A note from Kim: So much to be thankful for
Thanksgiving has always been about family, tradition and gratitude. I think about my Dad carving the turkey with his large Russian hands, showing me exactly how to do it. My Mom always made the turkey until she couldn’t and I took over. We recorded her making it two weeks before she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2017, her face and voice with instructions I’ll treasure forever.
Technology has found its way into Thanksgiving, but instead of replacing memories, it adds to them. Here are a few tech things I’m thankful for and how they help me carry a bit of the past into the present.
My iPhone 16 Pro Max
Remember when a quarter for a payphone was your lifeline? Dad would hand me one before I left the house. Today, my iPhone is that, and it’s my camera for capturing memories and having video calls, my connection to family far away, and my assistant to get things done.
Smart speakers
Aunt Patty was the unofficial family entertainer, part comedian and part Patsy Cline wannabe. Dang, she could sing “Crazy.” Today, Alexa has taken on some of those roles, including playing music, telling jokes and answering trivia questions.
Cloud storage
Videos of my mom are safely stored in the cloud, where I can watch them whenever I want. It’s not just a Thanksgiving Day recipe; it’s her voice, her smile and my heart, forever.
Big-screen TVs
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without football. I remember when we all crowded around a tiny TV, adjusting the antenna on the roof to get a picture. Now, it’s all about the big screen, where we can see every blade of grass and questionable call in high def.
This one’s not tech
Every Thanksgiving, I pull out my grandmother’s old aluminum roasting pan to make her stuffing. There’s something magical about using the same pan she did, surrounded by the smells and laughter that have filled my family’s kitchens for generations.
Safe ways to get free stuff in your neighborhood
If you want to save money while connecting to your community, you have to join a buy nothing group. It’s exactly what it says on the tin: a group of neighbors with their own gift economy. You can join a Facebook group or even a community on NextDoor or other apps. Tap or click here to find out how Nextdoor and other apps help sell your old, used or battered tech.
Memorial Day 2022: A reminder to remember those who sacrificed it all
Years ago, I heard someone correct someone else who said, “Happy Memorial Day.” There’s nothing happy about the day, they said. It’s about remembering servicemen and women who’ve died during conflicts.
That person wasn’t wrong. Memorial Day was created as a day set aside to decorate the graves of soldiers who died defending the U.S. during the most recent battle. When you dig around and read about the history of Memorial Day, it’s evolved from a quiet day of remembrance to a three-day weekend packed with parades, barbeques and Memorial Day sales.
Note from Kim: I'm here to help you
Hello from my home,
I can’t stop thinking that I am in the middle of a movie about a sinister virus that causes a global pandemic. But this is no made-for-Hollywood screenplay. It’s real and it’s our lives.