Technology has its place, and it can just stay there | Nancy Eshelman [Video]

Way back when I was a high school student, I took a part-time job in a supermarket. In those days we had to enter the prices individually on a cash register. A loaf of bread, 70 cents. A dozen eggs, 60 cents. A TV dinner, 65 cents. A box of Saltines, 25 cents.

Most customers paid cash. If they forked over a $20 bill, the cashier had to perform mental math to make change. We also counted out Green Stamps and packed the groceries in paper bags.

Now, I’m an old woman, and the people who operate supermarkets want me to ring up and pack groceries again. Well, I don’t want to.

That high school job convinced me to go to college. I couldn’t envision spending the next 40 years ringing up and bagging groceries. Why would anyone think I want to start again in retirement?