. I wonder if you commented as an advertisement only. However, you did a good job and I will let this comment stand. Young people are dense sometimes, even back in my day. It is not like this person had not had the opportunity to ever see a dust mop!