Blah, blah, blah

I read in Ron. Moore’s recent column, One From the Road-Electronic Wife, how some of his electronic devices had taken on a somewhat “wifely” attitude. From the first time a car told me to “please fasten your seat belt,” to a recent online experience, I’ve long suspected my ex-wives have something to do with our many automated prompts and services.

My first wife was not exactly top of her class at the Beloit Youth Center for girls. I remember walking through a pasture with her one time, and she asked me “who made the paths for the cows to follow.”

She also had a real annoying habit when it came to reminders.

At one time or another, all of us have told a friend, co-worker of companion to remind you of something. If I told the first ex- Mrs. Spradley to remind me to pay a bill, or pick something up at the store tomorrow, as I turned to walk away she would call out “Do forget to blah, blah, blah, tomorrow.”

“Thanks for that timely reminder.”

Sunday I was poking around in my online banking account. Thinking how cool it would be if I had some money in there to take advantage of the many services they provide, when I stumbled across a nifty feature.

After setting up a future bill to be paid, there was a place to set up a reminder.

Cool, that’s handy.

I made an online payment, then set up a reminder to make an additional payment in two weeks.

I shut down the computer, went on about the rest of my day and pretty much forgot about it.

As I was going through my morning emails I saw an email for a bill reminder I thought I had just paid.
I looked at it a little closer and realized it wasn’t a late payment reminder from the collector. This one came from my bank?

I opened it up and there was a handy little message.

“Don’t forget to pay the vet clinic in two weeks.”

Until just then,I hadn’t thought about my first ex-wife in many years.

Thanks for that timely reminder.

Terry Spradley is the editor of the St. John News,  his e-mail is sjnewseditor@embarqmail.com