I’m a 72-year-old mother of two sons, three granddaughters and partner with my beloved, David Hall.  I began teaching other seniors to use technology in 2013 and have taught group and private lessons from Cutler Bay to Port St. Lucie, under the banner of Savvy Senior Services.

In another life, I spent 23 years as an executive recruiter both in New York and Florida. Once my kids were older, I began recruiting again in 2007 but 2009 happened and my world fell apart.  In October of 2013, I was not entirely sure what to do.  I was in a bad place.  Meaningless job after meaningless job left me feeling like a failure.  I did not know what to do to earn a living, so I got looked up and said, “I surrender.  I don’t know what I can do that people would pay me and that I would be great at, so send me the signs. I’ll be watching for them.” 

I was taken aback when, in less than two weeks, six different seniors called and said the same thing: “I hear you teach the computer. Can you help me?”  But… I had never told anyone I taught computers, despite the fact that I was always helping my friends with their tech.  It was out of left field and at the sixth call, I looked up and said, “Thank you. Message received.”  And Savvy Senior Services was born.  Now, eleven years later, I am known through the senior community in South Florida for my outstanding teaching skills and patience working with elders.

“Take This Phone and Shove It” is a compilation of all the classes I taught over the years.  It’s about how smartphones help seniors to live better, stay connected with friends and family and improve cognitive skills. Since technology is such an important part of the future, being tech literate is an important part of all of our futures.