A Fond Farewell from The Gray Haired Tech

Can you believe it? For an incredible 23 years, 6 months, and 7 days, I have been writing for you. I have tried to be a knowledgeable and friendly voice behind the “Gray Haired Tech.” I have been right there with you, helping many of us navigate the often-wild world of personal technology. It has truly mind-boggling when you think about how much tech has changed since we started! The columns have sometimes been “amazing” and sometimes, “boring,” per your opinions. Here is the first article, including a spelling error that even the editors missed.

From the emails that I have received from the first day until last week, I know that you have come to rely on the articles. By-the-way, the best I can calculate is that I have written approximately 1,200 articles. Which amounts to somewhere around 720,000 words, during that time. WOW, that surprises me and equates to around nine to ten novels. 

I have been trying to “demystify pretty much everything – from figuring out the best travel apps for our vacations, to understanding those tricky online safety rules. More recently getting our heads around the fascinating (and sometimes scary) world of AI. And Passwords, please keep in mind those creatures.

I was always trying not to be some tech guru talking over your heads. Nope, my whole approach was intending to be clear, practical, and, most importantly, deeply rooted in a genuine desire to lend a helping hand. I never only wrote about technology; I wrote for us, the real people who use our phones, computers, and smart devices every single day. Breaking down those confusing tech barriers and always ready with a solution for common (and even those strange, not-so-common) tech headaches for you all was one of my goals.

I strived to be an online friend, who could provide a considerable boost of confidence to countless readers who might have felt a bit lost trying to keep up with new gadgets, those endless software updates, and the ever-speeding digital landscape.

So, as if you have not guessed yet, it is with a pretty heavy heart that I share the following. The Gray Haired Tech, and yes, for you older readers, Double Clicks, is stepping away from the DNR column. This was not my decision. Sometimes, changes just have to be made, and in this case, it was a call made by The Daily News-Record (DNROnline.com).

Robin (my live-in editor) and I, are going to genuinely miss this connection with all of you readers out there. I will really miss the feedback I regularly get that I helped someone finally figure out that stubborn tech issue that had them scratching their head for days, or simply making a really complex idea click into place for someone who thought they would never “get it.” That pure joy of empowering people, making them feel more comfortable and competent with their devices – that was truly the heart and soul of “The Gray Haired Tech” for me.

Think about it: over two decades of guiding, we lived through flip phones to smartphones, dial-up to fiber optics, bulky desktops to sleek laptops, and the very dawn of the internet to today’s AI explosion. We were able to talk to each other and explain, advise, and simplify. I also reported on tech; trying to humanize it, making it feel less like a mysterious machine and more like a helpful tool, ready for us all to master. I truly hope I made a difference in how many of us approach our digital lives.

While this chapter with The Daily News-Record is closing for me, the site, GrayHaired.Tech will continue and contain all the information you have searched for and read in the past. If you would like to reach out, extend your goodbyes, and perhaps share a quick story about how the columns brightened your day or solved a problem over the years, you can still find me at The Gray Haired Tech: https://GrayHaired.Tech. Go there and register your account, if you have not already, as I have a few more things for you to review. I will email you if you are registered when they are ready.  

Thanks to all of you for over two decades of truly invaluable participation. Hearing of your “aha!” moments made my days. Thanks for allowing me to make the bewildering world of technology a lot less daunting for us all. You ALL have been pure gems and you will be incredibly missed.