Auto Correct Will Do You Wrong

Hello folks, let’s chat…When my sisters and I were teenagers, Mama had a saying she’d use to cover for people we were upset with if she felt we girls weren’t being fair in our assessments of the situation. She drove us crazy saying, “She means well.” Granted, we gave Mama ample opportunities to use it. One of us was always in a teenage tizzy about something someone did that we thought was rude, crude, and socially unattractive. We seldom thought they meant well, regardless of what Mama said.

I mention this in light of a couple tiny social missteps of mine.  Last weekend I was on my way to the Pulpwood Queens Book Festival when I got a private message from a lady asking what time I’d be speaking. I didn’t know how far she had to drive, and I didn’t want her to be misled, so I replied that I spoke at four o’clock but she should know that I’d be sharing my panel with four other authors. Only, I didn’t check my message before I sent it. I realized later that the auto-correct function on my phone had played a dirty trick on me. The message I had actually sent said I’d be “euthanizing” four other authors.  While we authors do find ourselves trying to split the same pie of readers, I want everyone to know that I haven’t resorted to offing the competition.

In related news, I sent my mother and my older sister a private message a couple days later. I included a link to this medicinal cream another author had recommended that was supposed to help with all sorts of skin conditions, even the dreaded Shingles. Well, I don’t get Shingles, but they do, so I sent them the link to the goods.

Sister Cyndie hit reply and wanted to know if I was serious or joking around again. That’s the first time I realized the lotion was named Two Old Goats Cream. Tomboy honor.

Mama hasn’t responded yet, but you do know what I’m going to tell her, don’t you?

I meant well.

Hugs, Shellie