Tweet and text for seniors

Reporters interviewing a 104 year-old woman: “And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?”

“No peer pressure,” she answered.

But old age comes also has its downside. One senior citizen complained, “I’ve sure gotten old. I’ve had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement and new knees. Fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I’m half-blind, can’t hear anything quieter than a jet engine, and take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded and subject to blackouts. I have bouts with dementia. I have poor circulation; I can hardly feel my hands and feet anymore! Can’t remember if I’m 85 or 92. I have lost all my friends. Thankfully, I still got my driver’s license!”

One day, Grandpa and Grandma were toying with the laptop computer. They fumbled around, made funny sounds and wacky faces, and – because the webcam was on – managed to record their whole inexperience with technology and even post in YouTube for all to see!

I talked about cloud computing one time to a group of seniors, and I kid you not when I discovered that, all the while, they thought that cloud computing has something to do with climate change!

Young people today, the generation X’ers-digital natives, use codes like OMG (Oh my Gosh!) or LOL (laugh out loud!) in their text and Facebook messages, and also in their tweets. On the other hand, it takes great effort for the graying population, the digital immigrants, to shift from rotary type telephones to cell phones, and now to smart phones. Nevertheless, more and more digital immigrants are found to be texting, Facebooking and even tweeting! And this material from the Internet suggests that should have their own codes too!

If qualify for the senior citizen discount, then these STCs (Senior Texting Codes) are for you. Pass this along to your children and grandchildren, so they can better understand you!

ATD: At The Doctor’s

BTW: Bring The Wheelchair

BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth

CBM: Covered By Medicare

CGU: Can’t Get Up

CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center

DWI: Driving While Incontinent

FWB: Friend With Betablockers

FWIW: Forgot Where I Was

FYI: Found Your Insulin

GGLKI: Gotta Go! (Laxative Kicking In)

GGPBL: Gotta Go! (Pacemaker Battery Low)

GHA: Got Heartburn Again

IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?

LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out

LOL: Living On Lipitor

LWO: Lawrence Welk’s On

OMMR: On My Massage Recliner

OMSG: Oh, My! Sorry – Gas.

ROFL & CGU: Rolling On the Floor Laughing And Can’t Get Up

TTYL: Talk To You Louder

WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?

WTP: Where’s The Prunes?

WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil

Growing old can be better. It doesn’t have to be bitter. You don’t stop laughing because you have grown old but you have grown old because you have stopped laughing.

And everybody grows old, but not everybody grows up. Grow old gracefully, and always find ways to help make this world a better place.

Old age is a blessing from God. And just like every other blessing, it is intended to be used to bless others as well.

(Get daily inspirational quotes and thoughts from Francis! Send “Inspire” to 288 for Smart or Sun subscribers and 2889 for Globe. Visit facebook.com/franciskong2 for more details.)