An Afternoon at Markville Mall

Yesterday afternoon, I met a few old classmates at Markville Mall. We settled in for afternoon tea—the familiar kind, nothing fancy. Just sitting together, chatting, and enjoying the time.

Before long, our conversation drifted, as it often does, to our cell phones.

You know the topics.
Why is this so hard to find now?
Did I change something by accident?
It worked fine yesterday—why not today?

We laughed about it, but there was also that familiar feeling underneath. The younger generation seems so quick and confident with these devices. A few taps and everything is solved. Meanwhile, we move more slowly, carefully, sometimes guessing our way through. Sitting there, I felt a slight sourness—a quiet sense that maybe we’re falling behind.

But later, when I thought about it again, I realized something.

Yes, we’re slower with technology. But we were fully present with each other. We weren’t staring at screens. We were listening, sharing small frustrations, telling stories, and laughing at ourselves. No one was in a hurry. No one needed to prove anything.

Phones change fast. Almost too fast.
Life doesn’t need to.

This morning, as I had my coffee, that afternoon came back to me. Maybe being “slow” isn’t such a bad thing after all. Maybe it’s just a different pace—a pace that leaves room for conversation, understanding, and simple companionship.

At this stage of life, I’m learning that I don’t need to keep up with everything. As long as I can keep up with old friends over a cup of tea, that feels just right.

Grandpa’s Note:
Growing older doesn’t mean we stop learning—it just means we learn differently. Technology may move faster than we like, but friendships still move at the perfect pace. And for me, that’s slow enough to enjoy a cup of tea, a good conversation, and a shared laugh.

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