NOT GETTING IT

AFTER I BOUGHT MY MOTHER A

COMPACT-DISC PLAYER AND SOME CDS,

SHE WAS EXCITED TO DISCOVER SHE

NO LONGER NEEDED TO REWIND OR

FAST-FORWARD TAPES OR MOVE THE

NEEDLE ON HER RECORD PLAYER.

KNOWING SHE WAS NOT THAT TECHNICALLY

ASTUTE, I CALLED HER A FEW DAYS LATER

TO SEE HOW SHE WAS MANAGING.

"FINE. I LISTENED TO SHANIA TWAIN

THIS MORNING," SHE SAID.

"THE WHOLE CD?" I ASKED.

"NO," SHE REPLIED,

"JUST ONE SIDE."