I’ve seen a lot over the years, and some of it didn’t suit me at all. I liked going to a grocery store out East of McDonough, and then they added self checkout lanes. The problem was that the little machines didn’t often work and there weren’t enough employees at that time to correct the error. So, I gave up on that store since Publix had opened less than a mile from the Henry Hilton. I loved their Senior Wednesday sales, when they had the penny item and of course the neat ten-or-less lane that opened after ten a.m. I did discover some favorite Publix items thanks to the penny sale, one of which is their creamy Peanut Butter. Their sugar-free syrup is great too, plus they usually have some of my favorite over-the-counter pills at a much better price with their store brand.

And now, Publix has self checkout lanes available. I’ve tried them a couple of times and so far there have always been a few employees ready to assist. I’m not going through there with fresh veggies though as I’m not sure how that works. I always carry my own reusable cloth bags and that did confuse the little machine, but again an employee was able to show me how to make that work. I am VERY into helping our planet and do love those cloth bags! I’m still shopping less often to keep the Camry from hurting our environment any more than necessary.

Amazingly, when I made a quick run to Dollar General just behind my home, they now have their own self checkout lane too. Again I decided to just pass that one by as I noticed something had already been rung up that I hadn’t purchased. It turned out a customer had scanned an item to see the cost and then took it the nearest cashier. I’m sure I’ll get used to this latest commercial venture of our stores, but I’m just not quite ready yet.

I still like to stay as up-to-date as possible on the internet and computers, thanks to my highly intelligent grands! It’s neat what they can do with their phones, and now some of their vehicles. They amaze me with their expertise. Occasionally I get those robo-calls and I recognize the occasional caller from another country. When I worked remotely our first tech guy was in India. I still remember him telling me to ‘take the battery out and wait ten seconds’ and of course it worked, back then.

So, I have seen a lot, and I just keep learning. But sometimes I like for things to just stay the same. I’m glad I can use the drive-thru to pick up my prescriptions and never actually have a written sheet from my doctors; they send a message to my drugstore and then I get an e-mail when it’s ready. I like remembering taking a paper from Dr. Foster and then Doctor Blissitt to Ward Drug, handing it over the counter and then maybe eating one of their egg salad sandwiches while John Frank did his work. Their store had fresh food on sale, and a little dining nook too. None of our medical records were on computers either. Each doctor just had a fat file containing all of our information from the beginning days. I’ll bet those medical angels in heaven are looking down and shaking their heads at today’s systems.

I am glad I grew up in a simpler time. I still remember no one locking their homes or cars in Jackson, and at first in McDonough too. Mount Bethel didn’t lock their doors back in the early sixties either. There is a lot of safety now though and I am grateful. And again … I wonder what’s next!

Beverly Wittler has four children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She lives in McDonough.