I'm a "dinosaur" with modern technology especially when on my computer. It doesn't come naturally. I'm in awe of the Post-Baby-Boomers' wizard-like abilities. It's as if they arrived with every chip in place. There I was thinking those thoughts while on line waiting for my turn at Apple's Genius Bar. I had dutifully typed my name into the store's computer and pressed ENTER as I reconfirmed my appointment, when suddenly the lights flickered and the electricity went off.
Everyone in the store stood completely still for a few moments. After awhile the people who were playing on the newer computer models left. There were about fifteen of us who had appointments with the Geniuses. We were all loaded down with our computers, cables, external hard-drives, etc. and were determined to wait out the outage and get our fixes.
The first thing I noticed... our names weren't being called-out for an obvious reason, the large screen with that information was black. So, there we stood as if frozen in time. After my observation I walked up to the "bar" and asked a young man wearing his black, tee shirt with the "GENIUS" logo and hanging from his neck was his name tag, "Jonathan, by any chance do you have a piece of paper and a pen?".
Jonathan gave me a quizzical look as I continued, "We all seem to have our own computers which still have battery power and I thought we could jot down a list-of-names. And then you and the others would be able to assist us.".
It was at that moment I realized this was a perfect example of the "Jack-in-the-Box Syndrome". It seemed as though without the network in place there was a lack of creative thought process to keep the "system" moving. Maybe it's from years of being in front of computer screens. Could the screen create a box around our minds?
It was an A-HA moment and understood that being "Jacqueline-out-of- the-Box" was advantageous. Allowing the mind to be a free agent with lots of space to roam in.
With this written I do want to add... this "Jacqueline "very much appreciates the gifts of the younger generation. Yesterday, I once again found myself at the Genius Bar.
