A few months ago, our ISP changed their data packages, and the package we now have allows us 60 GB per month – which is not a lot but it works for us. I thought it was a good thing because we are going to need it. Let me explain…

Previously we had a 25 GB per month plan that worked for us because we didn’t stream anything. I rarely wasted data on watching useless videos (like on YouTube). I had a Prime and Hulu account that I used when we had extra data, though. Our movie watching came from Netflix DVD and our plan with them was an old one that they discontinued but we were able to keep it. The plan was 5 disks out at a time, as many as we could watch per month. However, Netflix decided to drop the DVD plans altogether. Bastards. It was to end September 30. I dropped it before it ended. We were running out of disks to watch anyway.

I decided it was time to start streaming but I wasn’t sure exactly where to start. Our TV is not a smart TV, it’s actually dumber than hell. Haha. I am not buying a new TV, I thought. Instead, I bought Amazon’s Firestick thingie, whatever it’s called. I hoped I could figure it out as I am not in the know of these fancy gadgets. At least not like I used to be.

It was easy enough. I set it up and for the first couple of weeks, I had to help Dad find something to watch. I didn’t mind because he’s less in the know of fancy gadgets than I am. But eventually, and with much patience I taught Dad how to use it. He finds his own shows and movies to watch now! We now have Hulu, Netflix (streaming), Prime, Paramount+, Acorn TV, MGM+, and Peacock so that gives him lots of choices. I figured if we used 2 GB a day, we’d be set for the entire month. Of course, this didn’t work quite as well as I thought it would. It took a couple of months to get the settings right so that we didn’t eat up so much data, but now we are using less than 2 GB a day and that gives us enough for extras!

So, last night Dad was watching a movie. He didn’t have any trouble getting it going but eventually, he came through the kitchen where I was working on a puzzle and we had this conversation:

Dad: Did we ever watch a movie about John Dillinger with Johnny Depp?

Me: Yeah. It was called Public Enemies.

Dad: No, that was a James Cagney movie.

Me: No, James Cagney’s movie was called The Public Enemy.

Dad: Oh. Well, I’m watching the movie and I don’t remember any of it. I was just wondering what the name of it was.

Me: OK, wait. I’m confused. You’re watching the Johnny Depp movie and you don’t know the name of it?

Dad: Yes.

Me: Why don’t know what it’s called then?

Dad: Because I don’t remember!

Me: Then why don’t you look?

Dad: I can do that?

Me: Yeah. (Laughing a little now.) It should come up when you pause it.

Dad went back to the TV where he had paused the movie and yelled back to me, “There it is right there on the screen! It’s Public Enemies!” I couldn’t help but laugh because he knew how to check what episode he was on while watching shows like 1923, Joe Pickett, and Billions.

Silly things like this happen all the time. I am really going to miss this when he’s gone. I hate to even think about it but it’s inevitable. He’s closing in on 87 years of age. He could go another 10 years or maybe just a few more months. I will enjoy his company and his weird sense of humor, along with all of the annoyances that come, for as long as I have him with me.