I don’t know about all of you, but I can say with certainty that I am exhausted from fighting with my body. So instead of battling against Father Time, I’ve found a way to live my life and enjoy the things I can no longer do. A new world has provided the tools for opportunities to travel without leaving the sofa, garden without scooping up a bit of dirt or fighting those ugly tomato worms.
I play golf, have a huge home and don’t have to clean the toilets.
I can do so many things I thought were now lost to me.
And all I have to do is enter the virtual world.
There is so much talk today about kids being on their computers too much. I concur. Fresh air, and of course I must add that none of that is available in Los Angeles, and sunshine, that you can actually get here, are still vital for good health.
But for an old broad who still loves to garden, play a lousy game of golf and enjoy the comforts of a spacious home without the responsibility that comes along with owning one, there is a virtual world. It affords me all the possibilities I thought were lost long ago.
There are of course many ways to enter this world.
One that is really amazing is VR or Oculus Rift, invented by a genius named Palmer Luckey. A tech wunderkind that figured out a way to simply put on a mask and enter a whole new realm of reality.
On VR I am able to play golf, solve mysteries like Sherlock Holmes and enter worlds so real, and even scary, I am still in awe of the technology.
I play golf with my grandsons or fight Darth Vader. And yes, he is just as scary in the virtual world.
I can enter ancient worlds and go on a scavenger hunt. Or golf through Atlantis and wonder at a world that exists now I never thought I’d ever experience.
It all seems so real and vibrant and best of all you can fly through these worlds as though you had wings.
No airplane necessary just float around and hover over these amazing sights.
As a child these wonders were what science fiction movies were made of and now, well they’re actually here.
Was it worth the wait? You bet.
I have also discovered the world of online gaming, no not gambling. Roblox. Like an online Atari.
There are hundreds of games to play and all of the technology is truly stunning.
The best part is playing these games with my grandsons.
One game called Grow a Garden is one we all play. You can plant your own garden with vegetables and flowers. Design the landscape and enjoy contests.
We play it all the time and my daughter who thought we were all silly, is now as into it as we are. Hilariously so are many of her friends as well. Adults, kids just a fun way to be creative and grow a beautiful garden. It’s a great way to spend time together when we’re apart and be able to share fun experiences.
By now you probably think I’ve truly lost it, but some of the games on Roblox are also educational.
Adopt Me teaches kids to own and care for a pet.
Of course there are others like Steal a Brainrot that well, I just don’t know.
But it’s all in fun.
There are even Squid Games and cooking contests.
If it all sounds crazy, well perhaps it is.
But I must admit I love being able to do so many things with my grandsons that don’t involve battling with Light Sabers or bouncing on the trampoline.
I even have a Tik Tok account with a hundred and fifty-five thousand followers as The Roblox Grammy. The kids, and there are millions, love watching this old broad play Murder Mystery or design clothes for a fashion show. Or any one of so many other things we can do.
With travel so different today, and not in a good way, I can enjoy Italy on VR. I don’t have to wait in TSA lines, worry about delays or barely missing another plane miles over the earth.
I can kick off my shoes, fluff the couch pillows and climb Machu Pichu without having to stop and catch my breath.
Is seeing the Mona Lisa or Eiffel Tower the same online as up close and personal? Of course not. Sure, I wish I could still do so many things now that I once never thought twice about.
Still, if one is going to grow old at least there is a way to travel and check stuff off your bucket list without missing a beat. And is this really any different from rushing home from school and planting ourselves in front of the TV to watch Howdy Doody?
Is it fun to travel through outer space without a rocket? Yep. Would NASA let me anyway at this age? I’m pretty sure I couldn’t pass the endurance test anymore. Besides space capsules feel so claustrophobic.
Okay so we never got the Jetpacks, or the hoverboards, or Beep Beep Rosie, but taking advantage of a new reality once in a while is a fun way to leap into the future. And in our present world that’s a gift.
Well, I’d love to stay and chat but I have a golf game with my grandson. Scottie Scheffler look out. You’ve got some stiff virtual competition from this old broad.
Published by
Published
