I read a description in a David Baldacci book that describes how I feel this week.

Baldacci’s main character was complaining about feeling ancient. “I’m Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey wondering where the horse and carriage is when the Model T drives up,” she said.I feel so ancient this week that I should be looking for my own horse and buggy.It all started with more problems with my TV set. I did what I always do — I called my sweet neighbor Chris to come fix it.Previously the remote control had stopped working and couldn’t be fixed. Now, the volume control stopped working, too.Chris seldom speaks his mind but this time he very gently told me it was time to buy another TV. “They don’t cost all that much and your old one is an analog,” he said.Gee, here I was thinking that TV was “my good set.” I was surprised to realize it’s 10 years old.Sam’s Club had a good sale going on so it was easy to buy a replacement.Then the hard part came – trying to learn how to use it. I learned it doesn’t do any good to buy a smart TV if the user isn’t smart, too.Based on my school grades and past performance, I’m smart. But what they warn in reference to stocks is the same for life: Past performance is no indication of future results.I think it’s safe to say anyone with a 10-year-old TV hasn’t tried to keep up with technology.I was amazed how much technology has advanced since I bought my old set. I was delighted with the microphone function of the smart TV. Press the button, tell it what you what to see and there it is without your having to do anything else.I rely on the voice commands because I’m flustered with the normal workings of the smart TV.I can’t even find my favorite channels because everything is HD and what was once on Channel 39 is now somewhere in the 400 range. Can’t tell you exactly because I’m still trying to find it — along with everything else I want to see.Oh, sure, I get plenty of new channels that I didn’t know existed. (And some I wish never did exist but I won’t go into that for this family newspaper.)While I was pushing buttons looking for my favorite channels, I accidentally stumbled on a movie site I never knew existed. I love that site — if I can ever find it again.I also love the function that lets me start a show over again when I missed the beginning.I like all that new technology. I just don’t like my big learning curve.Part of me wants to go back to the olden days of a simple off-on button. There is no such thing any more.Even alarm clocks are offering too many choices. The one I just bought gives me a choice of alarm one or alarm two. Setting the alarm requires a degree in engineering or a bit of perseverance.When I finally got the alarm set and went to sleep with the assurance I would be up in time to make our early morning shell club trip, I discover the time changed in the middle of the night – for no reason other than it can.My husband didn’t believe me that it could happen until he saw it for himself.When David and I were planning our wedding, my friend Kay said it was good I was marrying an engineer because “they’re smart and know how to do things.”I never thought I would need an engineer to set an alarm clock and work my television.“I hate buying something new only to discover I have a big learning curve in front of me,” agreed my friend Jeanne. She just bought a top-of-the-line car with many new incredible features. But first she has to learn how to use them.To her credit, she did something radical. She got out the owner’s manual and read it through three times. Now she’s comfortable with the car. I’m amazed when I see how her navigation system responds to her voice commands.My car navigation system does the same thing – once I learn how to program it. I’m just going to have to follow Jeanne’s example and read the instruction manual.David tells me anything I want to know, including how to fix or install something, is available on the Internet. “Everything is spelled out for you,” he says.I just have to stop complaining about complicated new technology and use the brain God gave me.I never thought I would be one of those old folks resistant to change. But here I, knowing less than a second-grader. I’m sure any kid could sit in front of my television and work it perfectly.My neighbor’s son, who works in tech support, told me the major difference between the young and the old is that older folks are afraid to “fool around and try” while that comes naturally to young users.The first time I tried that my screen turned to static and I couldn’t fix it. Guess I’m officially an “old folk.”Now if only I can remember where I parked my horse and buggy.Contact Pattie Mihalik at

newsgirl@comcast.net.