Cyber

I've never considered myself to be a techie person.  I'm not particularly computer savvy  and I can just barely function in Word, Excel and email.  That being said, shopping on the computer is not something I really ever got into. 

When I shop for something that I want, I go to the mall.  I want to see the thing I am trying to buy, I want to feel it, try it on, hold it up to the light, sit in it, walk in it--whatever I need to do to ensure that what I'm looking at is what I want to buy.  

Unfortunately, our kids have a different idea about shopping.  To them, shopping means that you get your jammies on, sit on the couch, grab your laptop and start looking at various shopping web sites until you find what you are looking for.  You put the order in online and wait for your merchandise to show up on your front door.  And, if it isn't what you wanted or is the wrong size, no problem, just return it--and keep returning it until you get the right thing.  Easier than going to the mall?  I'm not convinced yet. 

And so, when we ask for Christmas ideas for all of the grandkids, guess what we got?  Yup...emails full of blue links to websites.  

Yesterday was cyber Monday meaning some sites, mainly Amazon,  had good sales on various merchandise.  So, we jumped into the cyber world with both feet and worked on the gifts for our Cleveland grandkids.

I ordered one thing at a time (I had it in my mind that ordering two things on the same order would somehow screw it up) and printed out a confirmation page for each order.  Tony has done this before, so he is more confident than I am. 

Everything seemed to work until we got to the last item.  Of course, the last item.  We think it went through, but we're not sure if it went through, but we got a confirmation and confirmation number, but the confirmation said that it didn't ship.  So, did it go through or not?   

Hmmm....when I go to the mall and buy something, it's in my hand and then in my bag, so I know the transaction went through.   Easier than going to the mall?  I'm not sure yet.

So here's where we stand--we ordered a gift online, but not on Amazon, through a store.  We didn't get the item sent here, we ordered it through a store in Ohio and had it delivered to the store.  In processing our online order, we were designated as the "payor," but we had to designate Jon to be the pick up person and supply his email address.  Tony called Jon to let him know the item was ordered and processed and today, during lunch, Jon went to the store to pick it up.  We still don't know if the "confirmed not shipped" order is confirmed and processed or sitting in limbo.  But, we did successfully order two things that we hope will be delivered on Thursday--to Cleveland.  

Easier than going to the mall?  I'm not sure yet.

My biggest fear is that on Christmas day, Tony's phone will ring and it will be the kids from Cleveland saying, "Hi Papa, thank you for my confirmation number!"  

Tony and I used to chuckle about our parents being afraid to try new things.  It was hard for us to imagine that they would be so tentative about doing something a new way.   But, I get it now.  Why mess with progress when the old way works so well.  OMG, I am my mother.