LOOSELEAF LAUREATE: Laughing at yourself to keep from crying

The other day, a Facebook friend admitted to picking up a TV remote and trying to dial a phone number on it.

As someone who has tried to change the channels with my phone, I could relate.

I’ve also pointed my remote car key at the TV to turn it on. I’ve even distractedly pointed it at the house to lock or unlock the carport door.

It seems that while we (and by we, I mean people older than the age of 35) embrace new technology, we aren’t quite the whiz kids with it that many in the younger generations are.

The original Facebook poster spurred a veritable firestorm of crazy technology mixups offering similar confessions.

I’m not naming names — you know who you are — but here are some snippets from the conversation it generated:

“Have you ever sent a text, then held the phone to your ear waiting on it to answer.....? Haha. That’s my newest silly thing.”

“LOL!! Have done this so many times, then you look around hoping no one sees you!!”

“What’s even worse is when the phone rings, and you grab the remote to answer the phone.”

“Our remote is not rotary dial.”

“Or pick up the phone and point it at the TV and wonder why the channels don’t change....”

“OK, have any of you ever been talking on your cell phone and looking for it at the same time?”

“Or go outside get in your car, leave while still talking on your house phone!”

“Or start to laundry room with dirty socks and then you realize that you have put them in the fridge? Duh.”

Facebook is good for an occasional laugh, but something that came up recently left me in a less-than-humorous mood.

I am the product of two high schools. I spent two and a half years at the high school in the town where I grew up, then my last year and a half at one 75 miles away from the first.

As a result, my allegiances to either were diluted, and I have never attended any of my high school reunions.

But through Facebook, I am in contact with some of my old friends from both high schools.

And now, both high schools are talking about having 35-year reunions.

Did you hear that — 35th!

Wasn’t it just yesterday that I turned 35? Where did the time go?

So will I attend either reunion?

I doubt it. I’d have trouble deciding which to attend, and I know for a fact that going to both would be more than any one person could stand.

Besides, who needs to go?

I can just sit back and watch Facebook for all the juicy details — with photographs!